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.

I started my mat leave at 38 weeks, but took Annual leave from 36 weeks. Baby born at 39 weeks. I took a whole year off and then took 8 weeks annual leave at the end, and used annual leave to only work 4 days on my return until the new annual leave year where I informally reduced my hours. I ended up having nearly 15 months off which was great as baby was a surprise after a couple of miscarriages early on in 10 year marriage. I savoured every moment.

*formally

I'm planning on starting mat leave around 36 weeks but prior to that using my AL to reduce my hours over around 6 weeks, doing 4 days for 2 weeks, then 3 then 2 :)

I went up until a about 3 days before (elective section) and wished I had taken a bit longer to relax beforehand.

With both of mine I started it on my due date but took whatever holiday I had remaining before. With DD I finished at 37 weeks, with DS 35 weeks. I did struggle that last week with DD and DS I could've carried on however I finished on xmas eve, carrying on made no sense to me as it would've meant working between xmas and NY.
Both babies arrived 2 weeks early - ML is meant to start straight away however I had lazy bosses who never contacted the accountant to change it. Winner for me but I am well aware this shouldn't have happened.

I am a specialist nurse and my work is mostly office based.
Iam currently 25w pregnant with my first - he is due 5th of October - and iam planning to take 4w annual leave from 4th of September and start MAT leave on week 40 of my pregnancy.
And also I think I will take 9months of leave not a year.