Previous 34 weeker...when would you start mat leave?

[Bells3032]

I am pregnant with my 2nd (yay) and trying to figure out when i would like to start mat leave. I will be induced at around 38 weeks due to being diabetic.

My daughter was born spontaneously at 34 weeks. We've investigated and doesn't seem to be any reason why this happened. seems she just got bored and wanted out. so there's no reason it should happen again but alternately we don't know it won't happen again.

When would you start your mat leave? one big benefit of her arriving early was i got to spend all my mat leave with her but i also have generous annual leave i am taking on top of the full year so no idea.

Thoughts please?

Totally up to you if don’t feel that your work had anything to do with your preterm delivery. Did once read that women who are able to nap and rest more in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy have better outcomes. Consider the time of year (heat) and also that you have another little one to care for so don’t get the same opportunities to rest when home from work and weekends. I’m going to start leave around 34 weeks as only work part time but have family to care for so think be best balance but previous pregnancies have started at 29 weeks and 38 weeks. I think the 38 weeks was too late in retrospect as did have very strenuous job and then delivered early so went into the sleepless nights totally exhausted. The 29 weeks was lovely and right thing given the job I was in and other factors at the time but then had to to back a lot earlier than was ideal. I’d say I wouldn’t want to start any later than 36 weeks as that’s when found was particularly uncomfortable by the time evenings, needed my naps and often not sleeping well at night really kicked in full force and most of friends felt similar in last 4 weeks and were be grateful to be on leave by then

i'm playing it by ear, i only get maternity allowance when i do go on it and its only 170 quid a week which for London is not an awful lot!

To be honest I've printed out all 20 pages of the forms but keep putting it off. I'm due in May so was going to do March and then head on leave in April but again depending on my health.
Do whats best for you. x

I worked until my due date and he didn't come for another 13 days. You can always plan to go late and bring it forward if your struggling

Went off earliest I could with this second pregnancy form part time job due to pregnancy related sickness and illness & manager being awful. It’s been a challenging pregnancy & I’m glad I did! I’m also self employed though so have been able to do a bit here and there to stay on top of things & will be doing the same once baby is out too so wanted to make sure I don’t over do it during pregnancy itself. Good luck whatevrr you do and listen to your body!

Just be aware it can take a few weeks to receive your first payment, it took 10 weeks for application to be processed when I last applied for maternity allowance, then received a big back payment so not so bad if you’ve got savings to rely on

i didn't realise, thank you. going to fill it out today and send asap