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.

Yes that’s right. Mat leave would start from that day and your AL would be cancelled and taken afterwards.

Yes last time I planned my leave date in line with my due date. This time I’ll be having a planned section up to a week earlier, so I’ll be taking that into account.

I was hoping to carry over as many days as possible and tag on the end but I'll need to double check our policy.

I understand what you mean about your brain being tired. Between month ends and balance sheets it's a mentally draining job sometimes. Our audit will be Feb-April so it's possible I'd miss next year's. Sounds like an additional little win for me!

I thought that was the case from memory of when I used to do payroll. Thanks for clarifying!

Similar to you I wfh and have a desk job so worked until the day before I was being induced.

I knew if I was off work I’d be doing jobs and be far more tired than having worked.

I was 21 with my first, and will be 33 or very nearly 34 this time round.

I was off from around 34 weeks I think using annual leave for 6 weeks, then dd was born at 42 weeks.

So my actual mat leave started at 40wks, but with 8 weeks off before she was born.

I went back to work 1 day a week to start with, when she was 9.5mths , increasing gradually to 3 days a week when she was about 1 year old. Just using annual leave.

I had a fairly physical job. On my feet most of the day. I could have worked for longer, but I never regretted having time off before either.

DD due 9/10 and worked up to end of August. Then spent the first 2 weeks with the worst cold ever, nose streaming, coughing spluttering etc.

Good Luck!

If you have the baby before the end of annual leave, you maternity automatically kicks in and you get those days back.

So as your last came at 38 weeks, I would probably aim to start mat leave at 39 weeks and then use annual leave either for full weeks or part weeks to give you a break before. If baby arrives at 38 weeks as with your first then you’ve still had some time to relax.

First one I wasn't working so started maternity allowance 11 weeks before due date. Second one I stopped working 2-3 weeks before due date. Both pregnancies in late 20s . This time round at 42 I'm nearly 30 weeks pregnant and although I didn't put much weight on generally, my bump is massive and it's getting really uncomfortable to move around. Even though my job is not physical I just want to use any energy I have at home, plus my last months conveniently fall in July-August, so I would rather relax in garden than sit at work. Luckily working 4 on 4 off I'm able to stop working early at 34 weeks using most of my annual leave for this year, then maternity kicks in on my due date 1st of September.

This sounds like a good plan. Just need to hurry up and get pregnant haha.

37 weeks with DD1, she was born on her due date.

Planned to finish at 36+5 with DD2 (just because that was when a Friday fell) and my waters broke at 34 weeks. I stuck to working (from home) until 36+5, and was then induced at 37 weeks.

I also work mainly from home in an office role.

I work full time in retail, and a very busy store at that.
My role involves going on tills, putting stock out and keeping my section tidy.
I'm starting my maternity leave at 36 weeks, at the beginning of September, I do have 8 days holiday left before it refreshes middle of September, which I'm taking next month.

I had wanted to work until 38 weeks, but that'll be too much even on lighter duties.

I intended to work from home until 38 weeks, my baby girl came at 37+5, so I got no leave pregnant. That suited me, though I was getting pretty knackered the last few days or so.

Really appreciate all the stories, guys.
Lots of food for thought!

Set ML to start at 39+2 thinking most ftm go over, and I could wfh fully from 36weeks onwards. I ended up having ds at 35+0 due to preeclampsia.

I worked until 38 weeks which is the legal limit where I live. It felt about right both times but I had my babies at 39+5 and 40+2. If I'd gone to 42 weeks I'd have been climbing the walls.

This is my worry haha

To be fair, the second time I was booked in for induction at 41 weeks and was desperate to avoid that because I was induced the first time and it ended in an EMCS, so I did absolutely everything I could think of to try and make myself go into labour and she decided she was ready to come out the day after my due date.

I went on maternity leave on 23rd December which was actually really lovely. We had a week at home with my son having a lovely relaxing Christmas, then in January he went back to crèche and I embarked on a packed schedule of walks, acupuncture, massages, nice lunches, more walks, bouncing on my ball watching Netflix, naps, more walks etc. It was great.

I got moved to an office job when I told them I was pregnant.

I am due on Tuesday and just had my last shift on Friday (I've taken Monday off as annual leave)

I can carry over all my annual leave so wanted to save as much as possible. I thought this was a statutory right but might be wrong...

Last pregnancy I went on annual leave at 38 weeks and then didn't give birth till 42 so was a bit bored annoyed I wasted that paid time I could have had with baby

My work has been super supportive, encouraging me to take breaks and letting me cut my hours (while continuing to pay me full wage). I would have gone off earlier if I was having a tough time but I've been lucky.

I worked until 37 weeks...worked in a very male environment and I think the guys were worried that I would go in to labour on the night shift 😁

I took maternity the day before she was born - it was ridiculously busy in work and I was still on boarding my replacement. Wouldn’t recommend doing it that late but the upside was I had loads of annual leave to take which lengthened my maternity leave.

Planned to go off at 39 weeks with DC1. Was exhausted by 32 weeks and finished at 36 weeks. Used 3 weeks of holiday though so still technically started May leave at 39 weeks.
Same with DC2

My last day was 36+3. DS was born 41+1.

I had an horrendously stressful job and worked stupid hours. I really was done when I finished and needed a few weeks to come down. I’m very glad I gave myself that time.

I was pretty chill about the extra week or so following the due date. It was altogether a really nice part of my life, pre baby but on mat leave.

I’m pregnant now with No. 2, I have a much nicer job now so think I could probably work a bit later. Haven’t really decided through. I definitely won’t do past 38 weeks. I might use annual leave to slowly wind down the days

I worked right up until baby was born, BUT she came far earlier than planned. I had planned to work until around 36 weeks, have 2 weeks annual leave and then take mat leave.

I worked until the day before I was induced at 38+5. Like you, my job wasn't overly physical and I was feeling good. I think a lot will be down to how you feel during your pregnancy