When are you planning to start maternity leave?

[TheFamousMrEd]

I’m currently only 16 weeks but Work are wanting me to give them a rough idea of when I will be going off on mat leave. I have no idea what is normal, but was thinking 3 weeks before my due date.

When did you/are you planning to finish?

I think it depends on what you do. I work a moderately physical job and went at 35 weeks with my first and have just left at 31 weeks with my second. I was really struggling with so much walking etc with pelvic pain. If I had a desk job, I think I'd be inclined to work until 36-37 weeks.

I have no idea and I'm 28 weeks 🙈

My work asked my husband when he's taking his paternity leave , haven't asked me when I'm taking maternity leave 🤔

I think it all depends on what kind of job you do, if you're on your feet a lot or mostly at a desk. I know I'd stay a bit longer if I didn't have a manual handling job.

I’ve got a desk job, so could definitely stay a bit longer. The only thing I may struggle with is the 1hr30min commute each way towards the end, but it depends on the situation with WFH by September.

currently 27w...
just decided I'm going to 38w - do an office job and 40min drive each way, but been feeling fine so far.

mat leave starts at 39w, and then I've got a week holiday to take before that... I want to use as much holiday and time when LO is here.

Got a deadline I want to see out, but it's difficult to know how I'll feel in 10 weeks time so hoping work will be flexible.

@stopchewingeverything

I think it depends on what you do. I work a moderately physical job and went at 35 weeks with my first and have just left at 31 weeks with my second. I was really struggling with so much walking etc with pelvic pain. If I had a desk job, I think I'd be inclined to work until 36-37 weeks.

This. It really does depend on what kind of job you do, and your health near the end. I finished at 31 weeks with my first. It was a few weeks too early, but I moved to a different city so didn't have a choice. I'll be finishing at 28 weeks this time, because of the way the summer holidays fall (I'm a teacher). Otherwise, I think I would have been aiming for 34wks. My first came at 38wks, so I am expecting this one to be slightly early too.

@TheFamousMrEd it’s a tricky one because I’m not sure what I’ll be feeling like in the third trimester. I’m currently as pregnant as you are and have no idea when to go off. I’m due in September

I've had 2 maternity leaves. First one I went off 4 weeks early and baby was a week late, second one I stopped the day of my induction.

You may (like me) appreciate the time at the end of maternity leave much more than before baby arrives. It delays leaving them for a little bit longer.

I'm working from home so scheduled to go off at 38w+1 day, but if this baby turns up early it will be the first to do so in our family. If I was commuting I'd probably have finished a little earlier, or if I'd been in a more manual job or on my feet I'd have finished sooner too.

To be honest I'm now 37+5 and this week is a struggle though I have a lot of other things happening at once, I think I'd have preferred to finish at 37 weeks with hindsight!

I’ve got a few weeks holiday to take as I’ve barely used any so far this year and don’t have many summer plans, so I could use 2 weeks of holiday to finish mid sept and then start mat leave a couple of days before the baby is actually due.

Lots to think about!

I’m due either 23 or 28 September (they keep referring to both and frankly I have no idea lol)

I’m planning on finishing 10th and taking a couple weeks holiday before officially starting maternity leave
Still a bit up in the air though until my 20w scan and confirming dates.,
I’m a solicitor so office based and mostly from home at the moment

I am planning to work right up until 39 weeks (planned c section) but for the last 6 weeks I will take annual leave to make it a four day week. I also have two weeks annual leave booked at 30 weeks so it will hopefully break it up enough.

I had 2 weeks holiday before my due date which was nice to have some me time, although I got bored in week 2. DD considerately arrived on her due date but the process kicked off 2 days before!
A friend of mine had 5 weeks before baby was born and was bored stiff.
I'd say work up to at least 38 weeks so you can have more time with baby when he or she arrives

I was due 10th April. Last day of work was 31st March. Took a day’s annual leave then with Easter weekend my maternity leave started on the 6th of April.

2 weeks before due date for me. Baby arrives after 1.5 weeks so I'm glad I had a bit of time before to rest.

With my first I finished 3 weeks before, she ended up being 2 weeks late so I had 5 weeks off which felt too long.

With this one I'm being C sectioned 4th June, I am finishing on the 28th May. Currently WFH and have been for the last year so I don't want to take more time off before if I don't have to.

I'm also only taking 5 months maternity leave so back in November, which is a driver behind that decision as well.

39 weeks this time. Finished at 37 weeks last time taking some holiday and I was so bored.

I have to take all of my annual leave before I go so my annual leave starts at 31 weeks then maternity leave starts at 37 weeks. My first child was born at 28 weeks so I am not keen to push my luck.

2 weeks before due date just like last time. I also took two weeks annual leave before maternity started so actually had four weeks planned before due date then the little one came a week early!

Just remember the earlier you take maternity leave the earlier you go back once baby is born.

I finished up at 38 weeks with my first 2 (office job). I’m intending to finish up at 38 weeks again with number 3.

I’m due 20th September but will be having a planned c section at least 1 week earlier. I work in a school and will just not be returning following the summer holidays. My official maternity leave is set to start on 2nd September.

I'm finishing at 37+1 using some annual leave and then starting mat leave on my due date (or day baby is born if sooner)

I work a desk job from home but just want a couple of weeks to unwind and enjoy some sunshine hopefully!

I’m due 7 weeks today and planning on finishing work a week before the due date. I’m feeling good for the moment and will be working from home until then which I think makes my decision easier. If I was commuting then I don’t think I’d be saying the same but I have a fair amount of flexibility in the working day to take breaks and relax a little!

Also to add, in my previous pregnancies when I had a desk job I worked up to my planned c section dates. It’s only this job that I have a more physical job as a science technician so I’m on my feet all day. If I was still working my old jobs I’d have gone to c section date.

Thanks for sharing your plans/experiences.

I’m leaning towards two weeks of AL, then maternity leave starting the day before my DD.

First pregnancy (physical job on feet all day and morning sickness all pregnancy) finished at 38 weeks having taken one days annual leave for previous four weeks.
Second pregnancy was twins and got signed off sick at 26 weeks.
My advice has always been say you'll stop at 40 weeks as you can always bring the date forward (as I did with dc1) but most work places won't let you push the date back. You can also look at using annual leave leading up to the due date.