When did you start maternity?

[TomorrowToday]

4 weeks before too early?

Unless you're under financial pressure then go as early as you feel like.

I actually left at 30 weeks, used all my holiday and then mat pay started officially at 36 weeks.

I loved it! You don't have to be suffering to go early if that's what you want.

Then do that. I think you can start mat leave as early as 11 wks before your due date

I’m planning work until due date or very close - I can fully WFH so easy. Don’t see why I’d waste mat leave before baby is here

I'm going at 36 weeks, however first two weeks will be holiday and then maternity. To be honest I'm 24 weeks and already starting to mentally check out of my office job so cannot wait! 😂

With my first I worked until 38 weeks…… then had the baby 2 days later. Was gutted I missed out on a couple of weeks of rest before the madness set in!

@Peony654 - not all of us can work from home. It isn’t wasting maternity leave, it’s doing what is best for yourself.

38 weeks with DD1 and 39+5 weeks with DD2 - I had a deal needed to babysit before I could get away with DD2 and knew it would make a big difference to me money wise. Both babies were late so I had loads of time off before they arrived.

My first I was taken out of work 4 weeks before my due date and actually delivered 2 weeks late. The next two I worked right up until I gave birth. Easy pregnancies, sit down job.

I'll be 35+3 when I finish up. Using up annual leave and then clicking into mat leave

First baby I finished at 38 weeks, she was 10 days late. Second a SAHM with a toddler. No break at all haha

When you stop work depends on the type of job you do, whether you are working at home / commuting, your health, financial situation and Mat leave policy / pay. 2-4 weeks is the standard but many people go on leave earlier than that or work up to due date depending on their personal situation. (Of course if you work past 38 weeks you need to be totally ready for the baby to come anytime, at work or not).

Are all first babies late?

I was all set to go off at around 39 weeks. My midwife told me I should go at 36 weeks. In the end I went just before 38 weeks. By that point I wished I'd just listened to her and gone at 36!

I'm 20 weeks and really sick. So maybe it will be different in a few weeks but I also don't know what I would do for those few weeks before the baby comes other than not work, exercise, prepare for the birth, buy baby stuff, batch cook etc.

Yes!

Glad I waited to go till 38 weeks as baby was two weeks late. Was feeling pretty good though and not uncomfortable. Would have gone earlier if I had felt bad xx

I don't know what to tell work. I guess I can go early but I can't go later?

All exactly what you should be doing in the run up to labour! Takes a minute to relax in to it, but it's so rare to be able to take that time for yourself.

Also, it's time to treasure and bond with your partner!

I don't have one

I went at 37+6 and she was born at 38+6. Four weeks would have been too early for me as I had a really easy pregnancy and was still very mobile at the end but by 37+6 I was ready to go. Listen to your body but if you can manage I’d be saving as much leave for when the baby is here.

First time 2 weeks. Baby arrived 4 weeks later. I was bored witless by 42 weeks because I was too giant to do anything fun.
Second time I went off on my due date, baby arrived nearly 3 weeks later but wasn't as bored as first time just meant more quality time with toddler.

38 weeks. Perfect for me but I had fairly easy pregnancies and an office job

I was due to go 3 weeks before due date but today arranged to go a week earlier so I have 4 weeks until due date. 2 weeks of this is annual leave.

I just want to switch off now and focus on baby. I don't have the mental or physical energy anymore I'm just too excited about getting ready for the baby 🥳

I also had a rough 3rd trimester and still not 100% so am looking forward to just being able to rest and nest at my own pace, rather than working a full day then being too tired for anything else. I have a desk based, home based job, but currently can't sit up without getting dizzy, feeling sick and almost blacking out (fun!).

I've known people work right up to birth, others who go as soon as they are eligible but everyone is different both in pregnancy and personal preferences 😊

Technically with DS I started maternity leave at 40 weeks but stopped at 37 and used AL

I have just finished at 39wks but I worked from home so did not have the commute but regretted it. Needed though to have the time the other end as reducing nursery days

@TomorrowToday it was pretty awful to be fair 😂 the most poorly I've felt in my life, however, he's worth it, and the docs kindly induced me at 37 weeks because there was no point cooking him any longer. Although I had already gone into labour at 34 weeks with the pre eclampsia. It's all fun and games. Personally I'd continue as long as you can and use some holiday up before your mat leave starts if possible, as financially that will help.