When did you start maternity?

[TomorrowToday]

4 weeks before too early?

When people say they have an easy pregnancy do they mean they didn't get morning sickness and found being pregnant ok?

My job isn't bad, no commuting etc but I just want to spend all day sleeping, vomiting or resting,... plus nesting.

You might start to feel better, it’s different for everyone. I worked right up til the end, but was v tired by the birth! I think I’ll go to about 35 weeks next time. Best of luck to you.

First baby, 4 weeks before due date but then went to 41 weeks and it was way too long. Second baby, I wanted to last as long as possible so worked up until 4 days before the birth (secondary teacher). It was tough by that point, but I was resolute as I had exam classes and wanted to stay with them to support them through as many exams as possible. Two weeks before would have been far more sensible.

I'm going at 36 weeks. I have a pretty physical, full time job and I'm starting to find it more tiring now at 29 weeks, so 36 seems like a good time.

My first two were 6 and 8 days early so also hoping this one is too!

Stopped at 38 weeks with my first, and got v bored waiting for 3 weeks until she showed up. Number 2 I worked until 39+3 (desk job wfh) and will probably do the same with number 3 since both were born at 41 weeks.

I'm 38 weeks and just started to work at home this week on the lead up to baby arriving. If I still had to go into the office I think I would of gone on mat leave around this time because the struggles of swollen ankles and shuffling around are real.

x

I booked mine two weeks ahead of due date

But I work from home and I admit that sometimes I do my work while laying down like characters on renaissance paintings

If I had to go in I'd start earlier because I this pregnancy is kicking my .... well, everything. Im aching at places I never even thought i could ache at

I worked up to when I gave birth (would have gone to due date but both arrived before it). But I felt fine and wasn't in a physically demanding job, so for me I didn't really see the point of going off early.

31 weeks with first, 29 with second

Finished on Friday... had my baby the following Wednesday. (This was not the plan but I finished at 38 weeks)

I had loads of annual leave to take so left at 32 weeks 😂 had 9 weeks off as baby didn't come til 41 weeks. I absolutely loved that time.

How can you have lots of annual leave? If the baby is due 1st December and you have three weeks annual leave - can you not tap on three weeks annual leave so your maternity starts after baby is due?

I might be missing something because I seem to be the only one thinking like this.

Was there an issue with the babies or just had lots of annual leave etc?

My job isn't tiring but Tommys are saying 36 weeks. I guess it makes sense if the baby is coming possibly at 38 weeks.

Agh I just don't know.

I'd planned to work until 38 weeks but was struggling (just a standard office job!) so finished at 36 weeks. I'm glad I did as went into labour at 38 weeks!

I finished (planned) at 36 weeks with my second.

Finished at 32 weeks as had a weeks annual leave to use up dd was born at 33 weeks on the day my maternity leave started was made redundant when I had ds so finished slightly earlier think 27 weeks but was in and out of hospital then hospitalised for 6 weeks due to grade 4 placenta previa kept me in as a precaution with dd being prem had a c section at 36 weeks. Never got to chill out before I had either of them

I had severe HG with both. Lots of hospitalisations with the 2nd and tbh I was really struggling, I would have loved to keep going but even on reduced hours I found I wasn't doing well. I wish I'd had more time at home with them but I knew it was the right thing for me

(I had lots of annual leave for my second as mine were close together so I saved some I'd accrued from first mat leave, so I finished at 36 weeks but my mat leave started day baby was born)

I went on leave around 30 weeks. Was physically shattered and feeling dizzy. Take sick leave if you can and need to. No point soldiering on if your body can't hack it.

I don't understand why society expects us women to be heros. Pregnancy is extremely tough for some (most?) and we shouldn't be expected to function the same or similar to normal. Bloody capitalism has made us slaves to the system.

I took annual leave from 37w and started mat leave from my due date. DS was then eventually born 12 days late! So it ended up feeling like too long off altogether waiting around for him (but I probably would've felt fed up like that regardless given how overdue I was ). I had a stressful full time job and had intended to go to 38w but I really needed the mental break, I was exhausted.

I think if we have another one day I'll try and work to about 38w (new much less stressful job now). I'll probably have an ELCS which I understand are usually in the 39th week, so it would be nice to have some time before that.

DC1
Expectation: 3 weeks of annual leave then maternity leave from due date. Last day of work 36+2. First babies are always late yeah?
Reality: Pre-eclampsia picked up at 36 weeks midwife appointment. Confirmed and admitted to hospital at 36+1. Thankfully I work in said hospital, so I still got to go to my party. Just didn't get to go home. Induced at 37 weeks, baby born at 37+1. Still mildly bitter I got zero down time before baby was born.

DC2
Expectation: OK. Lesson learned. Do NOT take maternity leave from due date. Baby is due right at the end of the holiday year as well, so not a lot of annual leave to use anyway. Maternity leave starts at 38 weeks, plus a week and a day or two of annual leave as well. Being part time makes my last day 36+1. Lightning won't strike twice yeah?
Reality: Covid! As I'm patient facing, and there's no alternative job I can do, I'm off on full pay from 28 weeks. However, lightning does in fact strike twice. While the pre-eclampsia is picked up at 34 weeks, an admin error meant it wasn't acted upon until 36+2, and I'm admitted to hospital that evening. Baby born at 37+6. I was completely exhausted by 28 weeks, so I'm immensely grateful for that time off. I would have been so upset if I had had only the one day between finishing work and being admitted to hospital.

3 days before and it was TOO LATE 😂 Enjoy 4 weeks with your feet up, love.

I’ve finished at 31 weeks this time and using leave before starting maternity at 38 weeks. Enjoy the time you have just bring you, once the baby arrives you can never get that time back.

Planned maternity at 38 weeks, 2 weeks before due date
DS decided to come at 36 weeks so maternity kicked in 2 weeks early.
Didn't even have a hospital bag packed ready as I thought I had time.

Yep! I had no sickness, no pelvic pain, no tiredness after the first 10 weeks and a small bump. Very lucky!