When to go on maternity 2nd baby

[Rose2688]

Hi, how long before baby is due would you go on maternity for a second baby? Interested to hear others experiences and advice. I work mainly from home.

When did your first baby arrive?

Thanks for responding. My daughter is three.

I worked right up to 2 weeks before with my second, with my first I stopped working earlier but was bored as I couldn’t do anything, I might as well have stayed on working a bit longer.

I worked until the day before I had my second. I work from home though!

I'm working up until the point I go into labour as I would be bored to tears otherwise BUT I work from home and can do my work lying on the sofa so am not affected by commuting etc.

I planned to stop at 36 weeks but got admitted at 29 weeks and baby born at 34 weeks.

First came at 41+5

First I worked up until two weeks before and she arrived 9 days early - so I had 5 days off before.

Second I'm planning on finishing at 36 weeks, expecting to also give birth early again.

I work 10hr twilight shifts on my feet, I've just turned 30 weeks and my body is def slowing down so sure I'll be very ready to finish by 36 weeks

I worked until the day I went into labour with my first, also WFH. It meant I got as long as possible once the baby arrived.

I'd do the same for our second 🤞

Sorry I mean were they early or late?

My first was 2 weeks early and I had only been on mat leave a day. So I went on mat leave earlier with baby 2.

If first one was 2 weeks late I would probably work to a week before due date.

I went off at 37 weeks both times but took annual leave for the first week. With my first I could have worked longer(born at 40+2) but with my second I was exhausted and uncomfortable, born at 40 weeks exactly.

depends what you want. my first i'd planned about 37 weeks with some leave from 35 weeks as it was christmas. she arrived at 34 weeks so never got any mat leave but i got to spend every day of it with her.

this time i will be induced at 38 weeks if not had her by then. i don't want weeks of waiting around with no company etc so decided to put in for 37 weeks again and then rolling over my leave til the end. just want to spend as much time as possible with her and not so much just sitting around doing nothing - not great in my own company

I finished work at 36 weeks. DC1 was 3 and went to nursery two days a week, so I looked after them alone for the other three weekdays a week once I was on ML. DC2 wasnt born until nearly 42 weeks, but I was glad I stopped work when I did. I only really had two days a week of peace for those last few weeks anyway and I really needed them to rest and get prepared for DC2.

With DC1 I finished at 37 weeks, but initially took 3 weeks of AL so my ML didn't actually start until I was 40 weeks. With DC2 I took 2 weeks of AL so my ML started at 38 weeks.

I'm pregnant now and if I can save enough AL then ideally I will finish at 35 weeks this time all being well, taking 2-3 weeks of AL and then start my mat leave. I will have even less childfree time a week this time round because will have DC1 around school hours on the days DC2 is at nursery. So hoping to finish a bit earlier this time as I will need those precious childfree times!

I finished at 34 + 4 with my first as I had 4 weeks annual leave. I had him at 38 +1 so was technically still on leave.

I've just had my second baby, I finished at 35 + 5 as I had less leave but baby wasn't born till 39 +1 so essentially I had the same amount of time off 😂

First baby i went on ML at 37+5 and she was born at 38. I really resented having no time at all to myself before she was born!

With second baby, i planned to go on AL at 36w and ML from 39w. As it was, my BP went haywire and i was having monitoring every 3 days from 36w until she was born at 39w plus i developed preeclampsia. I was very glad not to be at work during that time and to be able to rest at home whilst DD1 was at nursery as in hindsight, i really felt quite unwell.

Thanks everyone, really helpful. My first arrived on their due date, and I worked right up to it. But ideally I don't want to arrive at this one quite as exhausted as I was last time. But then also don't want to get bored. So it's a balance!

With both, i stopped 4 weeks before due date. Needed it. Used 2 weeks of annual leave though.

I'd do 2 weeks before, nice to have some time to yourself

I’ll be working up to 33 weeks this time, and plan to spend the summer holiday with my girl before she starts back at school and baby arrives.

However my daughter arrived at 34 weeks so we shall take each day as it comes.

First baby arrived a few days after due date, so with the second I am planning to start my leave the weekend of the due date but take two weeks annual leave beforehand just to hopefully give myself a break! No idea yet whether that's going to work out. If the baby is late, cool, I'll play some video games; if the baby is early, sad wave goodbye to my time off before managing a toddler and a newborn.

I worked up til 10days before my due date with number 2. Didn’t WFH, was in the office 3 days a week.
longer at the other side of mat leave was my reasoning

I finished 2 weeks before my due date with DC1, she was born exactly 1 week early so I had a week of prep before she was here.

Currently expecting (coming up to 35 weeks), last planned day at work is 38+5. WFH full time so not having to worry about a commute, training of people covering while I'm off is complete so if #2 arrives early my work won't be massively affected.

I've got plenty of AL to use but agreed with manager to carry over to 2025 when I return to work, didn't seem any need to use it before and finish up sooner as my work is very flexible with how I'm feeling on any given day and this time around I have a partner who has stuck around so between us we're fairly prepared for an arrival (early, on time or late!). I have the option to move my finish date if I'm struggling but so far so good - although I've moved from my desk to the sofa permanently!

I went on maternity leave 2 days before my due date with my second.

My first I had 4 weeks before, was absolutely pointless every day dragged and less time with her at the end.

Worked comfortably to 38 weeks first time and baby came at just over 40 weeks. Second time round, my body was obviously wrecked from the first one and I could barely function from about 36 weeks - felt like my spine was separating at the base when I sat down and the baby dropped into my pelvis which set of some crazy nervous system response leaving me bright red, sweating, anxious and with racing heart rate, so stopped work at 37 weeks. Baby came at just over 40 weeks again. I would say just carry on until you can't.

With my first I went on maternity leave 3 weeks before due date; DS was 10 days late and I was very bored. With number 2, I went one week before due date; DD was induced 2 weeks late but I’d developed a better appreciation of doing nothing by then (DS was still nursery)!