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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Maternity leave - when to leave?

38 replies

Nala97 · 05/01/2022 13:14

Hey all

First baby and just trying to get organised now I'm in 2022 the year I will become a mummy!

I have had mixed reviews, I work a office based job but have to go in and out the office for viewings etc (lettings agent).

When did you all take maternity leave? And did you use your holiday prior to maternity leave starting or did you wait and use that at the end? Just trying to work out when I should think about leaving 🙈 I know it's a personal decision but just after some opinions

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mummyh2016 · 05/01/2022 13:25

I start my ML end of this month officially but I broke up from work on Xmas eve at just under 35 weeks, I'm currently talking all of my AL for the year. My AL allowance starts again a week after I'm due back at work so has worked out well for me.

1940s · 05/01/2022 13:29

It's a fine line on when to leave vs when you want to return. I tried to stay at work for as long as possible and with a carry over of holidays I managed to return to my (corporate) role after 13 months.

MintJulia · 05/01/2022 13:36

I had two weeks holiday owing, so I went four weeks before due date, using all my annual leave entitlement and two weeks of maternity leave.

It also tied in with end of quarter so helped with budgets/commission etc.

InTheLabyrinth · 05/01/2022 13:37

I used holiday to take Wednesday off from about 33 weeks, then finished around 38 with both mine.

But it was only a 15 min drive, and I could easily go to my office and shut the door if I needed to sit down for 5 mins...

My colleague worked til her due date (the latest HR would allow her to, which caused a lot of arguements).

Christmas21 · 05/01/2022 13:38

I started my ML on the day DD was born (4 days early) but I was on leave from 38 weeks. I'm in an office job and was more than ready to be on leave by that point!

RobinPenguins · 05/01/2022 13:39

I knew I was being induced at 38 weeks so worked till 36 weeks and took 2 weeks annual leave. Physically I was fine and could have worked longer (office job) but I wanted a break from work before the birth. 2 weeks was about right, it was long enough to relax a bit but I think I’d have been bored and dwelling on things if I’d taken much longer.

MagpiePi · 05/01/2022 13:42

If you are feeling fit and able to do your job I would work for as long as possible. You will appreciate the time off more after the baby is born.

Good luck!!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 05/01/2022 13:42

If you are planning to take the full year of leave, then stack all your annual leave in front of your due date.

When you then return to work, you will do so with the accrued leave from the next holiday year.

I took two weeks AL and then was overdue a few days, so had about 18 days off before baby came. Was nice, but when I had my second the mat leave wasn't restful so I sort of wish I'd taken an extra week or two just to get that complete alone time.

itwasntaparty · 05/01/2022 13:49

I was aiming for 36 weeks, dts turned up at 31 and ml kicks in automatically. Have a plan but be prepared for it to change!

OtiMama · 05/01/2022 13:57

Personally I think it depends how your pregnancy is going.

I waited until my due date to start maternity and I am glad I did as baby was 6 days late and I preferred having more time once he was here. That being said some people just aren't physically able to keep going until their due date, they need that time to rest.

Minorissue · 05/01/2022 14:00

36 weeks was last day in office for both and used two weeks holiday then formally started Mat leave at 38.

To be honest my head wasn’t focused on work by then as I was huge, sore and fed up at that point. I also commute an hour so wanted to be closer to home/hospital in the event I needed to go.

Lazydaisydaydream · 05/01/2022 14:01

I couldn’t drive from about 36 weeks, as I could no longer fit behind the wheel! So might depend on that for you if your job involves travelling around. I was happy I finished at 36 weeks, the baby was born two days after his due date so I had four weeks of getting the house ready, batch cooking and lots of time to myself for baths and naps and leisurely walks.

I didn’t actually go back afterwards and set up my own company instead, so when I had my second I worked right up until I had him. I’m so glad I took those four weeks as they basically made up for the fact I’ve not had any time to myself since

Minorissue · 05/01/2022 14:02

During Mat leave holidays and bank holidays continue to accrue as well so I used those to get a month on full pay before I went back as that meant I could pay for childcare and a new work wardrobe

mrscotton · 05/01/2022 14:55

Im due 12th March and going to try work till 18th Feb but also office job. Got about 30 min communite each way but starting to get uncomfortable already. Generally want to get to end of Jan before going on ML.

ButFirstTea · 05/01/2022 15:48

I'm due on 18th Feb and I go on leave on 4th Feb at 38 weeks. I've got 2 weeks of annual leave and then maternity kicks in on my due date. Tbh would love to go sooner but I'm saving the rest of my leave for later this year after statutory pay runs out! Luckily I wfh so I can rest quite a bit in between teams meetings

LydiaAW · 05/01/2022 15:57

I'm officially due on the 28th March, but as I'm having twins the latest they will let me go is the 7/8th March.

Booked to have annual leave for 2 weeks from the 21st Feb and then Mat leave from the 7th but midwife has strongly suggested to go off just before I'm 34 weeks, so I'm taking a bit more annual leave from the 10th Feb!

Definitely looking forward to winding down a bit as work is quite full on! However very fortunate that I can work from home - so my increasing size isn't an issue at the mo!

Amijustagrump · 05/01/2022 16:05

I stopped at 33 weeks but had two weeks school holidays first, so officially began at 35 weeks! Feels like a good choice although I'm already pretty bored waiting for baby

ShesThunderstorms · 05/01/2022 16:07

I worked as long as I could before both of mine so I could have more time after with them. I started both my maternity leaves on my due date, with 2 weeks annual leave before. I always wish I'd worked longer as both babies were extremely late and I could've used the annual leave to have a couple more weeks with them before going back to work!

OverTheRainbow18 · 05/01/2022 16:09

My maternity leave starts at 39 weeks but I've booked the week before off as annual leave so I'll finish at 38. I did the same with my first and liked having those couple of weeks to relax and get final things ready, but also wanted to have as much time off as possible once baby was here!

LilmissCa · 05/01/2022 16:17

I had HG so had built up a lot of holidays but my work would only let me carry over an extra 10. So I kept my maternity leave to start on my due date (13th Jan) and used other holidays up to this and finished before Christmas when I was 36wks.
My 1st came at 37.5 and I was still working.. with Christmas tho this time I had always planned to finish earlier

SillyBry · 05/01/2022 16:18

I worked up to 38 weeks this time round. (First time I worked to 37 weeks I think). Took 1 week holiday and started maternity leave at 39 weeks.
I was working from home and my eldest was at nursery, so it was a no brainer to keep going as long as possible to allow longer once baby arrived.
I know people say about having time off to relax before baby comes, but frankly I think it's boring. You're sore and achey and your brain is in overdrive, so it's hardly relaxing!!!

MelonTits · 05/01/2022 16:22

I worked until 37 weeks, then went back after six months and used the accrued annual leave to take one day off each week for the next few months. I wanted more time post-birth than pre-birth as I didn’t feel particularly tired or needing to get anything organised - that does depend on your individual circs but I was bored as hell for those three weeks!

Hotcrossbunsinbed · 05/01/2022 17:19

I am planning to finish at 36 weeks and take 2 weeks leave. ML leave should kick in at 38 weeks still need to square this with HR but they know I am finishing at the end of February. I am 28 weeks now and absolutely exhausted after a string of illnesses. It’s really hard just wfh atm. Looking forward to finishing soon counting down the weeks! A few hurdles yet but nearly there. I think time off for mama beforehand is important to rest and prepare for birth. In Europe they call this protection of the mother it’s not healthy to work until you drop unless you have the stamina of an Ox and I do not!

Trinacham · 05/01/2022 17:43

35 weeks i stopped. But I'm using annual leave up until my due date so maternity not used until then. I also have a physical job where I'm on my feet a lot, pushing and pulling heavy things. Felt like the right time for me and now I'm busy washing baby clothes whilst I wait for D day (going on 37 weeks now)

sunshinecitrus1 · 05/01/2022 21:52

Due to COVID, I had basically my whole holiday allowance to use up! So I took 3 weeks holiday prior to baby’s due date and then began my maternity leave as close to the due date as possible (LO was a week late anyway so this worked out fine). I also held back a weeks worth of holiday for after maternity leave so when I return to work, I will take one day off per week so that I go back for 3 days rather than 4 for the first few weeks (I usually work 4 days per week)

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