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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When are you planning to start maternity leave?

59 replies

TheFamousMrEd · 20/04/2021 10:58

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?

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HarleyQuinn21 · 20/04/2021 13:49

I started mat leave at 29 weeks because of how unwell I was but I wanted to wait until 35 weeks

marriedthegambler · 20/04/2021 13:49

I work in a hospital so made to work from home from 28 weeks. I have a physical job and found that a lot easier than sitting all day. Now sitting at a computer most of the day and I find that much harder as everything gets very stiff.

I went off at 35 weeks with my first. 1 weeks holiday then Mat leave starting 36 weeks.

With this one I'll go off at 35 weeks, 3 weeks annual leave and Mat leave to start at 38 weeks.

Volcanoexplorer · 20/04/2021 13:50

Think it depends on your job. I’m a secondary teacher so on my feet a lot and the job is generally pretty tiring. With dc 1 I was off over summer then started my mat leave officially on 1st Sept so I technically started my leave 9 days before due date. In reality though I was off far earlier. With dc2 I’d planned to go 2 weeks before my planned c-section, but in the end it just got too much and I went a week earlier than planned. If I had an office job or was able to work from home I would have managed the last week, but I just couldn’t in school.

worrybutterfly · 20/04/2021 13:52

I worked to 37 weeks with my first, but used holiday to cut my days down to 3 days a week from 32 weeks.

I had an office job so to actual work wasn't an issue. But the long commute on train with a walk either side was torture.

PinkPlantCase · 20/04/2021 13:56

I’m planning to finish 4 weeks before my due date. I did have as just 2 weeks before but brought it forward. There are lots of reasons why baby may need to be brought earlier, eg. If they were breech, If I had GD or something else!

I do also have a stressful role which even with me supposedly winding down still has long hours. I couldn’t cope if I didn’t have 2 weeks off to relax from work before baby is born.

For me I decided that I’d rather be bored and have too long off before baby comes than risk having no buffer or only a small buffer between work and baby.

crobo87 · 20/04/2021 15:16

I work from home
So planning to start Mat leave at 38 weeks. However, I'm trying to save my annual leave so I'll have 2 weeks to take beforehand technically finishing at 36 weeks

PurplePinkParade · 20/04/2021 15:20

I finished at 34 weeks with my first, not really out of choice but because we were moving area then so made no sense to drive 1.5 hours each way for my minimum wage (at the time) job. She arrived at 41+6 and I was bored out of my mind, nearly 2 months with nothing to do!!

I'm due to have another baby this year and it really depends on my working situation. Currently, I'm working from home entirely so live on the sofa under my blanket. If that continues all year then I'll work right up until baby comes. If we're back in the office I'll be finishing at 39 weeks, unless signs indicate baby will be coming early!

MeadowHay · 20/04/2021 15:30

Last time I finished at 37 weeks, took 3 weeks annual leave then my mat leave started the day before my due date (and DC was born on her due date!). I only got SMP and could only afford to take the paid leave. This time, as DH is earning we can afford for me to take the full 12 months or thereabouts, so I think I will probably go off sooner. Especially as I have a toddler so more tired and more pressures on my time to sort things out...I'm thinking around 34 weeks maybe. It's early compared to most people but I have a feeling this next one will come earlier than the last and I'd love a few weeks to rest and get myself sorted prior to the baby coming. I won't feel any need to stay as late as possible knowing I'm going to take 11/12/13 months off as opposed to only 10 last time.

notalwaysalondoner · 20/04/2021 18:17

I'm going for 1 week before my due date as (a) I think my due date is 4-5 days early and (b) my friends who live in countries where you have to finish 4-6 weeks before your due date said it was boring and frustrating and you become fixated on the birth and (c) I'm confident my work will carry on letting me WFH (we're only officially going back to the office at the end of June and I'm due end of July).

LauEli · 20/04/2021 19:26

16 weeks here too 😁
Taking 7 weeks annual leave prior to maternity as that's my 2021 entitlement. Then start maternity a week before due date.
First baby. I left work on the Friday for what I thought was 2 weeks annual leave... He arrived on the Tuesday 😂

sarah13xx · 20/04/2021 19:34

I’m really lucky because I’m a teacher and will be working from home from 28 weeks (next month) then my baby will be born on one of the last days of the summer holidays so I will have been off on full pay since 33 weeks but won’t have to officially start my maternity leave til 39/40 weeks 😊 Have seen a lot of other people say 36-38 weeks. If I was in school full time until then I think I would really struggle 🤪

NatalieH2220 · 20/04/2021 19:38

I finished at 36 weeks on both occasions. Office based so could've gone longer but wanted some quiet time before baby came along

whattocallhim · 20/04/2021 19:48

Without your commute I'd prob finish around 37 weeks. The commute would make a big difference, I'd say you would want to be finished by 35 weeks. Can you work from home at all? Sorry if already been asked I've not read all the replies.

strawberryplum993 · 20/04/2021 19:55

I’m currently 30 weeks and WFH. I’ve chosen to take 2 weeks AL off before my due date and start my mat leave on my due date. I had 2 weeks holiday I needed to use before my leave (I get it back if baby comes early).
Pre covid I was commuting into London and think I would have taken more time off if I needed to commute but as I’m currently WFH working until I’m towards the end of 37 weeks made sense for me :)

TangledNemo · 20/04/2021 20:30

I have accounting exams during week 36, so I’m going off at 33 weeks to study (next Friday). I hate my job so want out asap, but I wanted to time it so I’ll still be on maternity for exams next year too.

LemonRizzle · 20/04/2021 21:24

I'm 35 weeks, starting mat leave on my due date! I'm still going in to work but can work from home when I feel like it so might do in the last week or 2

swiftt · 20/04/2021 21:32

My maternity leave starts at 38 weeks, but I’ve taken 5 weeks of annual leave before that so finish this week at 33 weeks.

TheCheeseBadge · 20/04/2021 21:34

I went to 38 weeks with my first and to be honest I think I waited too long. I had horrific SPD and as soon as my mat leave started and I could rest a bit it really improved. I was also completely exhausted by about 34 weeks and had to use some annual leave to work shorter weeks.

This time I think I'm going to go off at 33 / 34 weeks. I know I'm having a section at 39 weeks and I'll be looking after my older DC while I'm off too so won't be bored! I am also not going back after Mat leave ends because I'm in the process of re-training so I'm not worried about having more time at the end.

WaitingForNormality · 20/04/2021 21:37

I'm going to be off from 37 weeks. Planned section booked for 39wks so it gives me 2 weeks to relax and prepare before baby

Sceptre86 · 21/04/2021 06:24

I am stood up all day in my job and work in healthcare. I went at 36 weeks with my dd and had to be induced two days after so I had no time to be bored or do any of the things I had planned before dd arrived.

With my ds I was working part time and again went off at 36 weeks. He was born on his due date by section but I was kept busy by looking after my dd. I got everything sorted out and was mentally prepared. I had washed and ironed his clothes, batch cooked meals for my dd and for ourselves, rested plenty.

This time I am taking 2 weeks annual leave at 33 weeks and will be going off at 35 weeks. My 3rd trimester is where in previous pregnancies things have gone to pot so I want to keep myself as calm as possible, away from any work stresses.

Grognonne · 21/04/2021 07:01

My maternity leave starts on my c-section date, but taking 4 days annual leave beforehand. I’d prefer to spend more time with the baby - surely there’s only so much cleaning etc you can do, I don’t have a huge house!! Everyone I spoke to said leave it as late as possible as they were bored stiff!!

murmurlade · 21/04/2021 07:16

Does anyone know the rules around annual leave? I've read the general government guidance (which I think is actually law but forgive me if I'm wrong) that you continue to accrue annual leave while on maternity, so can you tack that on to the end of your maternity leave? e.g. if you get 28 days' annual leave in a year does that mean you could add roughly another 4 weeks onto the end of your maternity before you have to go back?

And secondly, thinking about annual leave before you go on maternity, is it just down to your employer whether you can carry that over? Or say you took 2 weeks' annual leave before maternity started, but your baby comes straight away triggering maternity leave, do you just lose that 2 weeks of leave you'd booked?

It's sooo baffling to me! Obviously I can speak to HR but just trying to plan my year a bit and I don't want to let work know yet! So grateful for your insights!!!

Sansa87 · 21/04/2021 07:24

@murmurlade our holiday year is April to April. Where I was medically suspended due to covid, I’ve used 4 weeks annual leave before going on maternity, and will add the other two weeks at the end of it.

In my maternity letter I was told that it was managers discretion if I wanted/needed to carry holiday over that I accrue during maternity leave.

murmurlade · 21/04/2021 07:27

Thanks @Sansa87 so it was basically presumed that you would take it at the end of your maternity leave? Is that what you mean, rather than then having a year of accrued leave to use alongside the following year's normal allowance? I think I am misunderstanding! Sorry!

Sansa87 · 21/04/2021 08:04

@murmurlade yes, always assumed I’d take it all at the end, I just switched it up. I was told that the work place would always assume the mum would take the full year unless otherwise specified, so the holiday would need to be used

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