When to go on maternity??

[reanne01]

Hi I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and I suffer really bad with PGP and back pain especially when on my feet for too long of course , I am a nursery nurse so there is alot of constant walking and being stood up, I'm returning to work next week after taking time off on the sick as it was too bad to work.
I can go on early maternity at the end of this month but so stuck on what to do , push on and see how far I get or take it early 🤔 when did everyone go on maternity ?

29 weeks... do what suits you OP

Whatever suits you best.

I hung on until last minute -worked up to the week before each DD was born - because I wanted more time off after the birth. But I had an office job.

Everyone is different.

It's a hard one, my worries about being off for so long is I would have been so fed up and time would have really dragged. But don't envy you in that type of job.

I've just finished at 38 weeks and having my section next week but I have a desk job.

It would be different if the job didn't require me to be on my feet 9-5 with a half an hour break I want more time after baby is born but I'm not sure how far I can push myself, maybe the 30 week mark is reasonable x

you could take more time off sick if you aren't well enough to work. You could talk to your GP about being signed off. At a later point (36 weeks if memory serves correctly) your employer can start your mat leave if your sickness is maternity related, but as I understand it you are within your rights to take sick leave until then if you aren't well enough.

@squee123 I will have to look into this thank you ! X

I'm a teacher. Colleagues of mine have pushed on til 37 weeks ish, but I was born 6 weeks early, so always had it in my head that I might go early too. DD was born 4 weeks early naturally, so it was a good idea I left when I did.

@DrMadelineMaxwell when did you go on maternity ? X

34 weeks.

Dc1 I worked until 37 weeks which was hard but fine.
Dc2 I worked until 37 weeks and she arrived the first day of my mat leave 😠
Dc3 I left at 28 weeks!

Dd1 I intended to work until 37 weeks, and was fine until I was unexpectedly admitted to hospital at 36+4, she was born at 38 weeks.
Dd2 I finished at 37 weeks and really struggled for the last 3. She was born at 40+6 and I was so glad I'd had that time off before having her!

I was due on the Tuesday, originally set the date for the Friday before then (actually thurs as I don't work Friday) and then in reality realised I wanted more time to get my head together so I took an extra week. She started coming day before my due date and finally arrived day after. I'm a teacher but not classroom based so I could go a little longer. I'd be tempted in your case to keep going for now and stop when it gets too much. But only you know when that will be!

I went off at 35 weeks, but I wished I had gone off sooner as there was a lot of walking up and down stairs in my work, which isn't easy to do when you are massive.

I was kinda worried people would think I was lazy if I went off any earlier, but thinking back, I was so knackered all the time in my 3rd trimester that I should have made it easier on myself.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I'm also worried that they will think I'm lazy as it's not a very supportive place where I work unfortunately and there has been a lot of issues, I'm going to have a talk to my manager when I return and see what I can work out from there but I'm thinking maybe the 30 week mark x

this info may be helpful

Tell them the last date you can reasonably see yourself staying until. You can always bring it forward, but you might not be able to push it back if you change your mind. You don't want to miss out on time you could have with your baby for the sake of being polite to your employers.

I'd had enough 3 weeks before. I did a desk job and found sitting all day too painful on my back in the end. But everyone's different. Some people go right up to the end. You'll know when you've had enough.