When are you starting mat leave?

[Threebecomesfour]

I'm planning on taking annual leave from 37 weeks and then mat leave begins the day I have my c section (39 weeks). Just interested in other people's plans, really.

My last day at work is 38+1 with my mat leave starting on my due date. However since 33 weeks I've not been working a full week, as my fibromyalgia has been kicking my butt, so taking a few extra days off here and there to make the weeks a little easier. I'm working from home though which has definitely helped!

Couldn't agree more. Wfh/not commuting has massively helped me getting to this point even. Sorry to hear re your fibromyalgia is bad, my husband has suffered from that on and off.

I'm taking it around 36 weeks (only 6 weeks to go!!). I know lots of people recommend working up until the birth but I would like a few weeks to relax before it and to get things ready. Also, I hear the final weeks can be tiring.

I’m starting mine at 36 weeks using my annual leave then taking my official mat leave from the week I’m due. Can’t come soon enough!

With my first I worked up to 38 weeks and the last two weeks were horrendous! I do think it's partly impacted by time of year and job type though - it was during a heatwave and I'm an infant teacher so spend all my time either on the floor or on 4 year old sized furniture! Perhaps I would have found it easier if it was an office job and winter.

I finished work on a Friday at 38weeks and then went into Labour 3 days later. I wasn't mentally prepared at all as I was still coming out of work mode.

I've said ever since then that I'd finish at 36 weeks next time round.

Definitely. Both my kids have/will have May birthdays and I think it really helps as you end up never being pregnant during the summer.
I can definitely feel myself slowly down earlier with my second pregnancy, probably a combo of age, toddler and body has already done it once!
3 more weeks and counting!

I'm now in my last 2 weeks of work as I finish next Friday 9th - I will be 37+3. Taking 2 weeks annual leave then starting mat leave the day before I'm due (27th) - the countdown is on!

@CheeseandWine91

I'm now in my last 2 weeks of work as I finish next Friday 9th - I will be 37+3. Taking 2 weeks annual leave then starting mat leave the day before I'm due (27th) - the countdown is on!

Not long to go now! These last weeks do seem to crawl!!

I'm taking annual leave from 37 weeks and starting mat leave from my due date. I love my job and can work from home but honestly it can't come soon enough. I'm looking forward to hopefully having a few weeks to myself and getting to chill out before the baby comes. It'll be summer too so it'll nice not to have to worry about trying to work when I'm massive and hot.

I had to go on leave at 32 weeks with DD2 as I couldn’t cross a room without palpitations. And the breathlessness was insane. I told one of the Drs I work with (she is senior to me so I was nervous about it) and she said “thank god you have looked crap for weeks.”It’s amazing how late we work considering what’s going on in there.

Am currently WFH due to Covid risk in work.

At moment I will be off from 37 weeks.

@Spudina

I had to go on leave at 32 weeks with DD2 as I couldn’t cross a room without palpitations. And the breathlessness was insane. I told one of the Drs I work with (she is senior to me so I was nervous about it) and she said “thank god you have looked crap for weeks.”It’s amazing how late we work considering what’s going on in there.

Omg you poor thing! Good that you had a supportive manager. Yeah when you think about it, we do really push ourselves.

I’ve just been working this out in the last week or so! Will take a week annual leave at 38 weeks then start mat leave at 39 weeks when I’ll be having a c section sometime that week. Pushing it to the last I know but would rather have more time off afterwards. First baby so have nothing to compare it to!

@TheGlitterFairy

I’ve just been working this out in the last week or so! Will take a week annual leave at 38 weeks then start mat leave at 39 weeks when I’ll be having a c section sometime that week. Pushing it to the last I know but would rather have more time off afterwards. First baby so have nothing to compare it to!

Exciting! Good luck with it all

My last day is 16th so I'll be 34 weeks on my first non working day and I can't wait 🥳🥳

I’m finding it hard to decide!

I’m having twins. My hospital says they deliver them at 38 weeks (latest). So I’m really not sure how long to take. I’m thinking of aiming for 34 weeks depending on how huge I get.

I work from home so have an easy job. But at the same time, I want to take some time for myself to nest (rest and sleep/ eat all day). Before the chaos.

I took mat leave at 32 weeks with DD! I don’t regret it, it was even a very easy pregnancy and I had a lovely chilled time, did some studying for an exam and had plenty of annual leave so was still off for a year.

I think those weeks before the baby comes should be for you to enjoy. It’s all about looking after yourself and I think that’s really important.

I’m working from home but really struggling with being alone all day tied to a desk. I’m starting mat leave at 38 weeks, but using my annual leave before so I’ll be off from 33 weeks. 3 weeks to go!