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?

I'm finishing at 39 +2. I've been working from home. My baby is due the week after on the 24th of February.

I went off at 37 weeks. Baby was born at 37+1. Not ideal. I don’t think I would go off earlier next time though as it has meant I had extended time with him after the birth and an accident let to my labour rather than it starting naturally.

Hey, it's standard where I work to go on leave at 38 weeks, that's what I'm planning to do this time - although I did go into labour just over a week early with my first so will see!

I worked in retail while pregnant with my first and switched jobs in the middle because the first was too hectic - very busy major high street shop with 10 tills and no opportunity to sit down. Second job was way calmer, nice little shop where I could sit at the till on a yoga ball :)

Really depends where you work but I'd say 38 weeks should be fine...especially as it depends how much time you're getting. I'm only getting six weeks full pay so I want to get as much time post-birth as I can.

@georgarina I only get 6 weeks at 90% pay and then statutory maternity for the rest! That’s why I’ve tried to hold off till 38 weeks and use my holiday allowance to get those extra weeks of pay! Doesn’t help with furlough currently either, ha, timed this wrong

@BlueberryPancake21 @Newmumtobeee @Kakapop - I've already checked and rechecked. I'm taking 11 months of Mat leave. I'll be into my annual leave allocation for next year, but will be rolling over a bit from this year (max allowed), plus my bank holidays plus some of my next year's annual leave allocation, and it really will be fine!! I get way too much holiday anyway!

Personally I wish I'd finished at 36 weeks, I finished at 37 on annual leave but had her at 38 weeks, I was so tired in the last month, the weather was hot and I was getting hardly any sleep and found work exhausting. I was still on annual leave not actually maternity leave when she was born, which messed with leave dates a bit as I had to go to maternity leave the day I gave birth.