Early maternity leave - opinions please!

[Rachel12551]

Hi everyone

I am thinking about starting my maternity leave early at 29 weeks. Reasons for this are because of the ongoing affects of the virus (I work as a retail manager so am customer facing every day) and also to ensure I don't get too tired as I am on my feet 9 hours a day. It also gives me chance to get organised and plan a baby shower etc which is hard as I am working most weekends at the moment.

I was just wondering if you could share your experiences, when you chose to go on maternity leave and would you have chosen to if/when pregnant again.

I know every pregnancy is different I just wanted to get a bit of advice

Thank you

[Rachel12551]

Thanks everyone - I'm just thinking I would rather be bored for a few weeks than feel unsafe at work, especially as there has been a case of corona confirmed last week in the company (not in my area thank god!)

[1990shopefulftm]

I m starting mine with 3 weeks annual leave at 28 weeks, I m almost 27 weeks now and even with working from home I know I m not at my best with the joint pains and not sleeping the whole way through the night anymore so know it's the right decision for me and really didn't want to get to the point where I knew I wasnt doing my job well enough.

You know your body best so if you feel it's best to take it a bit earlier for your health then go for it.

[Giganticshark]

I had 8 weeks off before my baby was born. I also work in retail and had terrible pain so I was better off at home. I was off for the whole summer hols last year and it was great, he wasn't born till mid September,
Go for it

[jdy123]

I started leave at 37 weeks, taking 3 weeks annual leave and then starting Mat leave on due date. I'm not bored yet, currently 39 weeks but if I go over to 42 weeks I think I might get bored. But you cant predict when baby will come and if had came early I'd have been annoyed with no time off before !

I'm enjoying the time alone while I can as I literally will not have this opportunity for the rest of my life.

Do what feels right to you, im sure you'll find things to keep you busy if you feel safer at home.

[Ritchie30]

@Rachel12551 I’m working in the same kind of environment as you. Retail manager, 9-10hours per day on my feet, customer facing for the whole day handling cash, returns etc.
I can’t afford to go off too early, was planning mat leave from 39 weeks and use annual leave from 37 weeks but my work are being very difficult about things and won’t commit to me actually being able to take the annual leave so I’ve done mat leave from 37 weeks instead and will just carry all my annual leave over and use it at the end of my mat leave.

Out of interest...all the people saying that workplaces should be putting you on different duties in the 3rd trimester or putting you on paid suspension if they can’t make sure you’re socially distanced...if that an official guideline? Can anyone point me to the source? I’ve only met a midwife so far once in my pregnancy (at 22 weeks, I’m now 25 weeks) and she said there was no issue with returning to work 🤔 no mention of differences in the third trimester.

[Rachel12551]

[quote Ritchie30]@Rachel12551 I’m working in the same kind of environment as you. Retail manager, 9-10hours per day on my feet, customer facing for the whole day handling cash, returns etc.
I can’t afford to go off too early, was planning mat leave from 39 weeks and use annual leave from 37 weeks but my work are being very difficult about things and won’t commit to me actually being able to take the annual leave so I’ve done mat leave from 37 weeks instead and will just carry all my annual leave over and use it at the end of my mat leave.

Out of interest...all the people saying that workplaces should be putting you on different duties in the 3rd trimester or putting you on paid suspension if they can’t make sure you’re socially distanced...if that an official guideline? Can anyone point me to the source? I’ve only met a midwife so far once in my pregnancy (at 22 weeks, I’m now 25 weeks) and she said there was no issue with returning to work 🤔 no mention of differences in the third trimester.[/quote]
Yeah I feel you! It's not the best environment right now to work in and I worry about everything!

I would love to know the official guidelines from 28 weeks also as my work have questioned it and haven't confirmed anything which is why I would like to take my maternity leave so early. My midwife did say I should be not seeing customers after this time. She told me all midwives and nurses work from home or in an office and stop seeing patients from 28 weeks. Surely serving hundreds of customers a day is a similar danger?!

[Ritchie30]

@Rachel12551 the guidelines that I read were that pregnant women should shield in the third trimester if they have other underlying health conditions (I think it specifically mentioned heart conditions).

I see my actual appointed midwife for the first time at 28 weeks so I’ll as for her advice then.

[Rachel12551]

[quote Ritchie30]@Rachel12551 the guidelines that I read were that pregnant women should shield in the third trimester if they have other underlying health conditions (I think it specifically mentioned heart conditions).

I see my actual appointed midwife for the first time at 28 weeks so I’ll as for her advice then.[/quote]
Please update me! Thank you 😊😊

[sel2223]

Latest government advice:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing-after-4-july

Latest RCOG advice (scroll right down for occupational advice):

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

[Jellycat2020]

I found out I was pregnant on the 8th March and went on furlough on the 24th (at 6 weeks). I haven't been back to work since and I now won't do until after my maternity leave ie next summer, meaning 18 months off work. This is because it's impossible to social distance fully in my job and my work didn't think it was safe to let me continue. Rather than returning me to work after furlough, I was suspended on full pay on maternity grounds. This will last until I start maternity leave.
One of the best sources I found online was this website :

maternityaction.org.uk/covidmaternityfaqs/health-and-safety-at-work/

Both boredom and mental health concerns have been present during the time I've been off work but I'm doing better now and getting excited for our little girl to arrive in November!

[Megan2018]

There’s no way I’d start early, maximum time with the baby is more important.
I’ve been fortunate to take 14.5 months with holiday and mat leave. 7 months is very little, I’d want to go back as late as possible.

[Jmommy]

I would love to start mat leave that early! It would give me a chance to just focus on myself, relax, treat myself to all kinds of enjoyable things prior to birth. I started mat leave at 36 weeks for my DC1, and loved those free days. Long walks, cafes, Netflix etc. But then again, I’m not the kind of person who gets easily bored without much social contacts during the day. For DC2 will defo start mat leave early if at all possible. Or rather, take potentially unpaid vacation before maternity so won’t have to return earlier anyway.

[Nat6999]

I had to go off sick at 29 weeks as my then husband was very ill & the stress was making me ill. My maternity leave was due to start at 33 weeks & I was admitted to hospital at just over 36 weeks with pre eclampsia, ds was born by emcs bang on 37 weeks. I was off work 10 months including the 4 weeks sick leave.

[beautifulshoes]

7 months off after baby's arrival might seem like a lot now OP but it will fly by, and a 7 month is still very young to leave to return to work; lots of people have to do it but I don't know many who would do it by choice. I think you might regret those extra weeks off pre baby when your maternity leave is over.

[Jmommy]

Agree, it wouldnt have been an option to me at all to return to work when baby was 7 months. I wouldn’t have been up for work, starting from lack of sleep. Also breastfeeding and simply not being ready in general to be apart from my baby long days. So, would only start mat leave early if you have the possibility to anyway stay home a year after birth. In that case I think it’s a good idea.

[SpillTheTeaa]

I thought for pregnant workers as you're later on in your pregnancy so higher risk, if they couldn't provide a safe space for you to work in they either have to furlough or let you leave with full pay.
Could be wrong though. But I wouldn't be taking my maternity leave early when there is a possibility to be covered by something else.

[SpillTheTeaa]

Do push for full pay do not take your maternity leave. They sound like a holes and actually breaking the law if they are not keeping you safe.
Phone acas if needed but don't let them push you into maternity.

[MrsN2121]

Your employer has to complete a risk assessment, you need to seek HR advice. Furlough is closed to new people so that's not an option but if the risk assessment deems it's not safe for you to be there and they can't offer you a safe role they'll have to put you off on full pay. Don't be pushed into taking maternity, the company should be doing more by the sounds of it.

[Saoirse22]

So my experience will be a bit different and I'm probably a champion of stopping with week early, and I mean EARLY...

I'm now 36 weeks. I was forced to give up work at 4 weeks, immediately after learning that I'm pregnant, and ever since I managed to have maybe a total of two weeks of effective work. My sickness never went away, pains got better, but I can openly say I was too sick and too weak to work pretty much every day of the pregnancy. I'm self-employed, so all of this have huge repercussions for my income and business management - no work virtually means no money as there's no maternity or sick leave I was able to get at the beginning of my pregnancy.

Obviously, the whole coronavirus situation happened on top of this. So where other people were concerned about their finances from March onwards, for me it's happening ever since December and my savings were already well drained by March. It all made me feel guilty, incapable and almost like I'm worth less than other women.

Physical and mental health are heavily intertwined. So my advice to everyone would be to assess both, not just one of them, and see if you feel the need for a leave. Feelings of boredom while away from work can be as bad as working in a place where you feel unsafe, it's all very individual. But in any case, don't make finances your only criteria when deciding when to leave. I know it's easier said than done! Good luck everyone xx

[Gabbbbbbby]

It's very tricky, I think it sounds like your work should be doing more for you. If you really feel you can't be in work safely then you should start mat leave early, but maybe see if you could take annual leave? I know lots of people do it, and it probably doesn't sound it now, but 7 months is so little and I think you may regret this decision when you have to go back to work when the baby is that age... They'll only just have started eating solids, so still will be drinking a lot of milk, and may not be reliably sleeping through the night or taking consistent naps in the day. And 7 months honestly will not feel like long with your baby! Mine is 9 months and I'll be going back to work in a month, and I can't believe where the time has gone?! I'd have hated to have gone back two months ago.

But like I said if you really feel like your work situation is unsustainable then I guess you'll have to. I only had a week off before DS was born at 39 weeks and I was so bored and impatient. 10 weeks is a verrrrry long time to be waiting for your baby to arrive ...

Good luck!!

[Rachel12551]

Thank you so much everyone!

I am definitely going to push for more help at 28 weeks and then I shall be able to start my maternity later on. I just can't social distance in the work environment I'm in and I've read a lot about the third trimester being so crucial and the virus being so dangerous so I am going to speak to HR. No point using my maternity leave if they can help in another way. My midwife has actually told me not to work after 28 weeks in the store anyway.

I was furloughed when the shops closed for 3 months so may be able to be furloughed again until my mat leave starts. I will find out!

And thank you for all the advice - 7 months is still early on to return to work after baby so have considered all this in my decision.

Thanks!

[EithneBlue]

OP, I definitely suggest that you check the maternity action website -- if your employer cannot make your role safe enough then they should place you on leave (on full pay) before starting maternity (the difficulty comes when they've got a different definition of safe - lots of the government guidelines are... open to interpretation). If they've not risk assessed your situation then they're potentially breaking the law, but it's hard to judge this through a post on Mumsnet. I would definitely advise that you seek some proper advice (or talk to your union if you're in one) on this.
I am actually going back to work at 28 weeks (secondary school teacher) but the plans my school have in place are pretty thorough and it's still subject to a personalised risk assessment which will be reassessed regularly.
That said if you've already done all the research and you'd actually just be happier and feel safer going on leave early then do it?

[Ritchie30]

@Rachel12551 Are you back at work full time or are you still on part time furlough? I believe if you have been completely taken off of furlough then your employer is not able to put you back on furlough now as the deadline has passed. However, if you are on part time furlough then your employer is able to increase you back to full time furlough under certain circumstances.

HR at the company I work for have done a risk assessment for my position and have said that I am safe to be dealing directly with customers provided I wear a face mask for the duration of my shift and wash my hands regularly.

[SanFrancisco49er]

I'm going at 29 weeks. I'm not planning to go back to work for a few years though so financially it makes little difference to us and I also therefore don't have to factor in time cut short with the baby next year.
I love being at home so worrying about potential boredom is not an issue. I'm looking forward to time to get ready as you never know when a baby will arrive!

Do what's right for you and what you can afford.
However, having worked in retail for many years, inc as an AM, I would say don't feel pushed to go early because you don't feel safe. I know a lot of retailers are on their knees and short staffed as a result but if you would be staying if it weren't for the Covid risk then really try to explore your options with them. Maybe come up with solutions yourself to be able to wfh - do retail ops need support/could your AM do with background admin help/are there training tools you can help update from home using your SM experience/can you log on remotely as a CS advisor?

[SpillTheTeaa]

Remember you have a lot of rights as a pregnant woman. Much more than you think.