When to start maternity leave

[bluemoon2468]

This is my first pregnancy, and I've read that by 15 weeks I have to inform my employer of my desired start date for maternity leave. For those of you who have been pregnant before or have set the date for the start of their mat leave this time, how long before your due date did you set it? Of course I'd like to save as much time as possible to spend with the baby, but I'm also completely naiive to the realities of trying to work at 9 months pregnant!

I went off 2 weeks before last time and was 9 days late so felt I'd wasted a lot. This time I'm going to
Push it to 1 week before with the option that I have all my annual leave to take so can go off earlier if I want to

You have to ket them know 15 weeks before so 25 weeks so you have a bit longer x

Its 15 weeks before your due to give birth so week 25 of pregnancy.

I was going to start my maternity leave at 40 weeks (I actually gave birth at 39+4 do I started it early) but I had 2 weeks leave before that so I finished work at 38 weeks. I was really tired towards the end and needed the time to get organised and rest.

Both my pregnancies I've gone 2 weeks before due date. Don't think I could have gone any further!

I did about three weeks, but tbh I felt worse in the beginning of my pregnancy then at the end I actually felt at my best. However, I did end up being induced and giving birth a week later. But if I were to do it again I would most likely do two weeks as like pp said it can feel like a waste of time and I'd rather have more time with baby afterwards. I wouldn't do less then that especially with first as you just don't know how you will feel towards the end.

It depends on what you do. How hard is your job on you mentally and physically. I'm a chef and I had to have my hours put down but didnt go on maternity leave till 39 weeks. I only just about managed it, really struggled towards the end.

I finished at 37 weeks with both. I'm a teacher so finished at nearest holiday to due dates. I was ready to finish, more so second time!

@snowone I'm also a teacher, but it's slightly weird timing because I'm due early Oct... so I'll be off all summer, then go back to work for about 2-3 weeks I guess, then go off on leave? Not sure what I'll do in that time but I don't really want to off on mat leave in July for an October baby!

I'm finishing at the end of next week at 38 weeks with a week of annual leave before mat leave starts. It's an office job and I've been working 2 days a week at home since going back after Christmas. It definitely depends what you do/how you get on with your back/hips etc but if I could afford it and it wouldn't make too much difference afterwards it would have been nice to finish at 36 weeks. The last week has been really hard and I'm still feeling better than I did in the first 20 weeks.

Mat leave starts a week before EDD but I'm taking 3 weeks annual leave before that.

I'm a teacher and due 3rd March, finishing day after Feb half term so will have two weeks off before EDD. If I was you I'd go back in September and then finish two weeks befort EDD. You'll have a nice, easy few weeks at work, get paid for your summer holiday and be nice and rested when baby comes :)

Just to add, I personally wouldn't want to be working any closer to EDD than that. I am absolutely knackered and if wasn't for the money would quite happily finish is, despite having had very easy pregnancy (parents' evening, mock marking etc is just beginning to tip me over the edge!)

I finished at 35 weeks last time & same again this time. For me, it’s predominantly been the timing of my pregnancies. My workplace strongly encourage the use of annual leave during the year it is supposed to be taken (they pay 6 months full pay on maternity so I’m not arguing!).. so pregnancy one, I had 5 weeks of annual leave to use before maternity kicked in. My actual maternity kicked in the week of my due date. This time, I’m using 2 weeks annual leave & kicking maternity in a bit sooner. But using the remaining annual leave at the end in December!

I loved my 5 weeks off. I know a lot of people will tell you how boring it is etc but honestly, I was ready to leave. And I am this time as well (3 weeks to go!) I have a desk job but frustratingly my main area of pain in pregnancy is in my ribs & coccyx . Sitting in an office chair is quite frankly unbearable at times. My ribs cramp up from the scrunched position and my eyes literally fill with tears every time I stand up after sitting for 30 minutes from the knife like pain in my coccyx! Pain aside, my pregnancy indigestion is 10x worse at work & my job is very busy & mentally quite a lot. I’m not sleeping well at all, so I’m pretty exhausted!

My first pregnancy, I used the 5 weeks to wash all the baby clothes, the house was spotless, I lunched, I watch crappy boxsets, I read a few books.. was lovely! This time round, I’ll only have three days without my crazy toddler & let me tell you, I am going to thoroughly enjoy 3 full days of a peaceful, clean house. Be like a holiday 😂 well needed before baby arrives for sure!

I planned to go off at 38 weeks but by 37 weeks was absolutely exhausted and had handed everything over at work so felt like I was just getting in the way. DD arrived a week late so this meant I had a month off altogether before giving birth. It was bliss, I basically just lay on the sofa watching box sets and eating nice food. I was very aware that it was the last time I’d be able to just totally relax by myself so really made a point to enjoy it.

Thanks so much for all of the info and advice! I think because Im in the very fortunate position to have have the six week school summer holiday July-August, I should have a lot of time to prepare for the baby and rest during that time. Going back to work in September for a few weeks shouldn't be too bad as I'll just have had a 6 week break - I hope not anyway! I'll have a think about whether to start my leave 1 or 2 weeks before baby is due. I guess if my health is really suffering I still have the right to start earlier than planned on medical grounds?

Check your school mat leave policy. But with SMP if you are off sick within 4 weeks of EDD for pregnancy related issues, your mat leave gets automatically started. So if it's the same with your school mat leave you can always get a sick note and kick mat leave off if you're really struggling.

If your job is physically and mentally challenging then you'll want to go off a few weeks before so you can relax, put your feet up! I'm going off 4 weeks before, my job is mainly office based so sitting at a desk looking at a computer screen. I do also have quite a lot of stress at work and find it hard to switch off when I come home so that's why I'm taking so long off before the baby comes.

I went off 2 weeks before EDD, I had my daughter 10 days later so she was slightly early. I absolutely would have gone crazy having any more time off before but my workplace allowed leave to be carried over to end at the end of my mat leave.

I was lucky to still feel relatively human throughout my pregnancy. I know some ladies really suffer so just go with what your body is telling you.

Another teacher here. I went at 37 weeks with DS1 but he was 12 days overdue and I was bored as anything. WTH DS1 I went at 39 weeks and he was also massively overdue. I felt fine at the end of my pregnancy but crappy until about 20 weeks.

@bluemoon2468 I'm also a teacher and just about to go at mat leave at 38 weeks. If I were you I'd plan to go at 38 weeks like you say. I think 39 weeks for me would be too much. Like someone else said upthread, even though I'm not in class, just sitting on office chair for long periods of time planning makes me so uncomfortable. However, my school said if I change my mind nearer the due date that would be fine and it's easier to start mat leave earlier than expected than later so if you put 39 weeks and then didn't feel up to it I'm sure that could be accommodated especially as you won't have classes.

Teacher here too. I finished at Christmas but put first day back in Jan as the start of my mat leave so I technically started mat leave at 36 weeks. For me I didn't see the point of coming back for a week, maybe two after Christmas as I know I'm going to return the first day of the Christmas holidays next year. Yeah I'm now a bit bored but the idea of having to go back after Christmas would have been hell!

And it's 15 weeks before due date that you have to tell them not at 15 weeks so you've got a while. Also despite what your head may lead you to believe you could put the 1st of Sept down (or whatever day you're due to return) and start mat leave then. It doesn't have to be July! You can of course put a week before your due date down and go earlier than that. I'd imagine if you're due early Oct that you wouldn't be put in a class for the sake of a couple of weeks so you might just be used as cover which could be easier on you

My due date is 20 May. First baby, so I too am guessing everythung!

I’d like a week or two off before baby,but obvs don’t know exactly when it will come! I have provisionally told my employer a Mat leave start date of 7 May and using couple days A/L before that, but I might change that later to a later date and just using up accrued leave.

So hard to know! But I just have to given them 1months notice I think of any changes so still a bit of time to see how things are going.

Just see how you feel and how the pregnancy progresses. If all fine then working a few weeks in September seems like the best option. As it's your first you can have lazy weekend lie ins and relax in the evenings after work.

With DC1 I felt fine in the third trimester and worked up to 38 weeks with a 1.5 hour train commute each way to work.

With DC2 I've had all sorts of complications and not felt well + a young child to look after. I'm taking maternity leave as soon as I can!