Bringing mat leave forward

[Rosejulia88]

First baby- I'm 35 weeks on Monday. Currently planning to start my mat leave in 3 weeks so I will work up to the end of my 37th week.

I'm a primary school teacher who works with ks1, fully vaccinated so not worried about covid and I wanted to try and see them through almost to the end of the year to do reports/assessments and all the other things that need to be done!

However I have been really struggling with the heat and tiredness and generally daydreaming about starting my mat leave at 37 weeks instead of 38 weeks. I'm fine apart from usual third trimester uncomfortableness however so I'm worried I'm just seduced by the idea of a slightly early summer holiday/ can't do another heatwave!

Should I push on? I don't want to be at home for a month before baby which could happen if I'm overdue but equally need some time off before he comes so it is very dependent on when I actually give birth! Work are really nice and supportive but I'm a bit of a people pleaser so don't want to inconvenience them.

Take the leave lady!
You need to rest as well before the baby comes. Sleep as much as you possibly can and enjoy nesting for a few weeks!

You've done really well to last this long and your body is telling you to slow down now so please do. You deserve it! It's your time to relax now x

Definitely take earlier leave if you feel you need to. I'm nearly 30 weeks ams starting leave at 35/36 weeks just to give myself a few weeks' grace to rest and sleep before baby comes. That said, I have a toddler so I am extra tired already and counting down the days!

I’ve recently moved mine forward to finish work at 36 weeks with DC2. My DS was born at 38 weeks and I only got a few days off work before he arrived so I wanted to give myself some more rest away from a pretty demanding job, albeit a desk one so not on my feet all day.
If you feel you need to finish early I’d do it, in the grand scheme of things it’s only a week or two and you’ll feel the benefit of it.