Feel bad for going on leave at 32 weeks pregnant?

[blueyavocado]

I can't help but compare myself to mothers that leave a few days or a week before there due date. I'm leaving work for a few weeks on AL at 32 weeks and starting my maternity leave at around 35 weeks.

I'm currently 28 weeks and struggling with the hour and 40 min commute , feeling really worn out but also aware there are ladies who plow through to the end .

When did you take your leave and what was the reasoning ?

Your commute sounds very hard. I worked until almost 38 weeks but I was work from home which is totally different. I honestly don't think I could have gone that long with a commute like that. Also it doesn't matter what anyone else does. Enjoy your time off before baby arrives xx

dont feel bad, you have to do what is best for you. I went to 38 weeks but had to due to money. Also my job was sit down at a desk and very easy/ relaxed so I could.

I had a friend who worked in a hospital on her feet all day amd started mat leave at 28 weeks. - don’t blame her, no way could I have done it.

everyone’s pregnancy affects them differently. You know what is best for you.

I did very similar when pregnant with DS and had a similar commute. I never regretted it, it was getting so tiring by then and lovely to have some time to prepare before DS arrived.

When I had DD later I started maternity leave later as I was WFH, you have to do what's best for you at the time.

I worked until my waters broke at work 🤣 and will probably do the same again! But purely because I'm self employed and don't earn anything when I don't work. If I could leave earlier and be paid for it, I really really would! Enjoy your time off x

Don't feel bad about it. I wanted to work until start of 38 weeks but based on my 36w scan they had to bring my baby out asap so had to go off with 2 day notice.

I went on leave at 34 weeks it was glorious, especially as I had to use holiday so was on full pay that didn’t take from my mat leave. I feasted, watched films, walked, did art, played my piano and read at least 3 books. I’ll never get such a good sabbatical again until retirement, which isn’t guaranteed!

You've earned your AL: you don't need to explain what you do with it.

Mat leave is fixed from whenever you start taking it. If you went later you'd be coming back later.

Stop worrying about it.

Have you done a handover note?

I went on annual leave at 33.5 weeks, started maternity leave leave at 35.5 weeks and baby was born at 37 weeks! I barely had time to pack a hospital bag because I thought I had weeks of downtime before she came 😂

I had my DS at 31 weeks! I definitely was struggling at work by that point. I really missed not having time to rest before I had the baby. Do what suits you

I worked til 39 weeks both times. I wanted to use my maternity leave being with my baby not waste it doing nothing at home.

I worked until 39 weeks, but I have a desk job and can work from home. If I had your commute or didn’t have a desk job then I would have gone on maternity leave earlier.

Off at 34 weeks with DS1 (wanted some time off with teacher DH and was somehow expecting DS1 to be early…he eventually arrived at 42 weeks). I did go slightly insane with boredom by the end but if he’d been earlier all would have been dandy. Enjoy your time off.

I had horrific SPD and went on leave at 35 weeks. I couldn’t do it any more.

I started mat leave today at 35 weeks - I was able to wfh throughout my pregnancy though (terrible morning sickness). I think if I had to be going into work I’d have gone earlier.

Baby #2 if we are lucky enough to have one I think around 34 weeks I’ll start maternity leave. Being so big and working and sitting at a desk all day has taken its toll on me.

Christ take the leave! Enjoy every second! Please Xxx

Baby 1 - stopped working at 30 weeks (start of the 6 week schools summer holidays, technically my Mat Leave started 1st Sept which was a further 4 weeks before my due date). Had about 12weeks to myself before baby arrived at 41+1! Bliss! Pregnancy during COVID meant I also hadn't been in the building and was WFH since 13w of pregnancy though!

Baby 2 - worked up to 38 weeks, part time. 2 weeks of school holidays then due date. Eldest was ill during those 2 weeks of holidays so I didn't actually get any break or rest days to myself at all before baby arrived at 40+5.

Do whatever works for you and enjoy it 😍

34 weeks with my first and the same with my second. I should have taken it earlier but was worried about the maternity leave but really regret it as I was on my knees

I mostly WFH and I am finishing at 37 weeks.

less then 6 weeks to go and I'm always thinking about moving it forward but it's just the money. I seriously CBA daily!!!

you bloody enjoy , feet up, films on ! 🤗

I was always anaemic at that stage in my pregnancies and felt rough and awful, then once I started on iron tablets (well I found Floradix much better and quicker) I felt loads better.

I went off at 17 weeks with DS1 and 23 weeks with DS2.

Both because of a health condition I had and although I was signed off sick I did feel really guilty 😬

I started mat leave 6 weeks before with my due date with my youngest. It was winter and I had a 60 mile round trip on public transport. I did not want to go into labour far from home or on a train'

28 weeks with my third. It was AMAZING!!!!

34 weeks with first as was completely worn out

30 weeks with second as developed pre-eclampsia

I went off at about 30 weeks in my first pregnancy, I had a ten minute commute. I felt like absolute dogshit.

Never felt a second of guilt. So don't you either.

Baby 1 I worked up until 38 weeks but it was working from home (although some nights until 10pm).

I did my handover and then 24 hours later had the baby. Which was a bit of a shame because I had no rest for work to newborn. It was rubbish!!! Wouldn’t do that again.

howwvee baby 2 I already had a toddler so no rest for the wicked eh!