Maternity leave at 32 weeks pregnant

[Newmumtobe25]

Hello all.
anyone on here gone on early maternity leave at 32 weeks pregnant?
Im 32 weeks come 2nd week in Jan, looking to go on mat leave then.
i know i shouldn't feel guilty going on mat leave early but i kind of do for some reason..
i suffer with bad back pain and i know come after Christmas im going to be really uncomfortable.
just wondering how everyone felt going on mat leave early?

I guess most people leave it as late as possible to have more time with the baby the other end. But if you need to stop working you need to stop working.

Fair enough! Do what works for you. I worked til 38 first baby and got 1 days rest before labour, it was shite

I went on maternity leave that early with using annual leave first, but I knew I wasn't going back to that job and was likely to be a sahm. I used accrued annual leave during my year off to work my notice at the end of maternity leave so I didn't pay any enhanced maternity pay back.

It was amazing, DS was then two weeks late so I had even longer to relax and do as I pleased.

Go on sick leave if possible if your bad back is the reason. I went on sick leave at 36 weeks because I got covid and it floored me. Then maternity leave from 38 weeks. I think a lot of people recommended sick leave on your last thread too but apologies I didn't get to read it all so maybe it's not an option. Just if it is possible do it that way because you'll want as much time as possible with baby afterwards x

I worked until my due date but I knew I was only taking 39 weeks and I wanted as many with my baby as possible. If I wasn't going back after I'd have started earlier.

I went off sick with a maternity related condition at 32 weeks and my employer started my MAT leave at 36 weeks as I wasn't fit to RTW (as they are allowed to do!).

If you're you're not fit and able to work you can get signed off. If you are fit for work but want a break then start your MAT leave early!

My first was born at 42+4 and I finished at 38 weeks, I felt like I was hanging around and the time sort of dragged. This time I'm planning to work to 39 and hoping this one comes earlier!

You can finish at 32 but if you're like me it might be 10 weeks before your little one arrives.

I think like your previous post a lot will suggest going on sick leave so only you can decide whats best but you've got lots of advice to go off

No, sickness triggers maternity pay to start if it's within the last 4 weeks.

Working till 38w.2 but WFH from 36 weeks. Using annual leave until due date.

Uncomfortable or in so much pain it’d be a struggle to work? What’s your job? Can they make changes to help? I had awful pelvic girdle pain and my work were able to put in some measures to help in the last few weeks.

I went on mat leave around 33 weeks but started it at 31 weeks through annual leave as i just found it too difficult honestly whenever you feel is the right time to go for it then go for it noone else can say for you

I’m going on annual leave at 35 weeks come Jan and that’ll lead straight into my mat leave. Glad I planned it that way now as pelvic girdle pain has come in with a vengeance

Ah right I see. Seems a bit unfair to have to eat into your maternity leave, that's unfortunate. It's different where I am, mat leave only starts at 38 weeks. If you need sick leave sooner that's ok.

I had no choice but to start mat leave at 31 weeks. Been off my whole pregnancy and SSP is a killer. I’m still taking the whole year but means I’ll be going back before the baby is 1 which isn’t what I had in mind. Can’t be helped. Now I’m 36 weeks I couldn’t think of anything worse than being at work, if I didn’t have HG, it would be the PGP or insomnia that would persuade me to start
leave early! Only you know your body so do what you feel is right. As many others have said, if you’re in pain and can afford to take sick leave, then do that until 36 weeks, then you could start mat leave after that

Just started mine at just shy of 34 weeks. No guilt...just wish I didn't have other kids to look after so I could have some Christmas naps 🤣

Yep. Last maternity I finished at 34 weeks.

This time I finish next week at 30 weeks 🥳

Over the moon! Cannot wait