Is 35 weeks too early?

[Gabriella93]

I'm due to start my maternity leave at 35 weeks but now I am wondering am I being lazy and is this too early?

A couple people at work have asked why I am going so early even though none of them have had a baby before, and now it's made me feel bad like I need to justify it.

My job isn't physical, I do work in an office but it is a stressful environment, long hours and no breaks and it isn't normal office times. I work 7am - 4pm and 1pm - 10pm so my sleep is all over the place, plus I have terrible hip and leg pains.

Am I being lazy or is 35 weeks okay?

35 weeks is quite normal!

Amongst my friends there has been massive variation.

Make the most of the time before baby arrives, rest and stock up on sleep!

I think it’s really a personal choice,I had some annual leave to take so took that first from about 38 weeks but my mat leave didn’t start until the day before my due date, luckily as I went 10 days overdue. You could go at 35 weeks and have a baby soon and be glad you went off, you could still have 7 baby free weeks so it’s completely up to you

I'd say yes it's too early but if your feeling it just now then you'll be seriously struggling later on so maybe wise to stop now. Pregnancy is tough so ignore any comments. Enjoy your last few weeks of freedom!

You just don't know when baby will come. With my first I stopped at 37wks and was induced at 41 wks and I was sooooo bored. Second time I finished at 37wks again but did the last few days from home as I was very uncomfortable. She was surprisingly born a few days later so I didn't have much time (hadn't even packed my hospital bag 😂).

Forget what other people think. It's up to you. The only downside of going earlier is if you are overdue. Do you have annual leave to use up?

I went at 35+4, when I was deciding I didn’t know if it was going to be too early but when the time came I was glad I had chosen to go then. I worked 12 hour shifts so it was getting very tiring towards the end. DS arrived at 38 weeks as well so only had 2 weeks in the end!

I was meant to finish at 36 weeks but ended up off from 35 weeks as I had such bad pelvic girdle pain I couldn't really walk. I didn't have my son until I was 41 +3! It was a long time to waiting around especially as I couldn't do much with being pretty immobile but I really couldn't have been in work so 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh don’t worry, I took annual leave from 33 weeks and then mat leave started at 36 weeks and I was so glad that I did because I was induced at 38 weeks in the end.

Thank you for all your messages. I could probably work for longer but I know I will be miserable, I can't wait to finish to be honest. The tiredness and hip pain just makes it hard.

I don't really have any annual leave unfortunately, it's a tricky situation work wise - I was made redundant at about 18 weeks pregnant in my last job (thanks Covid) so I have been working in a temporary position since then, so not sure how that works with having holiday entitlement.

My contact finishes here on the 30th, so I made my MA application to start 1st November, but now work want me to stay but I don't think it's possible anyway.

@Rosalie009 that's the same as me really, I am working 10 hour shifts with no break so feeling tired! I also have a feeling the baby will be early for some reason!

I worked until 39 weeks with my first - god knows why I was unbearable and pushed
Myself too far. Only had 5 days to myself and regretted it.
Pregnant now with number 2
And breaking up at 35 weeks this time! Don't worry what others think do what works for you
Xx

I was probably mentally done by about 35 weeks, I had to train my replacement and I couldn’t be bothered! Finished at 37.5 weeks as I wanted as much time post baby as possible. Depends how much time you want off!

It’s your choice, If you’re in a bit of pain now it could be wise. Just remember the earlier you finish, the earlier you have to go back. I plan to finish at 37 week (38 or even 39 if I’m feeling fine) but I work from home, so happy to be later.

I’d rather have the extra time at the other end, but everyone is different. Have you got annual leave accrued? You could always use that

I finished at 35 weeks but have 4 weeks holiday to take so my maternity starts at 40 weeks.
I travel an hour for my job and it was physical so this is why I decided on 35 weeks. I also wanted some weeks to myself to enjoy watching box sets, go for coffee with friends and have some me time before I can't I also have a bad pelvis which is excruciating at times so I know I've made the right decision! It's entirely how you feel, I don't think 35 weeks is early at all x

With my first I worked until the day I went into labour ( 37+1). It’s what worked for me at the time . With my second ( still pregnant) I went at 28 weeks 😯! It was 100% the right decision this time around .

There is nothing lazy about being pregnant, every pregnancy is different and you don’t know when baby will arrive.

I think 35 weeks is perfectly reasonable!

Thank you everyone :)

Don't feel as guilty now. Plus just got told I have PGP so I am relieved to be off next week, it's getting painful now x

I’m 33wks and my last working day is tomorrow. I do have 4weeks of annual leave to use up and didn’t want to start maternity past 38wis as had my 1st at 39wks and 2nd at 38wks. I’ve been WFH since March so not a physical job but I’m exhausted as do not sleep much at night. I won’t be back at work until baby is approx 9mth and other kids back to school in sept as going to use 2wks annual leave tagged onto end so that works well for me.

I have an office job and last time finished at 39+1. I had my baby at 39+6 and also spent a night in hospital with bleeding between that. I regret working that late. The last few weeks I had twice weekly midwife appointments to monitor my blood pressure and had to go to hospital for further monitoring a couple of times. Doing that and work was exhausting and I felt if I'd rested in the last few weeks I would have had a better labour and easier start with my daughter. I wasn't sleeping well at night so a nap each day would have been perfect.

This time I'll go on maternity leave at 36 weeks and might also take some holiday before that. My daughter is at school now so I'll have time to rest in the day.