Maternity Leave?

[Newmumtobeee]

I’ve just had my maternity leave call with HR and have decided I’ll start my maternity leave on my due date but I’ll actually finish work at 38 weeks as I’ll be using 2 weeks holiday beforehand. This is my first pregnancy. I work in retail (obviously not working currently due to lockdown) and will be able to sit on a stool behind the till most of the time so it won’t be too demanding. Will I regret leaving it so short notice at 38 weeks? When have you all decided to stop working?

My last day was 38+5 and I went into labour at 40+1. Great amount of time without me going stir crazy and getting annoyed that with each passing day I'd not gone into labour.

I'm currently 33 weeks and it's my last full week at work!! They have a stupid policy where I have to take all my annual leave before maternity leave and my annual leave year only started in January!!

I feel like I could/should be working longer, but just don't want to lose all my annual leave.

I was similar to you as in had 2 weeks holiday first - this was at 36 weeks. DS arrived bang on 38 weeks, so if I’d waited until then I would have had no maternity leave before he arrived.

Took mine at 39 weeks, I wanted more time with the baby afterwards.

Same as you, I finished today as I’ve got 2 weeks annual leave to take so I’ll be starting my mat leave at just over 38 weeks. Last 2 DC we’re overdue but this one I may need a CS so I may only be on mat leave for a few days before he arrives

This is my first and my last day in office will be 38+1 (I say in office, but it will be WFH). I was going to leave it later but now I'm 28 weeks I'm counting down the days! 😴

I'm not really fussed about having annual leave before maternity. I WFH so I'm going to be sitting here either way with COVID how it is. I'd rather have more time with my baby (and less time paying childcare!) Also I tick every box for increased chance of a late baby so am basically assuming I'll get some time anyway (realise this is a potentially high risk strategy!)

@physicskate that's crap! I know they're allowed to do that with sufficient notice but I've never heard of an employer actually making you do it! Surely it makes no difference to them if you go off earlier or come back later? I hope you manage to enjoy your time off before LO appears.

Sounds like a good plan. I went off at 38 weeks and didn't have ds until 42 weeks. Wouldn't have wanted any more time waiting around but also couldn't have worked beyond 38 weeks as too uncomfortable

@physicskate oh that’s so unfair! My company are making me take the holidays I’ve accumulated this year which is only 10 working days so 2 weeks. I was concerned they’d make me take my full 5 but because my holidays started January and I’m due may, I’ll only have accumulated the 2 weeks. I get to add the other weeks to the end

I left at 38 as well, but baby was then 2 weeks late. It was a long month of doing very little, being very uncomfortable. I’m glad I didn’t take longer off before

I’m going at 35 weeks, but my maternity leave starts at 39 weeks. Similar to previous poster I have to take a whole years worth of annual leave before I go on mat leave hence why I’m going off so early.

1st started mat leave at 38 weeks and induced due to issues at 38+2

2nd started mar leave at 37 weeks and baby was over due

I'm 36 weeks and have one more week to work. Wish i was already finished as I'm struggling, mainly with sitting for long periods.

Like a PP, I finished at 39 weeks but baby didn’t come until 42+1.
No regrets leaving it ‘late’ at all.

I have several friends in Germany and the Netherlands where is is government policy you have to start your maternity leave 4-6 weeks before your due date and they all hated it, got so bored and focused too much on how they were feeling fed up etc. I'm planning probably 1 week before my due date as it's a first baby and I'm very confident on my dates due to ovulation testing. Of course if you have a very physical job you may want longer, or if you are feeling really rough - but you can always change your mind/get a sick note if that's the problem. 2 weeks sounds great.

I’m also due in May and I’ll be starting my mat leave the week I’m actually due. I’m taking 3 weeks holiday beforehand so my last working day I’ll be 36+1. Can’t come soon enough!

@physicskate I think they have to give you a choice between taking your holiday at the beginning or end of your leave. I would look into this if its it's not too late!

26 weeks today and I have currently planned to go at 39 weeks but mainly as I am working from home so makes zero difference to me. It’s my first baby too so I’m expecting him to come later rather than earlier!

I think had we not been in lockdown I probably would have left at 38 weeks but my nursery is already finished so will just be twiddling my thumbs and bouncing on ball non stop!

My last day was yday - I’m 38+5

I’ve been working at home for a year so I was happy to keep busy tbh - not like there’s much going on at the moment! And I’ve had time evenings and weekends to sort out getting all the things for the baby etc so I’m already super prepared!

Now I’ve more time off after baby arrives which is great :)

With DD1 I worked until 38 weeks and was commuting into London three days a week. To be honest, by 35 weeks I was desperate to start maternity leave. The last two weeks were holiday but DD ended up being two weeks late and so I had 4 weeks at home before she arrived. I found that too long really.

With DS, I planned for on having a week off before. I knew he would be induced so I thought I knew when I would give birth. However the induction was pulled forward and so I only had 1 day, which was far from relaxing as I was busy getting things ready.

It's hard to plan really. I think 2 weeks is a nice time to finish off any last jobs and have a relax but you never really know when baby will arrive.

Good luck OP! I'm sure you will make the right decision for you.

I went up to birth (which happened at 38 weeks) and don't regret it. I had an easy pregnancy though - went swimming the day before my waters broke and was in the gym (obviously being a bit more laid back than normal) the week before.

I started maternity leave at 38 weeks and took annual leave from 36 weeks. I had an hour driving commute and wasn’t sure how I’d be, it’s so hard to know! I think I would have been ok to work longer in the end but I had a lovely time - it was a beautiful summer went for walks and coffees, swimming, cinema, naps, saw friends who were on maternity leave, pottered in the house, made a few meals for the freezer. I might be a bit less inclined to do this in the winter in lockdown!

I worked until 40 weeks and don't regret it. I was so miserable and fat and I was glad I kept busy.

4 weeks, just brought it forward as I’m really struggling now sitting at my desk with SPD, also anaemic and very tired. With DC1 worked up until much closer to the due date. This time I want a bit of time to myself to sleep and to get things organised, I’ve been either working or looking after a toddler the whole pregnancy and no rest! I’d think about getting enough time to rest first to prepare for the birth and sleepless nights, especially if by chance they came a bit early! You are important too

I started maternity leave at 38 weeks with my daughter and then had an emergency induction a few days later 🙈 so no time to do all the little bits around the house to prepare for her arrival that I had planned.

This time I'm taking annual leave from 34 weeks and start mat leave at 38 weeks. I have my toddler to spend time with, get the house organised ( I work in a hospital so I'm out most days at the moment). I'm also expecting another early induction so I want to have a bit of time off before this little guy arrives.