When did you start maternity leave? + Just come and talk to me!

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We're TTC, my second, his first. My first child was born over 12 years ago and I can't believe how much you forget. I have no idea how many weeks I was when I went on maternity leave last time, it's a total blur.

When are you/did you start maternity leave? I work from home full time as an accountant so not exactly physical work. If (and hopefully when) I'm pregnant I'm wondering what's for the best, really. I could work right up to my due date, but is this smart?

My first child was 2 weeks early, but I'm not sure whether it's safe to assume anything for any subsequent babies.
I also want to (as I'm sure most do) have as long with my baby as possible so I'd be kicking myself if I stopped at 37 weeks and ended up going 2 weeks overdue.

I also don't have a huge circle of friends, and most of the friends I do have don't have children so I'm really interested in just hearing others' stories, any pregnancy stories at all really. I'm just so excited to be actively trying. My first child was unplanned so as much as I love them of course, this is my first time round looking at cycles and ovulation and the two week wait etc.

DD1 - I worked until about a week before she was born.
DD2 - I was convinced she'd be early so started ML leave earlier than with DD1.
Both times, I had an easy pregnancy and I worked part time as a sr. school teacher so a moderately physical job but it was part time.
Both times it felt like the right time in terms of how tired/uncomfortable (not especially) I was.
Good luck.

Thanks, I think I'll be hoping to do something similar and work until close to my due date. Providing TTC goes well, of course.

I officially started maternity leave at 38+4, which is when I planned to start it. DD was born at 38+2 but that was a Saturday. I was having an induction and went in late on the Friday. I’d picked a Monday to start maternity leave so it was whole weeks and easier for me to count.

However, I used some annual leave in the couple of weeks before to go part time. So I think 34 I took the Friday off. At 35 and 36 weeks I took the Friday and following Monday. I finished at 37 weeks exactly, took the Friday off and then the following week as an annual leave. I really liked the gradually reducing so I could relax/prep a little bit, without being off for weeks beforehand.

I finished at 38 weeks. DS 10 days overdue. I enjoyed being off work though, felt like it was my last opportunity to relax and enjoy free time.

I went off at 38+4, as intended, and gave birth at 39+4, but was admitted at 39+2 for antibiotics and ultimately an induction. I worked a job on my feet most of the time, with no option for WFH, and an hour’s commute (public transport) each way. 36 weeks ish was when we had the snow and ice, so DH commuted in with me to help me.

I was adamant that I wanted to go as long as possible because I wanted the time at the other end, but I spent the first few days decompressing and then, just as I felt I had the energy to do some tidying/sorting out of work stuff my waters went! I would go off a week earlier next time - I was utterly exhausted by the end.

Can you carry over annual leave or not? My then employer only allowed a week to be carried over.

And is your pregnancy going ok etc? What sort of birth is planned?

So I finished work at 32 weeks, took 4 weeks leave, started maternity leave at 36 weeks, induced at 38 weeks.
I had 52 weeks maternity leave, followed by another 4 weeks annual leave so went back to work when DD was a couple of weeks past her first birthday.

But high risk pregnancy with a lot of hospital trips in final weeks and I knew I would have her before 39 weeks.

It was also a mistake doing a full year of maternity leave as I didn't cope well with it. Should have gone back at 6 or 9 months or done shared parental leave.

I started maternity leave at 37 weeks ( I considered this early as I felt good to continue work) as my company were being difficult about me carrying over annual leave. My baby was born at 41+5 so I had almost 5 weeks 'off', however it meant I fully relaxed and felt very zen and prepared for labour, had time to catch up with family and friends, went on some nice walks, and had lots of lie-ins. I also stocked the freezer up with almost 3 weeks of nutritious home cooked meals, which proved invaluable following a difficult birth. I'm not sure if I would voluntarily have as much time off next time, but there were definitely pros.

I went on leave about 10 days before the due dates with DC1 & 2. Both of them were on time. And my water never broke until in hospital, both times... I guess that's how my body worked, not to textbook standard.

I stopped work at 30 weeks with both. I couldn't walk from my office to reception without having contractions which I found difficult (20m probs, 3 doors, flight of 7 steps) and then had placental abruption at 32 weeks with DC1

I have a desk job:

First DD I worked until 37 weeks - that was hard due to the London commute, I literally went to the loo, left work 3 stops on the tube went to the loo, got on a train, 4 stops- called my husband to get me before I wet myself.

Second DD was in covid so I worked up until 39 weeks. She came on her due date but tbh it’s not like I would have got any down time with a toddler around

Wow this had more replies than I expected! Catching up now.

Thank you. Not yet pregnant, hoping soon though.

Great point about carrying over leave. If I got pregnant this cycle I'd be due in March I believe so potentially would have to take my annual leave before going off as I'd be due back at the end of 2024. I hadn't thought about this!

I stopped working at 34 weeks as I had enough annual leave to use right up to 39 weeks. Realistically I think I'd have physically struggled to continue once I hit 36 weeks.

This is also a concern for me. I'm fit and healthy, if not a bit bigger than I'd like to be at the minute but overall fine. I was 12 years younger last time round and found it physically very easy. I'm still only early 30s now but very wary that my body won't be as easily adaptable as last time.

Worked in my desk job to 38 weeks both times. First baby born 42 weeks and that felt a bit long; 2nd baby born 40 weeks and it felt like not enough time! But I had a toddler 2nd time round obviouslh so perhaps would never have felt relaxed before DC2 arrived.

Hi OP :) I have a 2 year old and am pregnant with my 2nd.

I also work from home, last time I stopped work at 36 weeks. I used 2 weeks of AL and then mat leave from 38 weeks. I did go up to 42 weeks, but tbh, wasting that time was the last thing on my mind after the birth. I remember thinking I was absolutely knackered by 35 weeks though. You may also have a lower risk of going all the way until 42 weeks as well as since I had my last baby, the rules changed and most trusts will now induce you the latest at 41 weeks, not approaching 42.

My colleague said she went into labour at 37 weeks so thinks it’s better to plan to finish earlier so you don’t go straight from work to baby.

This is a good point. I also love the idea of having prepared food in the freezer like another poster said.

I'll be going off work from the 12th September but using annual leave from then until 28th Sept with my maternity officially starting on the 2nd October. I'll be 36+2 by then :)

I wanted a mix of time to relax beforehand and then as much time as possible with the baby each time.

Dd1 - 37 weeks born at 40+6. I was bored after 2 weeks off
DTs - 36+3, born at 36+6
DS - 37+6, born 38+1

I work in NHS as a nurse so good AL and maternity leave entitlement. I’ve used AL to start maternity leave at 34 weeks, really don’t think my body could keep working any longer as it’s a physical job. Baby not arrived yet but nice to have some time to relax before they come.

First I lost my job so was “off” from about 28 weeks I think. This time I know I’m having a section at around 38 weeks so stopping at 34 weeks. I had 9 months off with my DD and didn’t feel especially hard done by, will have 11 months with this baby so don’t think I’ll miss the extra couple of weeks too much

For those of you who took AL before the baby was born, did you time it so AL finished a few weeks before the due date? If you have the baby during that "annual leave" section I assume you just get those days back and start maternity leave from that day.

I'm an accountant as well. With my DD I started annual leave at 37+5 and she arrived at 38+0. She's an April baby and i carried over 14 days annual leave plus the 30+9 days I accrued during my maternity. I tagged these on to the back of my maternity.

With this pregnancy I'm planning on working till 37+5/38 weeks then taking Christmas off. I'm due early Jan and if this baby comes early they'll come over Xmas too,

I will say towards the end my brain was tired so was happy I was on leave before the auditors arrived. This time I have a toddler so will play it by ear.

I was 35 with my 1st and very fit. Now I'm carrying a few maternity lbs ... and now I'm 36. 37 when I give birth.

💯 this. At least with my company