Physical job ,when to go on mat leave ?

[Lauryn95]

I work in a busy bar as a supervisor,I'm on my feet for around 9-10 hours non stop as my only break is only around 5-10 mins before someone comes to get me due to needing me My hours are usually 3 or 4pm while 1am Also it's alot of lifting and bending, such as carrying ice ,trays of glasses ,mopping ,hoovering ,moving barrels, restocking beer and wine etc and basically I'm wondering when I should go on mat leave ,what's others experience working an on your feet job ,did you feel upto working til the end or did you need to go off at like 6 weeks before ? Being asked if I know when I'm leaving but I really don't know how I'll be feeling but boss obviously wants someone to cover me so needs a rough idea when I'm leaving

I started mat leave at 36 weeks both times - frontline nhs. I’d probably aim for as late as you feel will be possible. I do have a couple of colleagues who only went on mat leave at 39+ weeks. I couldn’t have worked that late personally though.

Everyone is different but during my first pregnancy my part time role was mostly sat down with some going up and down stairs.I’m a freelancer too & that’s more physical and I was defo struggling with that side of things there also! Baby was due end of March and I was struggling in December.Ended up taking maternity early due to reduce movement.I guess it was around 34 weeks or so and I was induced at 37+6 due to ongoing reduce movement episodes through out.I planned to finish at 37 weeks. This pregnancy (if all goes well) I am aiming to leave the earliest I can which is 11 weeks before expected due date.As a freelancer I can manage on shorter physical hours worked and it pays well. But the part time role I have is much more physical & longer hours & more walking around which I am dreading the thought of! Also want to try & protect myself as much as possible in the final months from all the winter illnesses & enjoy Christmas and New Year instead of working through.Your body absolutely needs rest ahead of labour & delivery as it is a lot so definately carve in time for yourself before baby arrives!

nhs Worker here too. My job during my first pregnancy was fairly physical - night shifts, on my feet, a lot of manual work in high temps. Stopped at 37 weeks. Second pregnancy was actually more heavy lifting but no night shifts and stopped at 38 weeks for planned c-section a week later.

each person is different and I’ve had colleagues go at 32 weeks. I am lucky in that while I get huge I carry well. I also really couldn’t afford extended Mat leave so wanted to have as much time as possible post-delivery. If I had taken a year i probably would have been ok leaving earlier.

I work in hospitality too. I had planned to go on mat leave at 36 weeks but I left at 32. It was getting really tough, 12 hour shifts almost entirely on my feet and my bump was big at that point. My work was understanding with altering my role, less physical duties, longer break etc. I don't regret leaving early at all, I've had lots of time to rest and I'm at almost 39 weeks now.

How many weeks are you? It's so important that your work, if they know you're pregnant, are looking after you and your baby. 9-10 hour shifts on your feet with a 5-10 min break sounds like too much and isn't even legal. Hospitality can be such a hectic job but your and their priority is taking care of the pregnancy

How far are you?

Have they done a risk assessment? Have they made reasonable adjustments? You really shouldn't be hailing beer barrels around at 30+ weeks etc.

That's the priority.

My first I went at 36 weeks and that was far too early. Really regretted it. Second I took two week holiday from 38 weeks and started may leave at 40 weeks, doing the same this time. Also have a physical job working 9 hour days. Totally individual how people cope with the work load and how their pregnancy is going. Personally I think 6 weeks before is too much, you’ll be bored waiting for baby to come and very often they are late.

I'm only 22 weeks atm ,they haven't done a risk assessment they keep saying i need to do one but haven't sat down with me yet to do it ,It's my own fault for not taking longer breaks we have new starters and I'm always needed ,I should tell them no I'm on my break but I just say yeah I'll be there in a minute when there's issues etc the alternative is that I come back to chaos and then the thought stresses me out so I cut my breaks short