Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

When should you start maternity leave?

31 replies

Daniya · 14/04/2008 15:37

Hi all. This is my first pregnancy and I have about a zillion questions to which I just don't know the answer. One of which is what is the norm as to when you could/should start maternity leave. Obviously I realise its different for each person but I was wondering if anyone had any general ideas. My thoughts are that I would like to work as late as possible so that I can use my maternity leave when the baby is actually around although this may be more wishful thinking than practical - especially with a 2 hour commute each day on lovely London tubes/trains!

Your thoughts will be appreciated.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

S1ur · 14/04/2008 15:39

Yes I'd leave it as late as possible, but with that kind of commute you may need the last few weeks to chill a bit.

AnnieAreYouOkAreYouOkAnnie · 14/04/2008 15:40

I worked up to two weeks before my due date. This gave me three weeks before DS was actually born. Same with DD.
When you're huge big ready to pop you probably will want to give up earlier, but I found I was glad I worked that long, as you can get a bit TIRED OF WAITING! once you're off.

Good luck, and if I see you on the tube, you can have my seat!

KJ11 · 14/04/2008 15:44

I also have this dilemma, i travel to London and have about a 3 hour round trip each day but i want to work as close as possible rather than wasting the time sat at home! i suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens.....

PrimulaVeris · 14/04/2008 15:44

Worked up to 2 weeks with both births, also London commute similar to yours.

As I got larger I tended to go in/leave at times when more likely to get seat (eg took stopping train rather than fast train). But of course everyone is different - depends how you feel nearer the time. Good luck!

KJ11 · 14/04/2008 15:47

i am allowed to sit in first class which i hope will help as ill always get a seat - tey your train companies...

KMUN · 14/04/2008 15:51

I banked 2 weeks holiday, so left 5 weeks before EDD; then baby was nearly 2 weeks late! However, really enjoyed time to wind down, discover what my local area was actually like during day and not fuss with London commute. Also, DVDs by post were a terrific distraction. Life's so different after they arrive that you need the me-time upfront.

Original poster

Daniya · 14/04/2008 15:52

I know some train companies offer that benefit but my trains don't have a first class section. I usually always get a seat anyway (always worried I'll miss the train so get there 10 mins early and end up waiting for it on the platform!!) so I'm not worried about that. If all else fails I may be sticking my bump in people's faces! Although it is amazing how ignorant and oblivious some people can be - if I ever saw a pregnant lady I offer my seat immediately but I have seen some people just put their heads down!

OP posts:

beforesunrise · 14/04/2008 15:55

first pregnancy left at 36 weeks and baby showed up 3 weeks later. this time, i left at 34 as i was simply too exhausted.

i;d say 36 weeks is about average, but see how you feel! you can always change your mind at the last minute

PetitFilou1 · 14/04/2008 15:56

I worked up to 36 weeks with both previous pregnancies. Was very bored with the wait first time round (went a week overdue) but I agree with Slur if you have a long commute you may be glad not to have to do it for as long. When you get near the end of your pregnancy you are likely to feel knackered, not be able to walk far/stand without aching etc etc Have you got any annual leave you can take? That way you start the mat leave later so have more time the other end.

Other options to think about if your employer will let you are doing some work from home, working different hours so you miss the rush hour, working shorter hours near the end etc etc But if the latter you need to bear in mind that your mat pay is normally based on an average of your last two months pay (well it is in my case - I'm not sure if this is standard or not)

elportodelgato · 14/04/2008 19:55

I am planning on working up until 38 weeks but it is getting harder (I am 34 weeks now and feel ENORMOUS). My work have been very nice though and I can work from home some days - it would be well worth looking into this if possible. It's not so much the work which is making me tired as the evil 2.5 hour London commute each day so I feel your pain!

I am also taking some odd days of leave which means I am only really doing 3-4 days per week until I officially stop. You may find your work are willing to be pretty flexible with you if you ask - they know you are leaving for quite a long period of time and might be happy for you to wind down gradually rather than working flat out right to the end.

Also, I managed to fall over pretty spectacularly at the office the other week and since then they seem VERY keen not to have me around as I am making them all nervous!!

pinkyminky · 14/04/2008 20:02

I worked until about 36 weeks in town, getting buses etc, then took the rest of my last project home with me,that lasted another two weeks. DS was nearly two weeks overdue so I was glad I hadn't finished earlier!I worked freelance, though. I know a lot of people use holidays too if they want more time off.

pinkyminky · 14/04/2008 20:05

Ditto the nervous colleagues! (I did have a very big bump with DS)

addictedtoharibo · 15/04/2008 12:23

I think it depends on how you feel. Some people have fantastic pregnancies and feel fine to work up to a week or so before their due date. Others end up feeling exhausted and rough with different complications and need to give up sooner.

Last time I planned on working until my due date (not as daft as it sounds - I lecture and baby was due in July so last month or so would have just been in my comfy office with no students around). However I suffered constant sickness until he was born and at 36 my blood pressure went up so I gave up.

I am not sure of the exact rules and how it differs from work place to work place but if you are feeling generally healthy and dont have too demanding a job then maybe go for about 37 - 38 weeks. However think about when those weeks are going to fall - will it be hot weather? Is your commute easy or difficult? Will your employer be fine if you decide you need to give up earlier?

Personaly I am aiming at stopping at 32 weeks this time - although with my job I am never truly on holiday and there is always something I should be doing. I will work from home and generally relax, get house into shape etc. Maybe you will feel bored but as a second time mum I am relishing that time to sort things out, have some time on my own, relax etc etc.

Not sure if this has been much help!
xx

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 15/04/2008 12:31

I worked up until 36 weeks, but the first two weeks of that was holiday. I had a desk job and could have worked for a few more weeks if I had to, but I'm glad I didn't.

DS was born at 40+10 but I never got bored. I arranged to visit friends(and vice versa), got my hair cut and used up some vouchers I had at a beauticians, and put all the finishing touches to the nursery.

I had a 40 minute drive each way every day, and tbh that was what wore me out rather than working. God I didn't realise how crap that commute was until I stopped it!

doggiesayswoof · 15/04/2008 12:36

Worked up to 36 weeks the 1st time (annual leave for 2 wks then mat leave started at 38 wks)

I was not really ever bored!

This time I want longer at the other end and I'm trying to keep going till 38 weeks. My commute is a relatively easy 40 min drive each way though (plus nursery drop off) - I think I would want to stop a bit sooner if I was going on packed tube etc.

slinkiemalinki · 15/04/2008 12:41

I worked up to 36 weeks. I was slightly disappointed to have her at 38+5 - having worked full pelt at a v demanding job for 6 years it was pretty nice to swan about doing yoga, swimming and having lunches and massages! Might feel different this time now I am part-time as have had plenty of nice enjoyable days they are no longer a novelty!

slinkiemalinki · 15/04/2008 12:42

Sorry, I mean 37 doh! But the last week I was basically helping my secretary to pack my office up and doing admin - doesn't really count...

AHLH · 15/04/2008 12:56

2 or 3 weeks before due date seems to be the norm in our office. 2.5 weeks before hand makes it August bank hol for me, which seems to make sense.

Alice

MissusH · 15/04/2008 13:06

I worked up to 37wks with dd and she arrived 2 wks later (was cheated out of an extra week of daytime tv re-runs of Murder She Wrote and sitting on my backside eating ice-cream!!)

This time I am taking maternity leave at 37wks but am tagging 2wks holiday on to the beginning so 5 glorious weeks before edd...

ShellyS · 15/04/2008 13:07

I was also thinking of having 2-3 weeks. Seems to be quite a common break before hand reading all the posts!

Oblomov · 15/04/2008 13:14

I had to stop. You might find that you make a decision now, and then wehn you het there you are too big/too tired etc to be able to manage it anymore. Have some ideas, but go with the flow aswell.

LittleB · 15/04/2008 13:20

I started maternity leave on the day dd was born, I was due to start maternity leave at 39+3 and had booked a fortnights leave before, so worked until 37+3, the last few weeks I also used leave to only work 3-4 days per weeks, but dd came a week early so I started my maternity leave whilst on annual leave. Although I didn't have much time to myself I loved having longer with dd and would do it again.

pinkyminky · 15/04/2008 15:11

Yes I ought to add that I only worked for 8 weeks of my second pg, as the contracts I had involved loads of travel and couldn't do it with hg, so had to get myself replaced..

Mizza76 · 16/04/2008 18:28

With my first daughter, I was due to stop work at 38 weeks but ended up with high blood pressure and cleared my desk out on 37+6. I gave birth the next day - the day that should have been my last at work...
The truth is that I wanted as much time as possible with my daughter and don't regret working up to the last minute. If everything's ok with my current pregnancy (fingers crossed) I plan to do the same again, if I possibly can, as I will be taking less maternity leave this time than last and every minute counts.

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/04/2008 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Flip

1 2