When did you start mat leave?

[Bunny2021]

I'm currently 21+5 with our first baby and starting to really think about when to start my mat leave.

I work in a really small team so don't want to make things difficult for the team but also not sure what to do.

I'm due end of July and was considering stopping work on 16 July (about 10 days prior to my due date). I will be able to continue to work from home between now and my due date so won't have to commute the 1+hour into London.

I've heard that first baby is often late. However, a couple of my friends have had theirs arrive early and I'm now worried that 10 days won't be sufficient time. It's also going to be summer, so assuming that I'm going to be hot and uncomfortable!

I finished work on a Friday & had my baby on the Wednesday after. Wasn't exactly what I had in mind lol

I work in a school and will be 31 weeks as we break up for the 6 week summer holidays.

I will be having an elective section at around 38 weeks so will start my mat leave at the start of September just as we would be returning to work.

In my previous pregnancies I’ve had elective sections at 38 weeks and finished at 37 weeks.

My first day of leave was the day DC were born each time (35+0 and 36+6). At least with DC2 I had finished up on the Friday and had them on the Sunday.

It really depends on the type of job you do and how your pregnancy is progressing. With my first I went off at 36 weeks, I was induced 2 days later, which failed and she was born at 37 weeks. I went from working full time to having a baby, no rest or downtime.

I went off at 36 weeks with ds but he wasn't born till 40 weeks. I had to go in for regular monitoring every few days but was still able to wash and set up baby clothes and get myself prepared.

With my current pregnancy I intend to take two weeks holiday at the end of July and my maternity will start on the 1st of August, I am due on the 1st of September. I have had two sections and it is unlikely that I will be allowed to go overdue.

I am a pharmacist and stand on my feet all day. I'm looking forward to spending some time with my other children and getting my dd ready for school. As well as some rest before the baby arrives. Previous experience has shown that I tend to have a difficult third trimester so I am looking forward to some downtime.

If you are in an active job I would go earlier, if in a desk job or working from home and no major issues I would go as late as possible.

My contract said I could go from 29 weeks and had to go by 34 weeks. So I went at 34 weeks with DS1 and 29 weeks with DS2.

38 weeks with dc1 (was a nurse on my feet all day if I'd have had a desk job would have worked longer).
26 week with dt- was signed off sick then admitted to hospital, maternity leave started at 36 weeks.
Put down as late as possible you can always finish earlier if its too much but if you put down 35weeks and you actually feel fine to continue it's too late to change your mind.

My maternity actually started a week after DS was born. I saved most of my holiday so went off at about 36 weeks. It was a very active role on my feet for 10+ hours a day and felt okay otherwise would have taken mat leave earlier.
I knew I was going to be induced as had GD.
DS was also due in July. Took my holiday middle of June and had DS at 38+3.

Went on maternity leave at 36 weeks, so glad I did as my lb came at 38 weeks exactly and he was my first baby.

I'm using my annual leave to reduce my weeks down to 3 days, then il take a full week annual leave and one week mat leave before DD. So I essentially hope to finish 37+5 fingers crossed!

If I was WFH, I would start mat leave as late as possible. My DD arrived 10 days early, and I have an active job, so will probably aim to finish around 36/37 weeks this time.

Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I think I'm going to take annual leave at the start of July to take my mat leave up to close to my due date. That way work can still message when I'm on leave if really urgent.

I finished at 37+6 and had her at 38+1! Going off at 36 weeks this time to spend some time with DD before DS arrives.

I’m due 30th July so sounds like we have similar due dates

I finished at 35 weeks with my first baby but I was teaching full time then... technically mat leave started at 37 weeks after the hols. This time I'm working from home due to pregnancy so I'm finishing at 36 +3. Technically my mat leave starts at 39 weeks after the hols though. I'm so big and uncomfy though that I couldn't face working and sitting at my desk any longer. It was actually easier being up and about in the classroom last time.

I started my maternity leave at 39 weeks, last day at work 38+4 due to the weekend baby arrived 38+6!
I had a week of baking and me time I was editing my online shopping basket at 4am in labour to swap the baking ingredients for easy to eat foods!
I would finish at 38 weeks if I was to do it again

I left work on the Friday, I wasn't due for another 2 weeks. The following monday I was in labour and he was born on Tuesday 10 days early 😂
This time I'm taking all my annual leave prior to maternity, so will finish work in August due in october 😁

@PurpleFlower1983 my due date is 31st July 

@Bunny2021 I'm planning on taking annual leave before my due date so hopefully finishing work around week 37 so I can have some time to potter about and not do much before she's due

My leave will depend on my job as starting to struggle and only 23 weeks I don’t know how people work to 38 weeks and beyond! I’m due to leave at 36 weeks taking annual leave before maternity pay starts but work in a day nursery and finding the up and down hard going then the backache

Technically 2 days after DS was born... and he’d never been early for anything since...

With DC1 finished at 37+4 when we completed on house purchase and oversaw refurb until DC1 arrived.
With DC2 2 years later finished at 38+3, DC2 arrived a week later. I was 41, just wanted to maximise time with DC