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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Maternity leave - how much time are you having off?

46 replies

HopefulRose · 30/12/2021 23:12

Hello .. just looking for some advice really and to hear some experiences about maternity leave and how long to take off.

I’ve started a new job recently in a senior position and will be going on maternity leave at the beginning of March .. I would like to have the full year off but am worried about how this looks! I know I’ll never get the time back. It will be tight financially but I think it will be worth it.

How much time off have you planned? Did you go back early and end up regretting it? Or did you miss work?

Thank you!

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thebigpurpleone · 01/01/2022 17:10

14 months with annual leave added on. I am ready to go back now but so pleased I had so much time with my beautiful baby.

Fretfulmum · 01/01/2022 17:24

18 months. I really thought I’d go back at 6 months but I just wasn’t ready. I was lucky that finances aren’t an issue

DoG87 · 01/01/2022 18:36

Good for you

annlee3817 · 01/01/2022 18:38

I took 10 months the first time, this time I'm taking six months as my DH also gets 6 months full pay paternity leave, so he takes over when mine finishes. I'll still be wfh three days a week, which will be good.

WalkingOnSonshine · 01/01/2022 18:41

I was supposed to take the full year off (13 months if you include annual leave), but I got a much more senior job with a significant pay rise.

It facilitated me dropping down to four days per week, paid for nursery, plus a bit extra.

It meant I returned as DS turned 9 months, but he settled so well and quickly into nursery, and has come on so well there. For us, it was absolutely the right choice.

FTEngineerM · 01/01/2022 18:46

I didn't realise how much I regretted it until 4 years later and I was put on furlough and nursery closed etc. I got to spend 8 months with my son and it was the best thing ever.

Caring for a 4 year old is not the same as caring for a 5 month old though.

I MUCH prefer my toddler to my baby🙊 the good news is my baby will become a toddler. Babies are largely boring AF.

If you’re pretty high flying and enjoy a fast paced life just don’t be surprised if you miss it a little, it’s common. Just do what ever makes you happiest. Don’t worry about work. If you love being off take the full 12 months then annual leave. If you hate it go back to work the baby will be fine.

Shouldhavebutdidnt · 01/01/2022 18:47

I returned after 6 months but I only work 3 (very long) days a week to get the full 38 hours in.

Personally I found after 4 months I was ready to get my brain going so my DC went to nursery one morning a week for a few hours which gave me some headspace (no family support) and then went 3 days from 6 months.

It worked for me & DH, but I know everyone is different.

DragonMovie · 01/01/2022 18:51

I took 7m because I hated Mat leave. Wanted to take 12 but couldn’t do it.

Hoping to be in a better place this time and take 9-12 months.

Totalwasteofpaper · 01/01/2022 18:56

I hummed and hawed… I work in tech and was very on the fence of what will this mean for my career as a lot of women take 6 or 9 due to choice/ pressure/finances.

I have told them I am taking full 14 months (12 maternity and 2 accrued annual leave)

If I want to go back earlier I will, but I realised I won’t get this time back and can afford to take full leave…
If the extra 3-5 months ruins my career then something is wrong and I’m sure one of their competitors would be happy to have me

Lazypuppy · 01/01/2022 18:58

9 months, couldn't stand the idea of zero pay for 3 months, for me 3 months on SMP was bad enough. Luckily my employer gives 6 months full pay.

I was ready to go back to work after about 7/8 months, i am definitely not a SAHP. I've amended my working hours now dd is 3yo as find it more funt o go out for the day with her, instead of when she was a baby

In yout shoes plan for the whole year, you can always change it if you decide to.

Violet1988 · 01/01/2022 19:10

Those who took 18 months and two years off, how did you do this? Was it a career break or was it classed as maternity. How does it work with regards paying the mat pay back if you don't go back for three months after the year is up? I started maternity leave the beginning of December and am taking a year and would love to take longer.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 01/01/2022 19:27

I took 16 weeks, was supposed to take 6 months but I was so bored I went back early.

My colleagues didn't even think I'd make it to 16 weeks without going stir crazy.

lking679 · 01/01/2022 19:39

I took 13 months with my first but no lockdown. I took 10.5 months with my second but there were lockdowns and I was going crazy not seeing any of my mum friends and spending the whole time chasing her round or trying to be entertaining!

If we have a third I‘lol take 7 months due to finances. I think if they’re sitting, eating some solids and possibly crawling they should get along in childcare okay. Also if we have another that’ll be 3rd maternity in 6 years so I’d like to crack on a bit more at work!

Skyla01 · 01/01/2022 19:46

@HopefulRose can you decide once baby is here? I took 9 months maternity + annual leave. Went back to work part time when LO was 10months old, she goes to nursery. I love being back at work! I'm not really cut out to be a full time stay at home mum, I'm much happier now I'm back at work. I really wouldn't have wanted to take 14months off, but couldn't have told you that until baby was here and day to day reality hit.

blahblahx · 01/01/2022 21:47

I'm due early March so will be starting my maternity leave just before I'm 36 weeks pregnant.

It's completely up to you when you want to start yours.

blahblahx · 01/01/2022 21:48

@blahblahx

I'm due early March so will be starting my maternity leave just before I'm 36 weeks pregnant.

It's completely up to you when you want to start yours.

Forgot to say, I am taking the full maternity leave off!

ivfbabymomma1 · 01/01/2022 21:53

I took 9 months but then was furloughed straight away so it ended up being a year which was absolute bliss

Ossoduro · 01/01/2022 21:57

I’ve learnt the hard way that you should take the time you want to take and don’t care how it looks. I’ve taken 5.5 months off with my 4th child and it’s been really tough. I wish I’d taken the full year! You get no credit for going back ‘early’ and you get judged for having a child and taking mat leave anyway so you may as well take what you want!

Fretfulmum · 01/01/2022 22:54

@Violet1988 I’m self employed so I decide how long I want to take off. The key is being financially secure before you get pregnant. It’s about long term planning from your 20s to build up financial reserves through investments for situations exactly like this.

Totalwasteofpaper · 01/01/2022 23:03

Good for you.

Remember you only need to give 8 weeks notice to go back if things change or you change your mind...

Isonthecase · 01/01/2022 23:17

I took a year the first time and 6 months the second plus a phased return to c. 9 months. With hindsight something in the middle would have been best as 6 months was definitely too short but a year did drag. I think a lot of it depends on finances as maternity can be pretty dull but maternity with no money would be infinitely worse...

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