When to start maternity leave?

[Sparkles512]

Hi Ladies,

I'm looking for some advice on when I should finish work ready for babys arrival?

I am an employed dog groomer so I do a physical job so think I will take a couple of weeks holiday and then start maternity?

How many weeks did you have off before babys arrival?

Appreciate any advice!

I made the mistake of starting maternity leave at 36 weeks, baby was overdue about 41 and a bit so I spent most of my time after sorting the house being bored and impatient waiting for the baby!

This was at the start of lockdown as well so i pretty much couldn't do anything lol.
My advice would be if it's your first to push maternity leave as late as possible, so 2 weeks before due date max that way you have time to relax for baby and get house ready but not bored out of your skull waiting.
If course this also depends on how you are coping late pregnancy with pain etc, my baby put a lot of pressure on my spine as he was back to back so I could barely walk.

I’m starting mine at 39 weeks! But with the understanding of course that I might go into labour and leave at any minute.

Bit of a different situation though as I’m WFH due to lockdown and have a desk job. My study is three metres from my bedroom door, and I figured I may as well work because I’ll just be sitting around the house otherwise! If it gets really bad I can just use my laptop in bed!

I was planning to start my maternity leave at 38 weeks, the week of my induction but I've had to bring that forward to 36 weeks as I am signed off work with SPD until 1st July. HR wrote to me that as I was signed off post 36 weeks that would trigger my maternity leave to start at 36 weeks which is ok as I will be having my c-section at 38 weeks. (I requested a section instead of an induction).

I started maternity leave at 39 weeks, with a couple of days of holiday before hand to finish at 38+3.

Glad I didn't go any earlier as my DD didn't make an appearance until 41 weeks (although was induced at 40+5)

Thank you for all taking the time to reply!

I think my problem is baby is due in December so it will be cold and miserable and I won't want to do anything whilst waiting and I'll just be sat on the sofa worrying about everything!

I'm always a busy person so maybe I should force myself to rest and enjoy just getting the house ready and Christmas presents wrapped rather than trying to be super woman and juggle work and the house 🤣

I'm tempted to take 4 weeks annual leave and then a weeks maternity to give me 5 weeks to get sorted because I know I will overdo it otherwise 🙈

@Sparkles512 go for it if you feel you need to! Just take into account that if you had a 42 weeker then you have 7 weeks off.

I'm on number 3 and will only be taking 6 weeks due to the awful maternity policy at my office meaning I'd lose out on over £262 a week while on maternity after the 6 week mark.
As I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home I have started my leave from my due date, I have been late with both my other pregnancies so I'm pretty relaxed about it.

If you are doing a physical job it's harder to guess when you'll feel tired and unable to stand for long periods.

I’m taking it from 38 weeks but with two weeks holiday before. So really from 36 weeks. I don’t get the responses about taking it too early and feeling bored. I have lots of things I want to do before baby comes and drains my time so love having a big break beforehand. Obviously whatever suits you and everyone’s circumstances are different.

With my first I finished at 34 weeks due to bad back ache, 2nd worked til 3days before having him he came early at 38 weeks, was gutted I didn’t get any rest time so I tend to go off how I’m feeling but ensure you get some rest before baby xXx

My mat leave actually starts on my EDD, but I can only take 10 days of leave across to the other side, inclusive of bank holidays, so I'm actually off from 36.5 weeks!

Mine starts at 39 weeks but I’m hoping to have my c section date any time around then. I’ve always worked close but this time around I’m only 30+3 and struggling with just the thought of having another almost 9 weeks in work. I just want to hibernate until then lol

35 officially but added holiday together with afew bank holidays etc meaning i went off at 33 weeks! Best decision i ever made was had worked full time right up to it and sick policy eas apalling so had to go in on days wasn't feeling well due to pregnancy. I was well ready to be off by 33 weeks as it was full on and my spd was getting worse.

as had*