Maternity leave

[ivf2022]

Hi,

When are you all planning on starting maternity leave? Im a teacher, thinking of leaving at 36 weeks. It's my first pregnancy so no idea how I'll be feeling towards the end!

Hey, not a teacher but a hospital doctor so a physically and mentally demanding job too and lots of time on your feet and face to face interactions.
I managed to keep working to 38 1/2 weeks as I asked my workplace to make pregnancy related adjustments as they are required to by law on the basis of a pregnancy risk assessment.
So for example in your last few weeks of work you could ask for an additional TA for your classroom so you can spend more time sat down, you could ask for a reduced timetable or longer breaks, you could ask not to do lunchtime or after school duty.
These are difficult for a school to implement that's true, but it's for such a short period over your entire working career, and you shouldn't have to start your mat leave earlier than you want to because work isn't manageable. These are reasonable adjustments.
Also remember your baby may not arrive until 42weeks, I don't know about you but I'd find 6 weeks off before baby arrives very frustrating!
I was lucky my baby arrived on his due date and I was very happy with having 10 days off to rest and nest before labour.

I worked in a school setting ( not a teacher though) and I left at 39 weeks. However my role allowed me to work from home for 1 week before I went on leave. So didn't go into the office from 38 weeks.

I personally ended up having the baby quiet late and I did get fairly bored. But I did have latent labour too so glad I wasn't working.

everyone's pregnancy is different you can only do what you think will work best for you. I reckon if you can hang on to 38/39 weeks that would be great as you will get a little longer to spend with your little one once you've given birth. But if you think you will struggle go with your gut

@ivf2022 I'm also a teacher and intent on maximising my MAT leave by working as long as possible, although this is my first too so plans may change. How long are you planning on having off?

I work in a nursery, with my first I went off at 37 weeks (was planning for 38 but after yet another trip to triage was advised to come off a week earlier). With my second I came off at 30 weeks, purely because of how the holidays landed and I didn't see the point in going back for a week or 2 to come off at 36/37.

I'm a teacher and with my first I planned to work up until 38 weeks.

Although I then found out I was being induced at 38 weeks so I went off at 37 weeks in the end. I did find it hard though and had lost the will by that point - but I just wanted to maximise my maternity leave with the baby more than anything.

I'm now pregnant with number 2 and will try and go as long as I can again. Last time they did stop my break duties for me so guessing I will get this again.

Thank you everyone, after reading your comments I think I will stay a bit longer and aim for starting maternity at 38 weeks. It's good to hear what other people have done.

@TTCJJB I am due start of October. My plan is to go back to work for the last week of the summer term (just so I get full pay in August!) How long are you planning on having off?

@ivf2022 I'm due end of November so aiming to do a week or two after October half term.

Will probably have a year but may go back the following September, how about you?

@ivf2022 and other teachers on this thread, have a look at SPL for teachers which will enable you to be paid over some holidays but then continue your leave.
It replaces the annual leave that we don’t accrue like you would in another job.

This website is great: https://www.teachersspl.co.uk/

Hiring a temporary TA may not be considered a reasonable adjustment. It’s not the OP that gets to decide what is reasonable.

Hey op! I run my own dog walking business and so don't necessarily get maternity leave pay. I planned to finish work at 38 weeks for a couple weeks rest before baby was born but my water broke at work at 37 weeks 5 days 🤣. I did need to sit alot more but managed to keep going until labour. I liked that it allowed me to have more time off with baby after to be honest

I’m a secondary teacher and worked til 38 weeks with my first. Pregnant again and planning to work til 37 weeks which will be half term, but then start Mat leave at 38 weeks at end of half term. Definitely. Heck out the shared parental leave link shared above - you can get pay in the holidays even if you don’t share the leave with your partner.

You don't need to go back for the last week of the summer term. You can put your start date as the first day of the school holidays.

I'm due early November so hoping to start mat leave from the first day of term 2 so I get the October half term paid. With my first I was signed off ill early so my mat leave automatically started I think at 34 or 36 weeks. Was annoying but I really wasn't well enough to be in school.

I'm interested in the teaching shared parental leave link someone posted. Is that frowned upon by head teachers?

I'm having my second in June and I'm working up to 38.5 weeks.
With DC1 I worked up to 38 weeks but was twiddling my thumbs for over 2 weeks so thought I'd leave it a tad later this time!!

Hi.
I am a teacher and work full time, my baby will be 8.5 months in September. I made a request to work part time 3 days until Christmas and then 4 days Easter but it got rejected. They said I coudl do 2 days, I simply can not afford 2 days a week. Has anyone appealed a decision like this ?? Is it worth appealing? They have not followed the aacas code (my friend is a lawyer) is it worth it? Or I’m thinking going back a day befkre summer holidays complete my 13 weeks (so I don’t have to pay the mat pay back) and find something else?

I’m planning to go as long as poss - due 3rd Jan which is during Christmas hols so I’m going to start the day baby is born (unless they come quite late). Will have been off since 22nd Dec anyway so it works out well - just hope baby comes when they’re supposed to!

I'm an early years teacher and did until 38 weeks (up to thr Xmas hols) both times! It was fine! I officially started my maternity Leaves at 40 weeks on my due dates!

My initial flexible working request was refused. I'd asked to drop down to 4 days and their reason was finding the additional staff. In the end it worked out but I did have to do a full term at 5 days and the 4 days started from sept. It would be hard for a school to staff a staggered return like that. What were their reasons for rejecting? If you can't do it and they can't do it then I guess returning from first day of summer holidays is best (you should do that anyway for the summer pay). Hopefully someone will come along who knows more than me. You may be better starting your own thread on this.

What was the reason for turning it down?

it’s really hard to recruit teachers for 1 day a week so not a surprise that 4 days was rejected. And handover means they end up paying for an extra day (both of you for half a day handover) so it may not be affordable. Plus the disruption for the children (although it’s probably easier to argue that one as not grounds).

do you have a leadership role?

hello, I start a new role as a teacher in September, my probation period is two terms. When do you think I will be entitled to maternity leave? I feel awkward to ask and it was not mentioned in my contract at all. Thanks

With my first I went off at 35 weeks and was more than done by then but I had a v long commute and long hours job and was physically exhausted by the travelling.

With my second i went off at 29 weeks but it was lockdown and me and DH were both trying to work with a toddler at home and we weren't coping. I had also decided I wasn't going back to my old job after mat leave so just chose to go off early to help the balance at home (it was so worth it)

You should start your own thread. As long as you weren’t pregnant already when you started work you will be entitled to SMP. Occupational schemes vary. (Assume you are in the UK.)

With my first I finished work at 37 weeks, the first three weeks were annual leave. DC1 was born in their due date on the second day of maternity leave proper. I only worked 3 days a week the last 3 or 4 weeks too though again using annual leave. This was an office job with a 15 min walk to/from work. I loved having those few weeks to get sorted before DC1 was born so I'm glad I didn't stay later.

With DC2 I finished at 36 weeks. I was working 4 days a week, completely from home, but I had PGP which was making life just feel tougher in general, the constant pain including sitting to work and the awful sleep due to the pain. I thought DC2 would come earlier than DC1 as well and I also had planned to take a longer maternity leave this time anyway. I think again the first 3 or 4 weeks were annual leave. As it happens DC2 was born 10 days late! But I was still thankful to have the extra time, as I was looking after DC1 three days a week as soon as I finished work. As we immediately dropped her nursery down from 3 to 2 days a week upon my leave starting to save on costs and to spend more time together. So I had 2 childfree days a week until DC2 was born which I used for appointments and getting sorted. And rest! Again glad I went off when I did.

We are considering having a third and I think I'd want to go off around the 36 week mark again in future if I did.