When did you go on maternity leave?

[Mommabear20]

I'm currently pregnant with my 3rd baby and starting to struggle physically. I've been diagnosed with 'seriously' low iron levels resulting in dizzy/ fainting spells. I'm also having a lot of pain in my lower back and hips. My job is not difficult but it is physical and requires me to be on my feet for 8 hours. I'm 29 weeks, is this too early to go off on maternity leave? I'm worried everyone's gonna judge me as being lazy 🤦‍♀️

Officially, the day before my due date but I had two weeks holiday owing so my last day in the office was at 38 weeks.

And I hadn't commuted into London for 6 weeks before that because my ankles started to swell on the tube. I only have one child though, so no rushing around organising toddler meals at the same time.

PE teacher so active job on my feet all the time. I went off on my due date and had pelvic pain from around 5 months of pregnancy so it was a tough slog. I knew I'd want the maximum time off after baby was born so decided tolerating the discomfort made the most sense! I didn't want to cut my mat leave with the baby short, whereas I know some people are happy to take a long time off before baby is born then return to work when baby is 6 months old.

If you'll regret going back to work when baby is still young then I'd suggest holding out as long as possible. If you aren't going back to work then go early!

@Tasha123456 not sure if that helps you decide either! Will your return to work be just before summer hols 2023 so you're paid the summer or will you take a year out and return at the Oct half term 2023?

On the day baby was born (I used annual leave up until then, so I hadn't actually been at work up to then though). I was 35 weeks when I was last at work.

@TTasha123456 check out www.teachersspl.co.uk
I really recommend using a combination of mat leave the SPL so you can 'return to work'and receive full pay during holiday periods. Wish I had known about it with my eldest. Best of luck with it all!

Mine started the day I gave birth, but I felt fine to work until that day. It would have been different if that wasn't the case.

I went off around 37 weeks each time but should of gone sooner….Put yourself first especially with having little ones and sore hips/ dizzy spells, I didn’t and ended up on crutches because I overdid it with a combination of work, carrying toddlers and not giving myself any rest xx

38 weeks both times. I would try and hang on as long as you can as any time you take now will limit the time you can take when the baby is actually here. I was a little bit sad to have to go back before my baby turned one and sort of wish I had waited a bit as I don't really remember my mat leave before they arrived! Having said that I was bloody knackered with number 2 so I'm not sure how much I could have waited either!

36 weeks both times. But only because I keep winding up in hospital with pre-eclampsia, thus triggering maternity leave.

First time was supposed to be due date, with 3 weeks annual leave taken beforehand. First babies are always late after all. Right? WRONG! I was admitted the day before my annual leave was supposed to start. I literally went to work one day (I work in the hospital I gave birth at), and returned home 10 days later with a baby.

Second time around I planned to take maternity leave from 38 weeks, but with 2 weeks annual leave beforehand. Partly because I was already knackered, but mostly incase it happened again. Which it did. At least by that point I had already been off since 28 weeks due to Covid precautions, so I couldn't be too mad.

If I ever have a third? Sod it. Just book mat leave from 36 weeks. It'll be easier on the admin.

I finish work in 2 weeks when I'm 32 weeks. Can't bloody wait!!

With my first I was at work at 37+6 and my waters broke at work, but only a little bit. I stayed for the rest of the day (I’m a secondary school drama teacher) because I was a little bit in denial about actually being in labour so early. Hadn’t even packed a bag! She was born a few hours later, I got to the hospital and was 8cm an she was born an hour after I arrived.

with my second I went on maternity leave at 38 weeks and she was born at 39+6

I had to start my maternity leave at 36 weeks as I was signed off sick with pelvic girdle pain from 24 weeks. Same situation this time around.