Planned c section - does Mat leave have to start from that date?

[Cafeaulait27]

I’m nearing the point where I need to tell work I’m pregnant (20 week scan this week) and getting a bit confused about mat leave. My planned c section will happen 7 days before my due date, so should I give work my EDD or c section date?

I was hoping to take about a weeks holiday before starting mat leave because of the financial side, so would it be best to take that in the week before my c section and then start my mat leave from the date of my c section?

Just confused about if I was still on ‘holiday’ after baby arrived is that not allowed?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question!

I believe that mat leave needs to start, at the latest, on the day after your child's birth.

You tell them your EDD as that will be what’s on your Matb1 but you tell them the date you’d like maternity leave to start (if that’s your csection date or not)

If you're UK this states the rules on early births or early leave due to pregnancy related illness.

www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/leave

Thank you this is much clearer now @Chelyanne!

It starts the day after baby is born.
My DD was born at 31 weeks and my may leave started the next day,