When did you go on mat leave?

[Littonna]

I have a 7 year old, i work from home mostly, 1 or 2 days in the office. Im due end of june.
Was planning to go 2 weeks before due date but i am so so tired and struggling.

I wont go off now but im thinking maybe at least 1 month before.

Curious to see when others went?

The day before my c-section, but I know I'm an outlier.

@Littonna i have no advice but I am feeling the same as you! I work in a school and I am due early June, I was originally planning on leaving 2 weeks before, but like you I am already absolutely knackered! I've not had the best pregnancy with severe sickness etc, and I have a 2 year old who is constantly on the go!

I am now considering going a month before my due date, but if baby is late i'd be so gutted with myself if I leave this early!

Also the day before my due date (but had saved up annual leave to take from 38+2.
If you are struggling you can ask work to make reasonable adjustments to your duties or working hours if you need to for pregnancy, and this should not affect your pay.
For example it would be very reasonable to ask to switch to working completely from home in your last few weeks of work. This should be facilitated by your workplace risk assessment.

First pregnancy I finished at 36+5, second pregnancy was 34+5. Both babies arrived at 38 weeks. If I did it again I would finish between 35-36 weeks. I struggled the last week of my M/L the first time (we did have a heatwave), the second time I felt I could've worked a bit longer but it would've meant working over xmas. I'm office based.

Well technically my ML started 2 weeks after my babies were born as I started it on my due date but used my remaining AL leading up to it. My employer on both occasions didn't tell HMRC baby arrived early although I believe they're supposed to.

I have my c section date in 3 1/2 weeks and I'm stopping next week at 36 1/2 weeks. I have a 2 year old at home as well so I'm really struggling now and even long days sat at a desk are becoming hard work. When I go into the office I literally come home and lie down straight away to get the fluid out of my legs!
I'm was supposed to be going a week later but it's making me miserable thinking I barely have any time to rest before baby arrives! I really struggled with the newborn phase last time so I'm making the most of a few days on my own before I'm thrown back into it!x

Today! 🥳 I'm due 17th May but will have a c-section the week before.

Where I'm originally from maternity leave always has to start minimum 30 days before the due date, and I've always viewed that month as important prep and unwinding time before the inevitable chaos.

I work from home too but had really no desire to keep working longer, I wanted to prioritise myself for a bit for the last time in life!

Last year i had DD1. Arranged to go on mat leave at 38w. Went into labour at 37 + 5. Luckily had taken a few days annual leave before mat leave so at least had some time off beforehand 🥴 I now advise everyone I know to go at 36w just in case!!

The day before I was induced with my first. This time it's down to start 5 days before my due date.

3 days before I gave birth.

I always take 3 weeks annual leave then start mat leave as close as possible to due date

With DS1 two weeks before, he arrived one day before his due date, 8lb 11oz, DS2 two weeks before, however I finished work on the Friday, and was calling work the following Monday to say he had arrived, safe and well, in early hours of Sunday morning. 10 days early & weighing 9lb 3oz. Magical times, enjoy OP.

37 weeks first time - gave birth at 40+6 and was pretty bored by then.
36+3 second time. Admitted to hospital the same day and delivered 3 days later.
I’m thinking a week before my elcs this time, definitely not earlier.

When my waters broke, 6 days before due date. But I was WFH then so no commute.

Could you take some annual leave instead?

I'm finishing at 33 weeks this time. I am having an elcs at 39 weeks. I'm going early because we don't have childcare for three weeks whilst childminder is on summer break and then it didn't seem worthwhile to go back for 1 week to allow for a fortnight to relax. We only have childcare for part of the week so I still only have a handful of days alone in all the time! Take the rest you need, you won't regret it. Building a baby is hard work and you will feel better for having a rest before baby arrives.

I went off 7 days before my due date, 8 days before birth... and I wish I'd left it right till the last minute 😔

With my first I finished at 38w and she was born a week late. I finished at 39 weeks with my second (she came at 39.5) and I was at work the day my third was born (at 38.5 weeks). I had short mat leaves with all 3 so wanted to work as late as possible and use my annual leave after. With dc1 I travelled around the country regularly for work until 36 weeks. I was luckily to have feel well through all the pregnancies (except the insomnia with DC2 - wow that was hard). Most of my friends and colleagues finish much earlier (at least 4 weeks and more if using holiday).

Three weeks with DD, and planning to do the same this time - due at the end of May so I’ve only got 5 weeks left of work after this week. Both times I’ve used two weeks annual leave, and started mat leave properly at 39 weeks.
It was fine for me last time and I think it will be this time, wfh 3 days a week helps and I wasn’t doing that last time.

I'm due 23rd sept and my Mat leave is scheduled to begin that day! I am taking at least 3 weeks annual leave before hand. I did the same with my daughter and she was born 6 days into my annual leave but never mind 🤣

I was working until the day before each birth. However both were a bit early, DS1 induced at 35 weeks after my waters sprang a leak and DS2 planned induction at 38 weeks.

37 weeks with DS. He arrived 37+2. Really regretted not going off sooner.

Due again next month. Off since 33 weeks using 4 weeks annual leave and starting maternity leave on Monday at 37 weeks. No regrets so far. I am really enjoying this time. Napping, batch cooking, meeting friends for breakfast/lunch.

30th June. Baby due 9th July. Born 18th July.
31th March. Baby due 6th April. Born on 12th April.

I took AL from 38 w. Labour started 38+4, DS arrived 38+6. Mat leave officially started the next day as originally planned. It worked out well in the end.

37 weeks and gave birth at 42+1!

With DS 37 weeks, and same this time, 2 weeks of annual leave and then starting my mat leave 4 days before due date. If baby comes early they will start my mat leave and I will get the unused holiday allowance back.