What week did you start your maternity leave?

[MRSDoos]

I’m filling in my maternity forms soon. I’m currently thinking of working until I’m 38 weeks (obviously on the basis that baby isn’t here by then)

I work at a desk job that I drive 30-40 mins to and from

When did you finish work?

I started mat leave at 38 weeks with my first, my waters broke the following day. I wish I had more time, so starting at 36 weeks this time round.

Went on AL 37+4 (Friday) . Went into labour 37+6 and DD arrived 38+0 at which point ML started.

So glad I didn't have too much thinking time before hand plus more time with DD now - taking a full year with her .

The day my son was born (38 weeks)

38 weeks. Had 2 weeks annual leave so was off from 36 weeks. I did end up having her at 38+5 and was in hospital from 38+3 so glad I did have the annual leave beforehand!

I had planned to start mat leave at 38 weeks with 2 weeks annual leave before that. Instead my son was born at 34 weeks so I started mat leave the day he was born, was a bit of a shock!

Mine started at 39 weeks and baby arrived at 40+4 - it was nice to be able to have some days to destress

With DC1, my contract ended (it was a 1yr contract) and so mat leave had to start the very next day in order to get SMP, which was when I was 36w. But I had holiday before that so I stopped working when I was 30w. Baby was born at 41+1.

This time for DC2, I'm aiming to start Mat leave at 40w but taking 2w holiday before, so will stop work at 38w. Hopefully!

4 weeks prior to due date. Glad I did as baby arrived 3 weeks early!! Was a super stressful desk job so wanted some down time before baby arrived. Only got a week in the end 🤣

Week 36 both times because I knew I was being induced at 37 weeks. I struggled more second time around but refused to give in for some reason.

I will be going at 34+5, currently 30+1, I work at Greggs so I'm on my feet all day. Cannot wait 😂

1st child - week 39
2nd child - week 41 (he was late & I was self employed)
3rd child - week 39 as C- section ( & self employed)

Both times planned to stop at 36 weeks however

1st baby was shattered by 34 weeks and stopped early. Baby arrived at 41+5

2nd baby hypertension and GD had to stop at 31 weeks to be hospitalised and baby came at 34+2

At work in the office until 38+2 (assumed I would go 2 weeks late) was meant to have a week AL then start maternity. Went into labour the next day. Was really upset I had no time to myself first. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone they work past 37 now just in case.

30 😳

I'm finishing work at 37 weeks, then using annual leave until my c section date so my mat leave isn't starting until the day baby arrives. I'm wfh now though.
Last time I finished at 38 weeks and baby was born at 39, I was fine with that though as I'd had all of the first lockdown at home to prepare so was very ready!

I finished work at 35+3 I think it was but used annual leave, and my maternity leave officially started at 38+2. Daughter was born at 39+4

I too had a desk job 60 mins away.

With my first, I was lucky to be able to work from home from 35 weeks and finished at 38 weeks.

With my second I finished at 36 weeks as was much more tired.

Was meant to be at 38 weeks, but I was really flagging from 36. Went at 37. But I'd had covid and there was a heatwave. DP kept saying I should go up to the last minute to preserve leave he didn't realised how physically drained and uncomfortable I'd be at the end!

I should say I took the time before my due date as annual leave, and had the mat leave start the day after my due date (a Sunday). I was in Labour on my due date so this worked very well

I should have 4 weeks annual leave (essentially saving mine for this year to extend the mat leave) that I'll start around 35 weeks then take the last week as mat leave assuming I've not had it by then. I'm looking forward to decompressing and having a rest before it all kicks off!

Planned for 37 but actually stopped at 31 - on the day the baby arrived!

Stopped at 33 weeks, just after Christmas. I have a fairly stressful job but work from home full time anyway. I am taking the full year off plus all my accrued holiday so will be off till Feb 2024 - so I figured I would go nice and early to give myself a rest and get all 'zen' before the birth.

It's each to their own, honestly! Most ladies in my NCT group are working until or very close to their due date.

This is my first baby and planning to go as close to the due date as possible. I have a desk job which is a 10 minute drive from home, but i can work from home as and when so if i get to a point i can't manage the drive i'll wfh as long as i can. I'm not having very long on maternity leave so want to preserve as much as possible for when the baby is here!

I left 3 weeks before I was due. I got Induced a week early so really only 2 weeks. Wish I'd taken longer!

When the mat leave was supposed to start, or when it actually did?

When it was supposed to: Well, first babies come late yeah? So mat leave was scheduled for due date, and I used all the annual leave I had to have some time off before. My last day at work would have been 36+2. DC 2 was scheduled for 38 weeks, with all annual leave being used up before then. Last day at work would have been 36+1.

When it actually did: 36+1 both times due to being hospitalised with pre-eclampsia. Yup. Bitten both times by going off "sick" after 36 weeks. Really sucked with DC1, as I got zero time to de-stress at home and prepare for baby. DM and DH did all the work, which was kind of them, but I wanted to do it. Luckily with DC2, I'd been off since 28 weeks (NHS patient facing role + Covid) anyway, so at least I had some time to rest and prepare.