Maternity leave

[emilyx123]

Just wondering if anybody has gone on to maternity leave at 29 weeks pregnant? Or what's the longest people have worked up until..

Thanks x

I cycled to work every day until 38 weeks and wish I'd kept going as my baby didn't arrive until 42 weeks

I'm technically not starting leave until 39 weeks but I'll be off a couple of weeks before that as I have booked annual leave. It's my first but I've read a lot of people say they get really bored coming off too early. You have to do what's right for you though!

I used leave first as i had a whole year to take. I was 34 weeks, tbh i was so bored until about 37 weeks when i was so out of breath all the time, luckily i had him at 38 +1

I went off at 38ish and the baby didn’t arrive until 42 weeks so I was bored as anything

I started at 36 weeks and tbh it felt too early. I ended up really miserable sitting around for five weeks waiting for a baby to come.

I’m planning to try to work until 38/39 weeks this time.

Last time I started maternity at 39+4 (ironically the exact day I have birth to my daughter) but had 3 weeks of annual leave to use up so went off at 36 weeks. This time my leave officially starts at 38 weeks but I actually left at 31 weeks, I had 4 1/2 weeks of annual leave to use and the coronavirus forced me onto sick leave for 2 1/2 weeks.

I’m bored out of my skull 3 weeks in, despite having a rambunctious toddler. I’m trapped inside and all I think about is how uncomfortable I am 😂

Finished at 38 with first, who ended up being 2 weeks late (so bored)

Finished at 39 with second, who ended up coming the day before due date (darn.)

Officially started maternity leave at 40 weeks (due date baby!) but finished at 38.5 weeks as I'm a teacher and broke up for Christmas.

Exact same with DS1!

(Easter is a fertile time for me 👀 )

I had my first at 37 weeks so always plan to stop around that time. With my second my waters broke in public at 39 weeks but I'm glad I wasn't at work.

I had my last full week at 38 weeks, then did a couple of handover days the week after.

I was using my holiday right up until baby arrived at 42 weeks! I got a bit bored, partly because the weather was dire so stuck indoors, but I realistically don't think I could have kept going any longer.

I also work an hour's commute away and so wouldn't have wanted to be so far from home if I had gone in to labour.

Worked up to 39 weeks, then had the Christmas bank holidays and my leave started on the day DD was born.

It worked out well for me, but I had an easy pregnancy and a sedentary job.

Went on Mat leave at 37 weeks. Dd was born at 38.

Went on maternity leave at 38 weeks and DS was born at 41 weeks. To be honest though I wasn't bored - I was tired so couldn't have carried on at work. I spent the time sleeping, catching up on tv and cleaning. So basically being lazy most of the time but I don't get to do too much of that now with a 5 month old baby so i dont feel guilty!

My last pregnancy I wanted to work until 39 weeks but went into labour at 37+1 and I kinda regret not going on an early maternity leave . Everyone in my family went 7-14 days past their due date so I thought I had more time. It did mean I got more time with my son as my maternity leave literally started the day I had him .

I’m now pregnant again and haven’t decided on when I’ll go . I’ll definitely go earlier this time . I was originally going to go at 29 weeks and relax for my last trimester but now I’m kinda bored of relaxing lol. I’m on furlough leave . So I think I’ll work until 34 or 35 weeks . I remember last pregnancy it got really tough around 35 weeks so I’ll appreciate the rest this time around .

Blimey, I wouldn't go that early! You could use up 13 weeks of it before your baby is even born! I worked to 40 weeks, 39 weeks and 36 weeks (with 2 weeks AL) and glad I did as all of mine were late so I didn't waste so much of my time off.

I went at 36 weeks, job was quite physical and I was on my feet all day. Anyway it was a bloody good job in the end as he came at 36 weeks!

@SpudsAreLife84 it also depends financially if she can afford to take early maternity leave plus she might not be returning to work after .

Started mat leave officially on my due date, but took a week’s holiday beforehand. Worked out well as baby was nine days late, and I found waiting around pretty tough!

I didn’t go on maternity leave with DD because I was a student.

I’m due on the 19th September and plan to go until the last minute. I’d rather have the time afterwards.

Mat leave scheduled to start on my due date but have 4 weeks AL to take before this 👍

1st / went into labour at 39+5 at work born next day. 2nd I planned to finish at 39 weeks as I had wished I’d had more time to relax first time around. Baby had other ideas, had work in the am, consultant same afternoon spontaneous labour that night at 37 weeks.
Personally 39 weeks is a good thing to aim for!

I left at 37 wks but baby didnt come until 41+6 so had nearly 5 weeks off before.

Well I was planning to go on mat leave 2 weeks before my due date, I am self employed and due to the shit show that's going off in the world I no longer have any work and I'm not well enough to go get a temporary job so I am now on maternity leave at 33 weeks pregnant.

To be honest, I'm glad because I have hyperemesis and I feel like shit everyday, I just lay on the sofa and feel like I'm dying most days so I think I was being very hopeful thinking I could work until 38 wks.

However I will only be taking 8 weeks off after the baby is born, so it doesnt affect my time with the baby afterwards as I was never taking the 9 months off after.

I went off at 36 weeks (including some leave) with my first, who then came at 37+4. Currently planning on finishing around 36 weeks again (again not straight on to maternity leave as I'll have some annual leave).

I went on mat leave at 36 weeks, I had planned to work until 38 weeks but am a secondary teacher and was struggling on my feet all day. DD was born at 41+4. Didn't regret going off early at the time as it was over Christmas which kept me busy and meant DH was off with me for most of it, but I did regret it when I had to go back to work when DD was 10 and a half months old (no option of using AL when you're a teacher!).