How should my OH take paternity leave?

[Pastnowfuture]

I am 29 weeks pregnant with our first baby. My husband was at uni until recently but has now completed his studies and started a job (yey!). His employer have asked him to give dates for his entitlement to 2 weeks paid paternity. We know the dates could change depending on when exactly the baby arrives but I wondered whether anyone had advice on a good way to structure his time off - 2 weeks all in one go, 1 week then 1 day off a week or something totally different? Also, should we add annual leave to extend or keep for later in the year? I realise everyone is different but looking to hear opinions on what did/didn't work for you any why?

I'm only 28 weeks but me and my partner have decided if we give birth mid week e.g a Wednesday, he is going to take annual leave for weds/thurs/fri then will take a weeks maternity from the monday as he works mon-fri. Then my mum will be off and with me for a week then I will be on my own for a week then he is taking the 2nd week. He needs to take his paternity within 8 weeks of baby being born.
This may all change if a c-section is needed as I will need him around but his work are very flexible so it's not an issue.

If it’s statutory paternity leave, he has to take it as a two week block (assuming he wants to take two weeks). You can’t break it up.

I’m being induced a week before my due date so I know roughly when he will be born which does make it easier to plan (unless he’s early!)
The first day of sweeps is a Monday so for that week my wife (same sex couple) is taking annual leave. We know he will be here by that coming weekend, by section if necessary, so her paternity leave (2weeks) starts on the Monday. She’s also adding on 2 weeks of leave to the end of it, so in total will be with me for 5 weeks, at least 4 of which will be after our baby is born.
As PP said, your husband has to take the pat leave as a block (1 or 2 weeks), it can’t be split.

2 weeks will go in the blink of an eye, honestly.

DS was born on a Friday. DH took two weeks (I think a BH fell during that time so he was able to have an extra day off) and then a week's annual leave. We were both very ready for him to go back to work after 3 weeks but having that extra week did make a big difference. The change between a two week old baby and a three week old baby is really staggering. I think the first day back, DH worked from home too just to ease the transition but we tried not to disturb him at all.

Yes sorry it has to be taken all in one go and can't be broken up. Also had to be taken as either one week or two.

He's also not going to qualify for stat paternity pay as you have to be employed 6 months before the qualifying date (11 weeks before baby is due),

My other half is taking normal paternity leave but his contract states it has to be taken within 8 weeks of the baby being born. So it can be taken as two 1 week blocks if wanted, but that's written in his policy so other companies will be different.

Yes must point out that the rules I am quoting are for statutory paternity - some company policies may be more generous :)

My DP's workplace allows them to take two weeks in a block then the final two weeks as one day per week. He gets 4 weeks full pay. It depends what your partner's policy is.

Given he only gets two weeks, I'd take the full two weeks as a block. After getting home from hospital, a week would not have been enough before he had to go back.

If he's going to take any annual leave, I'd highly recommend a midweek day off for five weeks rather than a week block of workplace will allow. We did Wednesdays so it meant I only had to manage two days at a time which helped hugely as DS was (still is) a ver poor sleeper.

Last time, my OH took two weeks paternity (has to be in solid block at my work, no gaps) & then two weeks annual leave. I was SO grateful he was off with me for that time as I found life quite tough going at first! We were also both completely exhausted. By 4 weeks, we’d settled into a marginally better routine!

This time, I’m feeling more confident & we have a toddler thrown in the mix. So OH is taking his two weeks paternity & then one full week annual leave. He’s then going to go back but take Thurs/Fri off for the following 3 weeks to help with our daughter. She’s in nursery Mon-Wed, so it’ll just be me & babby but Thurs/Fri she’s at home and his help will be invaluable for a few more weeks on those days I think!

Thanks everyone. I should have pointed out- we have it in writing that his company will be flexible with the structure and will pay his full wage.