Maternity leave- when did you decide to start it?

[bluebellll]

Hi

As the title suggests please can you share your stories on how you decided when to start your maternity? And what you did? lI'm due with my first on the 20th January 21 and I've decided to start maternity a week before so the 11th and I've booked two week annual leave before then.

Thanks in advance

With my first I finished up at 36 weeks, used 4 weeks annual leave then mat leave from the week I was due.

Currently pregnant with my second, I'll be finishing up at 36.5 weeks, will use annual leave then start mat leave again from the week I'm due.

It depends on how you find the third trimester. I am starting my maternity leave on Monday at 39 weeks. I've managed quite well in the third trimester and I've been working from home so I've been able to work longer than I might have done in other circumstances.

I have annual leave stored but I can take it at the other end too. I was prepared to use it to enable me to stop earlier had I needed but I have been fortunate in that I haven't needed it.

I imagine for most people formally stopping a week before with annual leave options for the week(s) before is fairly sensible. I've been feeling heavier and more uncomfortable since 37 weeks.

I finished at 40 weeks and I'm glad I did, as I was pregnant for another 2. Having said that, I'm a teacher and so don't have annual leave to take. If I had, I would possibly have taken a few weeks off before.

I finished at 36 weeks which was mid January. So many babies of women in my office arrived at 37/38 weeks and I wanted some time before baby arrived. DD arrived at 38 weeks.

First DD worked until 38 wks, office based so not hard but the commute combined with my bladder became impossible.
Pregnant with DD2 and given that I work from home now I will go until 39wks I think.

I’m starting mat leave two weeks before my due date and using two weeks of annual leave before that. I’m due in December so I have lovely visions of watching hallmark Christmas films and eating mince pies. No doubt the baby will find a way to interfere with that, however

I finished at 36 weeks both times. It felt like the right time for me, I was really done with everything by that point. Even though I physically could have continued for longer it was nice to just have a different headspace for a little while and just start nesting and getting excited about baby, batch cooking etc without the distractions of work. Now that I know the absolute bomb that drops into your life once a baby enters I'm glad I had those few weeks of calm to enjoy just me and DH pottering around the house doing not very much. I don't think I've sat down properly since then or slept

29weeks I wanted some "me time" it was utter bliss!!

One month before my due date incase baby came early! I'm glad I choose then because I was struggling to walk very fast and I don't drive so was having to travel everywhere on public transport.

Finished at 36 weeks with DS1 because it was an hour commute in to central London on the tube and I was over it! Needed to rest. Used annual leave for the first four weeks and mat leave kicked in on due date, which was fine because I was in labour anyway.

DS2, I worked closer to home and drove in to work. Stopped work at exactly 37 weeks because it was a logical stop with month end, expecting to have a few weeks of leisure and sorting the house out. DS2 arrived at 37+2.

Thanks everyone!

I finish tomorrow at 33+5. I know it's early but lockdown pregnancy and working remotely has been hard. I can't wait for a bit of down time before the chaos hits (I'm a FTM).

Officially my Mat Leave starts in Sept but I also had loads of leave to use.

I'm thinking of going at 37 weeks, but taking a week's annual leave and then starting maternity. As it's my first, I'm a bit paranoid about potential birth way before their due date.

I finished at 37 weeks, but baby came a week late so I ended up having nearly a month.

I start maternity at 39 weeks but using 2 weeks annual leave so finishing next week at 37 weeks. Currently wfh and would have continued working up until 39 weeks but I want to have some time with DS before he goes back to school and baby arrives.

OP I did the same as you, 2 weeks annual leave at 37 weeks and then started mat leave. It was fine and I was still commuting by tube and train from Kent to Birmingham at 37 weeks. I was tired but it was fine.

I'm due in September and taking two weeks annual leave and starting my maternity 1 week before my due date. I wanted to work longer but I'm starting to get so tired I'm glad I've given myself a couple of weeks!

With DC1 I stopped working at 35 weeks, took 2 weeks' annual leave and baby arrived 1 day before maternity leave was due to start.
With DC2 I planned to start leave just after 36 weeks but went into labour at 36 weeks exactly, so had no time off at all.
With DC3 I was planning on starting leave around 35 weeks but have been on bed rest since 33 weeks, but at least I get a break this time

I chose to stop at 36. It was amazing. I was so lazy and watched TV, read, went for walks, cooked etc. It was my first baby and I can't see a time when I'll ever have a month off to do whatever I want and be alone again. Look after yourself and enjoy it!

I am starting my maternity leave at 38weeks. My DD was born exactly on 38weeks and my DS 39weeks so the chances I go over are prob not likely. I have 4weeks annual leave to use so going to tag them on to the beginning so can get the final things sorted and spend time with my older children/partner before baby arrives and also even now at 22weeks I do not sleep well as constantly needing toilet so least if I’m tired in day can rest up rather than force myself to concentrate on work fir 8hr days.

I'm due mid-September. I work in a school and I'll be going back for the first week, starting my mat leave at 39 weeks. I've been wfh since March and now on summer holidays so feel like I need a few days of normality.

I'm due 6 January 2021 and was going to start my maternity on the 4th January, our office is closed for ten days over Christmas so my last day working would have been 24 December. However, I've been told today I'm to be "suspended" on 21 September on full pay, no loss of company benifits or risk to my job when I'm 26 weeks pregnant.

So in theroy my maternity leave is starting much earlier than expected.

Depends on your job. I was working in retail for 2 of my pregnancies and I finished at 34 weeks. I was in agony with my first with PDS so doctor signed me off earlier than planned. With my second I thought I’d finish again at 34 wks so I could have a little time with my first born before his sibling came along. With my third I had been given a more sedately role but again finished at 34 weeks to enjoy time with my 2 other children before a new baby came along.

34 weeks - took slightly early mat leave than planned and used annual leave before that. Had horrendous insomnia and was just too tired to drive to the office every day.

Finished at 38 weeks, office job, easy commute. I didn't give birth till 41+5 so whilst the time was relaxing if I would have known I would have worked at least a week longer!