Is 30 weeks ridiculously early to start maternity leave?

[littlelamb]

I am 19 weeks now and finding my work day a real struggle. I don't drive, so I have to take dd to nursery (more than a mile up a big hill) in all weather and then run for my bus, which takes nearly an hour to get to work. I have to leave work an hour early to get back to nirsery on time, which means that I am supposed to make up the time at home int eh evenings (this hasn't really happened since Christmas, I have been feeding dd and then going to bed when she does!) I am so tired I have taken the last two days off. I am looking forward to maternity leave, but am also worried about the financial aspect and getting bored! Dds nursery needs a terms notice of any change in arrangements, which makes after easter an ideal tiem to stop, as I could put her in for just her 5 free early years sessions a aweek, meaning we would both get a lie in and I would have afternoons to myself. Is this unrealistic? Will I regret leaving so soon. In all honesty, although I like my job it is very liekly that after this one is born I will move to be closer to my family, as they are currenlty over 300 miles away, so time spent before birth vs time spent with baby before going back seems a bit irrelevant. Does anyone have experience of working really close to due date or giving up relatively early? My spd seems much worse this time round as well, so just gettign to work every day is taking huge effort

sorry, I meant 30 weeks at one job and 31 weeks at the other (then finishing my course for the year at about 37 weeks-ish).

I started leave at about 29/30 weeks. I just couldn't go on, pregnancy is a lot tougher for some people than others. If you feel it is right to leave early, you should do it.

I had to work till 38.5 weeks and it was pretty awful! but i have a short journey to work so that helps. i would have stopped much sooner if i could but it wasn't possible for financial reasons. if you can afford it, go for it! the only thing that was nice about staying that late in my job (i'm a primary teacher) was that all the kids were v excited about watching my bump grow!

dd arrived 8 a week after i stopped so i was still pretty exhausted when i had her, which was a nightmare, but on the plus side i feel i haven't "wasted" any of my maternity leave. have a think about whether it affects when you need to go back.

I definatley think it is harder 2nd time around as when you get home you can't just put your feet up and there isn't the option of having a lie-in at weekends!

I gave up at 37 weeks with my first but tbh I was working shorter hours and doing alot less than my job required as they had got my mat cover in early.

2nd time I gave up at 32 weeks, we were moving house and it would have meant a longer commute so i just couldn't be arsed. (I was knackered and had spd too.)

Whats the point of struggling on? I really enjoyed spending some quality time with DS1 before DS2 arrived.

I started both of my maternity leaves at 29 weeks. I had terrible problems with my back and was suffering from SPD although that was not diagnosed at the time. Maternity leave is allowed from 29 weeks for a reason. If you need to do it and can afford to give up then, go for it.

I think you have really decided what you want to do but need a push to make a decision. I worked to the end with my first (I gave gave up work when my waters broke) and this worked for me. If you want to spend stress free time with your current child before the new one is born go for it. The one thing you don't want to do is look back and say if only I'd done things differently.

I officially worked up til 39 weeks with my first baby, but as I was being made redundant really I was mainly looking at emails/having coffee etc, so there was no stress in the job (though the commute was another matter.) With my DS I worked up til 37 weeks. I would have loved to have finished earlier but stayed for financial reasons. If you can afford to finish earlier then you may as well.

I took mat leave at 30 weeks - in hindsight I was headed for a major breakdown, so I'm glad I took it when I did.... I had a very difficult 2 year old and it was nice to spend 3 months just me and him.

try this site, it should help you work out where you'll stand financially

I left work at 33 weeks as my job was depressing me and i had one nasty colleague who kept saying "pregancy is not an illness" and was trying to get me to do her saturdays for her.
She was in her 50's and a right cow to everyone. I also had 2hr commute on the train and car to get to work so would be out of the house for over 12hrs a day.
Anway, it was spring 2002 and i was finally FREE!.
Spent my days relaxing, eating proper healthy meals and going for long walks and sitting in the park.
I'm sure that if i'd stayed longer i would have developed PND due to the stress.
The health of the mother and child should be a priority.
AB

I started at 29 weeks (as early as you can) having hurt my back at work. It was a brilliant decision for me. Plus, it was just as well I did as DD put in an early appearance at 34+6!

I took a couple of weels Al before starting my maty leave and had DD on the day my official ML started. It suited me because I wasn't physically tired and it meant that I could spend longer with her before I went back to work. Do what's right for you.

I started my annual leave at 25 weeks and then my maternity leave starts at 31 weeks. I had been off work pretty much all the way up to 25 weeks with various pregnancy related illnesses so it was a relief for me and for work that I gave it up so early.

I do get a little bored during the days however I moved house just before I started my leave so I am using the time to sort out our junk. Not getting very far though as sleeping and lovely long baths and a twice daily dose of ER are keeping me sufficiently busy!

If you don't plan to go back to work and therefore more maternitiy leave now won't mean less maternity leave after the baby, and if you can do without the extra few weeks of full pay, give up whenever you want. There is no medal for soldiering on.

With ds (my second) I left work at 23 weeks. Had 6 weeks annual leave, and then straight into maternity leave.
So actually left the day after my second scan.
Knew I wasn't going to be going back. Wanted to spend time with dd.

I started mat leave at 32 weeks (beginning of December) and have loved it. I had loads of energy again and got loads done (including socialising etc!) Since xmas I've been much more relaxed taking it easier waiting for lo to arrive but I wouldn't have done it any other way. I think there is a bit of pressure about working late into pregnancy but I just felt that I'd rather return to work 1 month earlier than struggle on through December.

I went off at 30 weeks as planned. I do get bored and not used to being on my own having worked in an office all day but if you can afford to and want to then why not? I commuted into London and hated it so not missing the stress at all

I'm considering it. I work on my feet all day with some physical stuff. With my last pregnancy, when I was on my feet all day from about 7 months, I got such a sore back, I literally couldn't stand up straight for 2 days.

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