Maternity Leave, when did you start yours and why?

[Tilly18101]

Just that really!

I’m 19 weeks, and need to let my employer know by 25 weeks my start date of Mat leave.

I’m taking a 6 month enhanced package which avoids such a drop in wages to SMP, so I get full pay for 3 months, and half pay + SMP for 3 months upon the condition I return to work for 12 months after. I’ll then take 3 weeks annual leave at the end of Mat leave essentially making it 7.5 months Mat leave in total.

I was planning on taking annual leave of 3 weeks before Mat leave, basically meaning I’ll start Mat leave 3 days before my ‘due date’ and would finish work at 37 weeks? (I work from home, no reason to back to the office unless I want to and have been given confirmation of home working being here to stay permanently) So I feel like I can work quite close to my due date without struggling as I can take lots of breaks from my PC.

Did you got later? Early? Any reason why? I’m a FTM so have no previous experience!

Thank you!

Oh yes, and covid. I wanted a bit more control over who I was spending time with. Some of the people in my office were ridiculously lax with precautions and testing, sticking to the rules etc. Ive been working from home but still with some office time but my boss would ask me to go in here and there for extra stuff which isn't unreasonable but I just didn't want to do that any more.

Mat leave started at 39+6 but I had A/L booked for the weekend prior. (I work in healthcare) ended up being induced at 39+2 but DS didn't arrive till his due date.

If and when I have a second I think I'd have my mat leave start the day before my due date. I get really bored if I don't have things to do or to occupy my time.

Because of baby's position I'm finding even WFH really difficult, especially in this heat with my legs and feet swelling really badly unless elevated above my heart level. I have two more weeks to go until my mat leave starts and am not sure I'll make it! So what I'm saying is, there are loads of factors that may influence how you feel near the end and time of year, complications, the nature of your job are all relevant too.

I started at 38 weeks but only because my partner was furloughed and my workload had been run down so much I was bored.

Just a note that a lot of babies are late, mine was 12 days after her due date so my advice is, for your own sanity, set your expectations so that they are realistic. It can get stressful at the end otherwise.

My contract obliged me to go between eleven and six weeks before my due date. With DC1 I went six weeks before, with DC2 it was 11 weeks, ie as soon as I could. I had a long commute and had to pick DC1 up from nursery. I got six weeks on full pay, six months on half pay and the rest (I could have a year from the birth) unpaid.

I'm glad I got to go on maternity leave when I did as I would've really struggled with my commute and not being able to get a seat on the train. Finishing up was a huge relief.

After DC2 I really didn't want to go back. Luckily my employer was going through restructuring and was looking for voluntary redundancies, so I put my hand up. Technically I should've gone back for two weeks before my redundancy kicked in, but to my huge relief they let me off. No regrets whatsoever.

I worked until 39 weeks and 4 days. It was covid and I was working from home anyway so I figured I would keep busy! I’m really glad that I did as I ended up being induced at 42 weeks. Those last two weeks just dragged on. I was so bored!

Ds was due 16/2, my M/L was due to start 5/1 34 weeks but I had booked 2 weeks over Christmas & new year off A/L, I went off sick 3/12 with a combination of stress & depression, my dh had gone blind driving to work & was diagnosed with MS. It was a good job I went off early, I had a fall & broke all my fingers on my right hand & then a week later started with pre eclampsia & had to go in for an induction which resulted in me being in high dependency due to hellp syndrome, ds was born 26/1. I had 9 months M/L & returned to work 1/10.

I’m starting mat leave at 36 weeks but have 4 weeks annual leave I’m taking before hand so essentially 32 weeks.
I’m a nurse on a busy respiratory ward so I think I’ll definitely be struggling waddling round by then

I worked up to 39 weeks and I'm so pleased I did! Like you I was WFM so it was easier to work later

I go back to work in three weeks as I'm not at the end of my maternity leave and I'm so pleased I saved all the weeks for after his arrival it's been wonderful

I was due on 16/04/2020 and finished work on 10/03/2020.
I had a weeks holiday to use so technically my Maternity Leave started on 15/03/2020.

I think that made me 35/36 weeks.

I had 2 reasons why I didn't work up until the very end and that was:

1. I was moving house, that was stressful enough on its own never mind being heavily pregnant AND working.

1. I knew I would never get that much me-time/time to myself ever again once the baby arrived.

DS didn't make an arrival until 41+1 so I had quite a bit of time off to just enjoy the last few weeks of my pregnancy.

I don't regret it at all and I'm pleased I went off early. I think 36 weeks would be a great time in general to soak it up before DC comes, and to take it easy while you can.

And also congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope you have an easy safe arrival of baby 👶🏼!

I didn’t make it to my maternity leave date as my son was born prematurely at 35 weeks!

31+2 because I had my DD at 31+1

I took all of my annual leave and finished work at 33 weeks, with mat leave kicking in at 38 weeks. I have PGP and even though I was working from home after 28 weeks, I really struggle mentally and physically with work. I was worried it would be too long to have off but I’m 40 weeks now and those 7 weeks off have flown by! It’s been lovely.

Thank you all so much for your comments, this has really helped!

Seems those with long commutes, or shifts/working patterns and another DC preferred to take Mat leave earlier for obvious reasons but otherwise 37-39 weeks was the main starting time.

I think I might aim for 38 weeks with 2 of those being A/L and literally start my mat leave on my due date 4th Nov! I know there’s no way to plan when he or she will arrive and they could come early or late but let’s say they behave and come on or around the week they are due that would give me two weeks at home to rest up before they arrive which would be plenty! We’re also moving house this year, but we are hoping to be move aug/sept so I’ve saved a weeks leave to use then too!

DC1 38 weeks, because work insisted.

DC2 35 weeks, because she was born.

Around 36 weeks. Had about 3 weeks holiday to take. DS born at 38+3.

I had a lovely pregnancy and my job was on my feet for 10+ hours a day. If I hadn't felt as good as I did I probably would've taken it earlier.

If you are wfh and well and planning to have a short maternity leave of six-seven months i would go as late as possible. You can always change it if it isn't working or book some of the leave you have changed.

You will be able to potter about washing tie clothes, prepping nursery and packing your bag at weekends and have a lie down or a rest every lunch or a walk.

The waiting is actually quite boring. First babies are often late. So i'd try and have the time with the baby.

With DD I finished at 37 weeks, took 3 weeks AL and started ML the day after my due date. DD arrived at 38 weeks.
This time I'll likely finish at 35 weeks and take all of my AL in one go and start ML on my due date.

I planned to finish at 38 weeks. Baby was delivered at 34 so may leave started then.

Technically - 2 days after I have birth. In reality, the day I have birth.

I was due 2 weeks after I was supposed to start but I thought their dates were ‘out’ so I was still at work as normal. I was lucky that I didn’t have any aches, pains, swellings or health issues and felt really well.

I finished at 38 weeks as that was a few days before my birthday and work felt I'd find it too hard being on my feet all day after that. Baby didn't actually come until 2 weeks after my due date so I was off for a month. I was bored stupid! It felt like a massive waste of time that I could have had after. On the other hand my friend finished work for the day at 34 weeks and had her baby unexpectedly the day after so you just never know.

Plan at the moment is to use 4 weeks holiday and finish at 36 weeks but start mat leave on my due date so that I have as long as possible with her. I’m getting a sweep at 39 weeks and induced on my due date if she’s not born by then and I don’t think I’ll find 4 weeks off boring. I may lose some of my holiday if she’s born more than a week early though.

I started my leave at 38+1 and he was born at 38+6!
It was supposed to be 39 but my pelvis was just too sore to be driving an hour and back every day. Glad I moved it forward a week!

The plan: Last shift 36+2. Annual leave until due date. Maternity leave from due date.

The reality: Admitted to hospital 36+1. Maternity leave started immediately. Annual leave transferred to the end of maternity leave instead. Induced at 37 weeks, baby arrived 37+1.

Tbh, I don't think I would do anything differently. It was still a bit of a wrench not being able to do all the things I'd planned to do. Still wish I'd had some rest, relaxation and down time before having a baby. I work at the hospital as well. I didn't go home from my shift until 2 days after birth.