Maternity Leave

[kate909]

I'm struggling to decide when to take maternity leave. I'm due 1st week of October and still have 4 weeks holiday to take.

I'm stuck between wanting to finish work asap but also not having too long before baby is born.

Any advice please?

It's very much personal choice, and guess it depends what you do for work and can you carry the leave over? I'm finishing work 12 days before I'm due, taking leave then starting mat leave on my due date. I'm working at home and having spent nearly 4 months at home getting organised, want to try to work until quite late and have more time after baby is here. I have loads of leave I can carry over and use at the end of my mat leave. Having said that I can't wait to get through the next 3 weeks of work to finish and relax (unless baby comes early 😂).

It also depends on your work, I work in a very physical job so am going on maternity leave at 38 weeks. Having a weeks annual leave before that. Although due to covid I am unable to work, so at home wishing I had chosen to start maternity leave later. Are you currently working, or working from home. If working from home for the foreseeable I would go as late as you can as far as I am aware you can always bring it forward but can’t start later than you initially say

I'm due 1st August , had 3 weeks annual leave to take so starting that now and starting Mat leave on actual due date.
I figured this will be the only time in my life I can have some time off by myself to chill so finishing at 37 weeks I thought was perfect.

I'm due 1st August , had 3 weeks annual leave to take so starting that now and starting Mat leave on actual due date.
I figured this will be the only time in my life I can have some time off by myself to chill so finishing at 37 weeks I thought was perfect.

I’m due 5th October. I’m finishing work 4 weeks before I’m due (2 weeks annual leave then my mat leave starts after that). Everyone is different but i am already struggling and irritable at work (even though I’m WFH).

I also thought 4 weeks will give me enough time to relax and prep what I want for baby’s arrival.

I’m due the 29th Aug and officially starting Mat leave on the 3rd Aug at 36/40. I have 2 weeks of annual leave starting the end of next week. This was all arranged pre coronavirus and in anticipation of still being working clinically. As it happens, I’m now working from home in a managerial role. Now 33/40 and feel the best I have throughout this pregnancy so I am pretty sure I would have felt fine still working clinically.

I started struggling around 32 weeks (just really tired) which I wasn't expecting at all. Kept to my plan and finished at 37 weeks although there were days where I was utterly useless at work. 3 weeks annual leave before mat leave starting on due date.

It was right for me to keep going, I'm just turning 39 weeks now and haven't been bored yet! Enough to do at home, and plenty of sleeping to be getting on with :)

@4amWitchingHour aw I'm glad you said you've not been bored yet! This was one of my worries that I'd be bored having a full 3 weeks or more off on my own but I'm hoping I enjoy it !

I’m doing the same as @xxxemzyxxx (same due date too!). I’m getting fed up with work despite wfh, esp dealing with people.

I’m looking forward to having September to rest and not have to worry about anything work related. Should give me time to make sure everything is clean and sorted without doing too much every day too. I don’t get easily bored in the house though, so depends on how you’re feeling.