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?

@Sansa87 Thanks that's really helpful!

@murmurlade my workplace allow some annual leave to be carried over at discretion of manager. Then obviously the year you are off you still accrue annual leave but they cannot make you take that before you come back.

Aaaah, thanks @Horehound. I'm a pretty long way off this yet, but you know when you want to plan out how much leave you've got for the next few months. Wasn't sure whether to use up my leave (if it's use it or lose it) or save, save, save. Sounds like I need to see what my own employer does. Sorry OP didn't mean to derail the thread but you got me thinking... when COULD I?! ☺️

Started mat leave on my due date, but took a week’s holiday beforehand. Baby was nine days late, so was glad to I hadn’t gone off any earlier (but I was well and don’t have a manual job. I actually felt great for the last few weeks of my pregnancy). The worst bit was the train commute, where I didn’t always get a seat, but otherwise it was fine. I’m pregnant again and will likely do similar, all going well.

@murmurlade

Aaaah, thanks *@Horehound*. I'm a pretty long way off this yet, but you know when you want to plan out how much leave you've got for the next few months. Wasn't sure whether to use up my leave (if it's use it or lose it) or save, save, save. Sounds like I need to see what my own employer does. Sorry OP didn't mean to derail the thread but you got me thinking... when COULD I?! ☺️

Yeh deffo. Find out your employer's policy. I know what you mean. I'm not saving mine up. I carried over two weeks from the last time I was pregnant and then on top of the full year accused honestly it was too much. On top of going back to work 3 days rather than 5..I was barely in work and found it a hindrance really. I actually increased to work 4 days too because I had so much work to do 3 days wasn't enough!

So this year I'm Gona space out my annual leave but use it all up before maternity. Prob use two weeks of it right before I start my maternity to give me more time off before the birth. But I'll not carry over any I don't think.

33 weeks but I have difficult pregnancies and I'm expecting to be brought in for section at 37-38 weeks. I'll have almost a full years annual leave accrued when I go back so that'll lengthen it on the other side.

With my first I stopped at 36 weeks, took to weeks annual leave then mat leave started at 38 weeks. Ds born at 38+3 (induced due to GD) so it worked out great. Still in the same job and will probably do the same this time if I have GD again

I'm FTM and stopping at 36 weeks (including using 2 weeks of annual leave rather than all mat leave). I want a few weeks to chill and feel really prepared. I know what I'm like and it will take me at least a week to fully switch off from work. Also I'm due in July so hoping those few weeks will be lovely weather and I can spend time with friends and family.

Taking maternity from my due date and two weeks annual leave before.
Although I have more if I need to finish earlier, otherwise the annual leave will be on the end of my maternity leave next year.