When did you finish work?

[JRTfan]

I'm 25 weeks pregnant and need to give work my finish date for maternity next week (they know I'm pregnant told them at 16 weeks)
I work as a sales manager part office and part home based, the office is 5 minute drive from home and my employer is pretty flexible.
I have 3 weeks holiday left to take so was thinking of finishing at either 36 or 37 weeks and taking the holiday before starting official maternity leave either the day or a week before my due date. I've had an uncomplicated pregnancy so far. Just wondering what others have done? Should I risk working longer? I can carry holiday over if I need to.

What would be the risk of leaving it longer?

(Genuine question, not being facetious.)

I wasn't allowed to carry holiday over and had four weeks to take so I started mat. leave at 36 weeks and finished four weeks before that, so just before 32 weeks.

It worked out really well as I ended up with a lot more hospital appointments before the end so it gave me time to go to those without rushing around, to relax and do things like swimming, sleeping and reading. Had my baby at 38 weeks and I'm so glad I got that six weeks of downtime first.

I had intended to have 2 weeks leave before my DS was born but he came a few days after I finished which meant I didn’t have much time to relax/finish all the last minute bits (DH built the next to me after baby was born and before we came home from hospital)
I would have liked a little bit more time but I guess it all depends on your general wellbeing/how difficult your job will be and if you would rather more time on the other side once baby is here.

37 weeks.
I could finish when I wanted to, but was as fit as a fiddle and with no health issues connected to the pregnancy. So I think it depends how you feel really.

37 weeks with #1. Baby born on due date.
36 weeks with #2. Baby born super later so I'd been off for almost six weeks before they were even born. It was good to have the extra time though as I only had two days a week without DC1 with me during that time so really needed those days to rest and get last bits sorted.
Early pregnant with #3 and I reckon I might go off even earlier this time because I'm in a different job now with an earlier start and public transport commute both ways so feel I will be more tired. Whereas #1 I walked to/from work and #2 I was working at home cos of COVID.

I set the date late, 38 weeks but kids both came earlier.
Remember, pregnancy related sickness in the last four weeks starts ML automatically. You can use this to step out early if you are struggling.

Started maternity leave when my waters broke. Literally. Spent the next 3 hours briefing my team before going to the hospital.

DD1 - i planned to finish at 38w (well the Friday was 37+5). I went into labour at 37+6 and DD was born on 38w exactly. Nearly 3yrs on, I'm still resentful of not having those last couple of weeks to relax! 😅

This pregnancy, I'm currently 35+6w and was planning on going at 37w (3weeks AL that i saved up before ML starts on my due date). However at a midwife appt this week, my BP has started to creep up and i was advised to consider going early if i can. So I'm going to be finishing on Weds, which will be 36+3. Feels a little early but i need to look after my health and so will use these last few weeks to try and relax as much as possible.

It’s totally personal

i worked until 39w and had Dd 39+5 but was fully remote.

with DS I worked until 37+5 and had him at 38+0 - we are hybrid but they let me work ft from home for last 4 weeks.

i wanted the time post birth and work were very flexible … if they hadn’t been and I was commuting in I’d have gone on mat leave wayyy earlier in my 2nd pregnancy. I could barely walk at 34 weeks 😅

That’s a bit crap you can’t add AL to the end of your maternity leave ? Do you accrue annual leave while off at your place

I went off at 38 weeks with my first and then they were two weeks late, and I found the four weeks pretty dull. Second time I finished at 38 weeks again, but this time I knew I was being induced the day before my due date. Currently pregnant with my third and this time planning to finish at 39 weeks to keep as much leave for afterwards. Work almost entirely remotely, and won’t be travelling beyond c32 weeks.

Thanks all..there's no risk to leaving it longer @Mazuslongtoenail I just think I might want some time before baby arrives but obviously want as much time as possible with my baby aswell. I've been very lucky so far with no problems but I don't know how I will feel later on. There's no chance of baby coming too late as I'll be induced if go overdue (I am 40)
Was just trying to guage a general opinion as I've had conflicting advice from friends and family (need to get used to that I think!).

Secondary school PE teacher. First I finished at 37 weeks.

Second I was told by midwife to finish at 35. He was delivered at 36

I think it largely depends on if you’re having extended maternity leave. If so then longer before feels proportional.

I was having a short mat leave so worked until the day before I was being induced to maximise my time after the baby arrived.

I had both my babies a few days after finishing up. First time baby came a week early and second planned section so I knew what was happening. I wanted to take all the time off at the other end and knew I’d just be bored in the house alone.

I plan to take 9 months off and then go back 2-3 days unless we do better than we anticipate financially in which case I'll take the full 12 months. I only get statutory maternity and DH doesnt earn enough to support both of us long term unfortunately.

If you could carry the leave I would prefer it at the end that's the start if all was well and that was possible.

I had to use my holidays. I've finished 3 weeks before my section date and split it in half, first part AL to use the days and second maternity leave. I suppose it depends when you want to go back. My AL accumulates over the year I am off too so I will take a year off + 5 weeks already. X

I’m taking two weeks AL off and then starting ML two weeks before due date
the rest of my AL from April 24 onwards will be used at the end of my ML next summer

I planned to finish at 37+2, have had a really easy pregnancy so far but started to struggle with fatigue around 33 weeks so brought finish date forward to 35+2. Had my baby shower the following day and spent the next week sorting through various baby items/gifts, washing tiny clothes and packing/repacking hospital bags.

With a week of AL before starting maternity, on my first day of actual maternity leave I was 36+5 which seemed reasonable.

Mind I am now 39 weeks and bored stiff 😂😂

Ds I went on mat leave officially at 38weeks but took 3wks holidays before so I was home from 35weeks really.
Dd I started mat leave at 39weeks but she arrived 41weeks!

DS1 34 weeks due to kidney infection and feeling awful. Planned to go to 37/38 weeks but he was born at 38 weeks so I was grateful to have that time.

DD 39 ish weeks and she was born at 40.

DS2 38 weeks and he was born at 39.

I tried to work as long as possible so more if mat leave would be with the baby, and felt well enough to work quite late with DD and DS2.

Due date with both, or as close as I could get away with. They were both late by over 2 weeks and I also spent those weeks working to get a jumpstart on things for when I returned.

Finish work on the Friday and had her on the Monday.

I had leave so finished at 34 weeks, was due to start mat leave at 38 +3 but had him at 38 +1 lol

This time I've got less leave, finishing on Friday when I'll be 35 + 5, then my mat leave is actually starting when I'll be 37 + 3