When to finish work

[ellie16edi]

I need to let my work know soon when I want to start my maternity leave. Am I being naive thinking I could finish 2 days before my due date?
I've heard a mixture, some people say they worked right up to due date, some say they took weeks off before. This is a first baby so I don't know what I'll feel like by then.

What do people advice, take more time before or save it for after?

It's entirely up to you, how you feel and how long you can have off financially.

Some people are absolute troopers and can go up to 38/39 weeks but I called it quits at 35+5 and even that was a struggle to get to but I used 11 days annual leave and officially started mat leave at 38+5 (it was around Christmas too which helped me have longer off)

I'm currently 39+1 and although I'm bored out of my mind I physically and mentally couldn't be going to work everyday!

You can always change it, I think. My HR department were a bit useless but always let me know that I could go off when I needed to, they'd never hold me to that date, so it might be worth speaking to them?

You accrue annual leave dates so you can always tag them into the end of your mat leave if you're worried about going off too early and not having enough time with baby.

I worked right up until the last minute. It's a desk job, work took me off shifts and I did 8-4 and took my exercise ball and slippers in.

I will take time off from 32 weeks. I have quite bad SPD and struggle with piles and stuff, so I'm already in a lot of pain.

My last day was supposed to be the day before I was due but I was using 3 weeks annual leave before. Baby was born at 37+4 so didn't get to enjoy any time alone!

I worked until the day I gave birth, however looking back I wish I had a few weeks of down time first. If you can afford it take some time for yourself, it will be your last for a while!

Totally depends on your pregnancy and your type of work.

I had 4 weeks off before (2 holiday, 2 mat leave). I had a really easy pregnancy, but my job is long hours and high stress and so I wanted to put my feet up before the baby came. If your job is "easier" I think you could work longer and save the time off for after.

Depends on your situation OP there are no set rules as such. I left at 29 weeks...🤷‍♀️

I worked until 37 weeks- could have carried on working but not the commute....the train and a tube was killer. Depends what you do and how your pregnancy is

Planning on using a few or two annual leave at 36/37 (depending how much I have) and maternity leave at 38. I had my first at 39+1 so won't work any longer x

I've finished at 33 weeks as my job meant working 9 hour shifts on my feet with very little time to sit down, and I'm glad I did because I definitely would have struggled any longer. I still have four weeks to go until my due date, but am not bored yet as I've been taking the time to enjoy Christmas and get the house ready.

I think it's great working until the last possible point, means you get more time at home with baby!
I'd have definitely found it possible with my first but not my second. I'm finishing at 38 weeks and it cannot come soon enough.

What do you do for work? What's the commute like? Are you sat down at a desk or on your feet all day? More info needed op.

I felt totally fine right up until 40weeks and could have worked but I'm glad I had the time to rest and prepare for the whirlwind of having a newborn and my life changing so entirely! I'd make more of it if I could do it again - less cleaning and more relaxing!

It really is down to what you do, how you are and what you feel you can manage.

I set mine to start at 38 weeks (only a couple more weeks to go), so I have two weeks off before, but that is mostly because I have been convinced all along that baby is going to come earlier.

However, I get a lift to work, so no lengthy travelling or commute, and I have a desk job. Also, so far I have been lucky and my pregnancy has been quite smooth. I have a pregnant friend who teaches and she has gone off at 36 weeks as she finds it harder.

If you have a job where you are on your feet all day you may want to go off earlier (if you can afford it). If you have had a difficult pregnancy or have SPD then you may want to go off earlier.

I started mine at 37+3 because I wanted a couple of weeks off to get the house tidy and to have a bit of 'me' time before my life changed forever. Physically, I could have worked up until the day he arrived. However, he came at 38 weeks so I'd only had chance to get the essentials done, it did mean I had a few extra days with him though. Of course if you say you are working to due date and baby arrives early - your maternity leave starts anyway! Good luck x

I am at early stage of my pregnancy and I was just thinking about that, I was thinking maybe save my 15 days AL before my Maternity date starts (I get new holidays every April hence why I was preparing myself to use my ALs wisely) which means I got 14 ALs left to use from April to August (not too bad!).

I'm 33 weeks. Have an office based job and an easy commute. Managing fine at the moment but I would say I've slowed down a bit and have taken opportunity to work from home at times. I'm going on a/l for a week at 38 weeks, starting mat leave at 39. I have started to find I can't pick up new things at work because I won't be here. I think it depends a lot on what you do and how flexible your day employer can be.

I'm 37 weeks now and exhausted. Finishing in the office on friday and 2 days from home next week then I'll be done at 38 weeks. Definitely need the time off now, so tired doing anything and just uncomfortable especially sat at my desk!

Totally personal and dependent on each individual. I worked up until quite late, but I knew I would be going back to work for a good few years afterwards.

I worked up to the week before due date with both of mine and it was a struggle, I also had SPD 2nd time around and was using crutches...not sure why I did that!

I think 35 weeks is sensible but only you know how you feel.

Currently 33 weeks, working up until 37 weeks, only 4 weeks to go I'm starting to feel quite distracted and tired already so goodness knows how I'm going to be by week 37! I have to travel quite a bit for my job, my employer has been really good and let me go at my own pace since returning after xmas. I'm defo on wind down mode already!