When did you start maternity?

[TomorrowToday]

4 weeks before too early?

I started mat leave 2 weeks before but also took 2 weeks holiday. It was partly to do with the way it fell with my holiday year though.

So I was off for a month before due date and it was ok but a bit too long in some ways. I think 2-3 weeks is probably better in a non physical job if you have an easy pregnancy (I did).

I think v much depends on how physical and stressful your job is, how difficult your pregnancy is and how much rest you’d get at home. Definitely just do what works for you.

I went 4 weeks before with my first and regretted it. I was so bored, everyone is still in work and you just Bob about bored and waiting for labour. If you can I’d say go as close as you can so you have more time with baby.

My second I took two weeks holiday and then started maternity leave the week baby was due. That was so much better. I was still a bit bored but I got the most time with my daughter. Planning on doing the same this time

I'm 20 weeks and I've been so tired and sick. Will I feel the same at 36 weeks or it is hard to tell?

I went off at 36 weeks, although I formally started maternity at 36 + 5 (I work part time.) I was struggling a lot with sciatica and pain - still am to be honest.

I do feel surprisingly low and fed up but it’s hard to say if that’s the weather, heavy pregnancy or general ‘waiting’ for the baby!

2 weeks before with my first and then she was late.

DS was 3 weeks early and I was due in work the morning he arrived, so 2nd time round I started mat leave on the day he was born.

I went at 36 weeks and ended up being induced at 39+4. I barely got any sleep at all in those last few weeks, so was glad I had the time off.

37 weeks with my first, 36 weeks with my second. Fwiw I really enjoyed my 3 weeks at home before I gave birth with the first at 40+1. Both my pregnancies were straightforward and I had a desk job, but by the time I went on leave I was resentful of having to devote my limited stock of energy to work instead of to nesting. I spent that three weeks working out, cleaning, and cooking like a maniac. As it happened I got induced at 37 weeks with my second and only had one week of freedom instead of the month I was looking forward to 😢

I planned to have 2 weeks off before baby was due, especially as the first is usually late and therefore it could be more than 2 weeks before they're even born! My son had other plans and my waters broke while at work for the last day 🤣 so I had no time off before!!

10 days before one and 4 weeks for the other. But, I didn't get the 4 wks baby showed up 4 days after leave started!

Also, don't forget there's a chance you could go to 42 wks. I'd weigh it up and when you're ready to stop trust me you know! There's no right or wrong answer it's whatever works for you.

I know women who have worked up to and on their due date and others who have stopped 8 wks before baby was due. 2 to 4 wks I think is the most common.

I’m due towards the end of Jan - planning to take any remaining leave I have for this year before Christmas and then start mat leave from the start of the year. It’ll be about a month before my due date but I don’t see the point in coming back after Christmas for the sake of a couple of weeks!

I went off at 35 weeks. I was due to go off at 36 weeks but I wasn't sleeping well so I was exhausted every day. Plus I had to drive on the motorway and there was regularly accidents on there and it made me nervous!

My son was born preterm so my plan was to have 2 weeks off….but the reality was that my maternity leave started the day after he was born!

Worked up to due date with the expectation that I could go at any time. Finished on a Friday, gave birth the Sunday into Monday am, and he was due the following Friday. Called it in and put my out of office on- my cover was in place and we were working together with this in mind.

I didn't have much leave and wanted to maximise the time DS and I had together.

37 weeks - I was terrified baby would come early she deprived me of previous relaxation time.

Well, here I am at 40 + 2 and no sign of baby, but I am enjoying the relaxing, oxytocin pumping activities, swimming, reading and batch cooking. 🙂

I have to let work know how

I know people write "more time with baby" but you'll have the rest or your lives lol.

Wanted to go at 38wks, occy health persuaded me to go at 36 wks, actually went off sick at 34 weeks with severe pre eclampsia and was hospitalised.

Non clinical, office based Midwife for context.

Oh no that sounds awful :(

I was supposed to go off 2 days before due date (I was able to WFH pretty much the whole pregnancy) but baby came 5 days early. I'd logged off late on the Friday night for a report due on the Monday, went to the cinema, stayed up past midnight with DH because we didn't need to be up early the morning after...5:15am ambulance and emergency section on the Saturday morning 🤣 didn't get to finish the report or have my last day!

Really sorry to hear you're not feeling great, hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly for you x

I started mine 3 days before ds was born.

Definitely let them know. I would maybe give yourself 2 to 3 wks before due date and if you need to go earlier you can get note from your midwife or gp. Your work should also be open to you doing amended hours or have longer breaks if needed. Again, they may request note but most HR departments tend to give a fair amount of leeway after 28 wks.

Also, if there's the option to use annual leave to shorten your weeks to pt, it might be worth looking into. I have had staff use 1 or 2 days of leave from wk 32 till they were were off on mat leave. This way your pay isn't interrupted but you aren't as stressed when you're going onto mat leave and you may be able to work for longer. It benefits both you and the company. You may also be able to the same when you return work and use that to pahse in your return depending on what you're planning.

Or what I did was book 2 wks annual leave and then the following 2 before my due date was booked as mat leave. That didn't happen for me and I ended up with one wk annual leave and mat leave started rhe say after LO was born.

See if you can speak to someone in HR and aee what they recommend or what usually works best for you within their guidelines. And this should help you to maximise ypur time off with baby while still getting a decent pay. (I'm basing it off stat mat leave)

Blah excuse typos, the day after LO...

I'm sleep deprived and currently on mat leave

I worked until my due date but he didn't come until 40+13 (hours before he was to evicted). I wasn't taking a long mat leave so wanted it with him.

I just want to finish this job asap.... I'm under performing due to pregnancy