When did you start your maternity leave?

[Firstimehere]

I’m a manager at a busy restaurant and I’m struggling to decide when to take maternity leave. I’m currently 20 weeks and have already got back pain, and my body aches from walking so much in my job. I know everyone’s different but at what week did you take maternity leave?

I had a job where I was also on my feet for my 9 hour shift. I took maternity leave 4 weeks before my DD and as soon as I stopped walking so much I got horribly swollen legs & feet and couldn’t even bend my ankles!
DS arrived 2 weeks early so I only had 2 weeks of putting my sore feet up.

Teacher here, started at 38+3, went into labour at 40+1.

I work in a nursery. Finished at 36 weeks, (we had finished for Christmas so seemed a good idea to finish at the end of a term) baby came at 41+4 so had quite a while off before he came, but couldn’t have physically done a 45 hr week on my feet any longer! If you’re struggling could you take some annual leave when you finish so that you can finish a couple of weeks earlier? Might make it a little bit easier knowing that the ‘end’ is closer!

With my first I put holidays in at 28 weeks upto week 33 then went on Mat leave. It was early but the best decision I made. I was shattered, sick all day, sore, and very tired. Not travelling into work and dealing with work issues was a major relief! Do what’s right for you, there is no medal for who stays on working for the longest xxx

The better rested you are the better start you get with baby so think off that xx

38 weeks, but I had a desk job and an easy pregnancy.

I have holidays in from 34 weeks and start maternity leave officially at 36 weeks, i work in retail and have struggled with the walking about all day, only another 4 weeks to work woohoo 🤣

I started mine at 34 weeks I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open through a shift so glad I have some time to relax before baby arrives

I think I officially started mine at 38/39 weeks with both babies, however I used annual leave to finish at 35 weeks. Although I sit at a desk all day, I found the commute very difficult and struggled massively with back pain and swollen feet. I also had terrible pregnancy insomnia and reflux so had very little sleep the whole way through. By the end, I was completely and utterly exhausted. I also had Braxton Hicks which was very painful and quite alarming for my coworkers.

Quite a few people said I was going too early and that I would be bored, however I was absolutely miserable working and really needed the time to rest before the birth.

I finished yesterday at 35+5. My job role has been less active since 28 weeks and I’m pretty much desk based but I was very ready to finish. I’m taking a few weeks holiday before my actual mat leave starts a few days before my due date.

About 38 weeks. Pregnancy insomnia and carpal tunnel syndrome put the decision out of my hands really, by that point I could barely use my brain or hands!

37.5 weeks. I was 15 days overdue though so it seemed like forever that I was sat around doing nothing.

busy retail job here, with my first i took annual leave at 38 weeks and mat leave at 39, baby was born 41+2. swore i’d never do that again and would go earlier but here we are again, 36 weeks tomorrow with annual leave booked for 38 and mat leave starting the week of my due date 😂

37 weeks because I had to be admitted to hospital otherwise it was going to be 38 weeks. Baby born at 38 weeks.

With my older child I went at 38 weeks, born at 39.

37+5, the day I gave birth! I was still doing hand over after my waters broke.

Office job, so sat down a lot. Started mat leave at 38wks, he came at 41wks. I was quite bored and was irritated by the waiting as I was well and mobile. It was Dec so cold and dark, so was stuck home a lot

My ML started at 34 weeks but my official finishing date was 32 weeks as it was Christmas. I actually had to stop work at 29 weeks as my husband was very ill & I was suffering with high blood pressure. It was a good job that I finished when I did as I was admitted to hospital.at 36+3 & ds born at 36+6.

Thanks for everyone’s comments! I think I’m going to take maternity from 37 weeks but add two weeks annual leave onto it so I’ll actually be going off at 35 weeks! I just don’t want to take it too early, I’ll see how I get on anyway :)

My due date, so at 40wks is when I stopped FT work for mine. But office job/sedentary and I’d put a box under my desk so I could elevate my legs.

I'm stopping at 26 weeks - so less than 2 weeks to go! :D

@Firstimehere

Thanks for everyone’s comments! I think I’m going to take maternity from 37 weeks but add two weeks annual leave onto it so I’ll actually be going off at 35 weeks! I just don’t want to take it too early, I’ll see how I get on anyway :)

Sounds like a good plan.

I work in obstetric theatres, so a mix of busy manual work standing on my feet, interspersed with periods of waiting. My plan was to start maternity leave on due date (because first babies are "always late"...) and take annual leave from 36 weeks (I wasn't allowed to carry any over).

Instead, I was admitted to hospital the day before I was supposed to finish. As it was a pregnancy related sickness after 36 weeks, maternity leave started immediately. Fortunately, all that annual leave I was supposed to have was allowed to be carried over. It was tacked onto the end of my maternity leave instead, so I didn't lose out on anything. Had my baby at 37+1. All was well.