When do most people take mat leave?

[Gerdticker]

Curious as to when most people take maternity leave?

As a self employed person, it’s all down to how I feel, until the last moment..! At that moment I’ll hand everything over to my biz partner, DH!

If I’d had to decide formally, I guess I would have gone for 36 or 37 weeks?

Self employed here too.
I’m finishing just before 38 weeks but only taking 14 weeks leave so want to leave as late as possible, my job is a busy on your feet type job though so I think any later is pushing it.
In my first pregnancy, planned to finish at 38 weeks but had to finish at 36 weeks due to being poorly.
To be honest if I was employed with annual leave to use I’d love to finish now (35 weeks) but sadly not an option.

I finished at 38 weeks but had my baby at 42 weeks, and would have happily worked up until that date.

With DS1, I worked on Friday and went into labor on Saturday. DS was born Sunday and maternity leave started Monday.

With DS2, I went into labor at work on a Thursday and DS was born very early Friday morning.

I wanted to maximize the time I spent with them after they were born so I refused to take any time off beforehand. But then I live in the U.S. where maternity leave policies are barbaric and absolutely suck.

I went at 37 weeks. I could have easily gone to full term but I have a non physical job and easy pregnancies. I guess I would have worried about going into labour at work.

I’ve gone at 34 weeks although technically first couple of weeks are annual leave. I’m NHS employee so maternity leave package is amazing and I am taking a year off. I’m exhausted already and anxious about rising Covid cases in my area so wanted to leave ASAP and hunker down for the last few months.

I've been really poorly so I'm starting maternity at 29 weeks and going back 8 months later

Annual leave from 36.5 weeks then mat leave from the week I'm due. I'll take a year then add on my accrued annual leave.

I'm not self employed though, I'd probably work as late as possible if I was

I was planning on having 4 weeks to prepare but DS came at 34 weeks.

I would say to leave it as late as possible as it's horrible leaving them again when it's over (or at least it was for me!)

I worked up until my due date both times. I preferred to have my time off after my DDs arrived.

In your situation you could tail off rather than end abruptly?

I'd aim for 38 weeks but it really is hard to know how you'll be doing by then. I had to go on mat leave early when I got carpal tunnel so badly, I could barely use my hands! On the other hand, if you feel fine then sitting around doing nothing for potentially a month is really dull.

I worked until thr Tuesday, and went into hospital for induction on Thursday. I think it depends on your job.

I went off at 29 weeks, but I knew I was not going back so didn't have to save it for after.
My sister in law went off at 39 weeks because she was going back to work so wanted as much as possible after birth.
So I suppose the answer is people do different things depending on their circumstances and health and all options are equally ok.

I’m going at 38 weeks, but I’ve been using some annual leave to do 4 day weeks for the last couple of months which has worked out well as I’ve been so tired. I was furloughed for a bit this year so had lots left to use, and it’s definitely better for my team/various projects I’ve been responsible for that I’ve been able to push it that far. If I hadn’t been working from home as I have, I might have had to go sooner as I physically couldn’t be doing my commute right now.

I’m also taking a year but 100% going back, though hopefully part time

I officially start my maternity when I'm 39+6. However, I have annual leave to take so I finished work yesterday at 38+3.
If it wasn't for A/L I would of continued to work up until my due date.

I finished at 37 weeks, but DC was 8 days late so I ended up with nearly a month off before he arrived.

I'm an academic and I went with due date. I'd only end up working unpaid at home anyway. Both were 2 weeks late but I wasn't allowed to work beyond due date which is annoying!

Freelancer here too, last one I went into labour at 40+4. I’ll probably do the same with baby2 in May. Sucks but if you’re not working you’re not earning.

I officially started Mat leave on my due date, but in reality took a week’s holiday beforehand. Baby was 10 days late, so felt like I was off for ages before I actually needed to be off.

My first I finished at 39+4 and went into labour that evening and he came the next day.

With my 2nd I had planned to do the same and finish at 39+4, my consultant had other ideas and late on I was scheduled for an induction at 37 weeks.

I found out on the Tuesday that my induction was planned for the Friday - the Wednesday was going to be my last day. I went into labour after a sweep on Tuesday night, she was born the next day.

My advice is work till the end if you feel you can do.

When I was employed I always started at 37 weeks. Now self employed and I have jobs booked in on baby's due date in December and all the way up to it! I did the same with my last baby 8 years ago too, worked all the way up to birth and had about 2 weeks off after...

Normally as late as possible to have more time off with baby, but depends on work commitments and how they pan out

Teacher here and my last day was Friday 18th September and I was due on Saturday 19th September. However, my bubble at school closed due to a positive Covid case on the Monday so I was at home from then. I only had a few things I could do though so it was a fairly chilled few days. DD was born on Monday 21st spontaneously so that worked out well.

I worked til 3 days before my due date. Went into labour the day after I finished work. Worked well for me, I had an easy pregnancy and wanted as much time with my baby as possible.

Stopped at 38 weeks with first baby and he was 2 weeks late so had a month off, which was great. I’m 37 weeks now and trying to decide whether to do another 1 or 2 weeks at work - I’m wfh so it’s fine.