Due July 21 - when to start maternity leave?

[MoscowMuse]

Hi all,

Hoping for some advice. This is my first baby, I'm 34 and a civil servant (office based). EDD is first week of July although I'm on the preeclampsia high risk pathway so it may be the case that im not allowed to go past EDD, subject to how things develop over the next few months.

Obviously at the moment im WFH so don't need to worry about commuting into the office, but need to give notice of my mat leave quite soon and i really don't know how much time i should take off before baby is born?

I think i would prefer to take more time once baby is born but also want to be realistic about how I'll be feeling in the run up to the due date. Is finishing at 38 weeks unrealistic? Should i be thinking about finishing earlier? I'll be taking approx 9 months mat leave and likely returning 3 days a week instead of full time at the minute.

Any advice from those who have already been there gratefully received! Thanks

Leave it as late as you can. I finished 6 days before I was due my first. Working from home I'd say 39 weeks would be fine. You can always bring it forward if they wanted to start you off earlier but you can't move it back.

Hi Im due my first early July as well. I havent got my maternity fully sorted just yet. However my plan is to finish on 18th June - 2 weeks annual leave & then start my official maternity on 5th July. Im due the 9th. I'll be 37wks when i finish (if im able to last this long). You might need a few weeks of nesting before the baby comes along. Xx

Thanks both! Sounds like aiming for 37-39 might be ok then. We live in London so if i was having to get the tube, i think it might be a different story but hoping WFH will help me to keep going a bit longer than i otherwise might have done!

@Julybaby2021 part annual leave, part mat leave also could be doable. Good luck to you too!

I planned for working up until 39 weeks, but I told my boss that I was ‘too big’ to commute that final week - and they allowed me to WFH. This was before covid WFH and in a company that always hated it.
How about saving your annual leave until after baby is born and tagging it onto the en dog your mat leave.
Friends of mine have accrued so much it’s allowed them to go back full time for the first few months, but taking two days of annual leave each week (getting full time pay) then dropping to part time when they run out.
You can calculate it all in advance so everyone knows where they are. The full pay will certainly help after nine months of mat pay!

It's fascinating how we all have different views.

I'm 36 weeks on Friday and finish work then. Been WFH. My job is mentally stressful so I wanted to give myself more time away before baby came to get in the zone of having a baby- and a rest before! I also have pelvic pain which doesn't help.

I think could have pushed it to 37 weeks next time but I wouldn't try for longer. Babies can turn up early (despite all of us being told on our first time we'll be really overdue!) And you aren't sleeping so well at the end etc. I'm looking forward to having one less thing to think about when I finish work.

I’m due in May, but I’m going off at 39 weeks, though I’m being medically suspended from Friday due to covid. I’m really hoping that I don’t have to go back before maternity starts because I was already getting tired at 27 weeks!

Thanks everyone - really appreciate the views!

Think that i am going to finish at 38-39 (we'll see how the next few weeks go. At the moment im working long hours even though from home) with 5 days annual leave before and then save all my accrued leave for after mat leave to spread out for some part time working (thanks for the tip @Lisyloo725!)

I'm due on the 23rd July but having twins so if I haven't had them by 37 weeks I'll be induced and have been diagnosed with PGP so I've decided with HR I'll go off around the 11th of June, but WFH already so it's not set in stone and we can move it, I didn't want to be off so early as i would rather have more time the other end but trying not to use annual leave so I can use that if I need to.

Amazing @MoscowMuse

Wishing you lots of luck and gorgeous baby cuddles very soon!

Haha I’ve planned exactly the same dates as @Julybaby2021

I will be 37w but having baby by planned CS at 39w

I also work from home so feel 2 weeks in enough time to wind down and get prepared.

It’s my third baby

Also due first week of July! I went as soon as i could in my last pregnancy due to spd. I am suffering already but currently furloughed so no commute / can take it easy more. I definitley won't go past 34 weeks will have to see how it goes with a) furlough and b) the spd