How long maternity second baby?

[TwinkleTwinkleX]

I have a 3 year old and due with my second in June. I’m wondering whether to take 10months (last 4 months 50% pay) or 11months and have a month unpaid.
Financially it will be tight but just about manageable. I guess I’m wondering people’s experience of maternity second time around/ when others went back to work and how it felt.
It’s so hard to anticipate how I will feel! Xx

Hi OP, I'm in a similar situation, I have a 14 month old and my second is due early July! I took 13 months in total with my first (11.5 months mat leave and 6 weeks annual leave), and I'm planning on doing the same again. How much notice do you have to give your employer to extend/reduce your leave? I would go with the longer option for now so that they're prepared for "worst case", scenario, and then reduce it if it's not feasible once you know how you're feeling. I've been really transparent with my employer about doing this and they said they'd rather me reduce than extend if it's going to be more of a last minute decision. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

I have a 2yo and am due our second in a couple of weeks. First time round I took 15 months including using holiday, this time round I’m only planning on taking 10 months as would rather avoid any unpaid segments.

Can you use your 10 KIT days allowance to earn some extra in your unpaid month? I got 39 weeks pay (6months full pay, the rest SMP), and then i took 1 month unpaid, but did 8 KIT days which gave me a bit of income for that unpaid month. Obviously depends on childcare for those KIT days - DH took AL to cover it for us.

Oh yes will definitely take advantage of those kit days. It’s so hard to know how I will feel 10 months in and whether the baby will be ready to go into nursery 3 days a week at that point..

I took more with my second - only by a month tho.
First 11 months - 1 month pre baby arriving and 10 months after. I went back part time for a few months using holiday
Second 12 months - 1 month pre and 11 months post. I went straight back in on 30 hours.

Second maternity I found I went out more - classes, seeing people and general it was more expensive than first maternity leave.

12 months with both for me. I don't envisage having any more maternity leaves or large chunks of time out of work, so I made sure to take all I could. Another month unpaid perhaps but it was also another month without a big childcare bill, so swings and roundabouts.....

I've just gone back to work and took longer with my second.
1st - 10 month including AL
2nd - 12 month including AL

I've found it harder to go back this time round, not sure why, maybe the juggle of two kids.
But I have really enjoyed my mat leave this time.

I have an almost 3 year old, due my second in June.
I took 10 months with my first, she went into nursery 2 days a week initially because we couldn't get 3 days yet, so I had a couple of months where my husband used holiday to cover the extra day and then she went in the full 3 days.
I liked that transition into nursery, so will replicate it this time.
I'm looking at taking 11 months maternity leave this time because last time I was paid out my extra holidays but this time I'm thinking of taking the time off instead.
(Since our combined childcare bill will be less than when we put our first into nursery thanks to the funded hours!)
I found going back to work the hardest part of the first 18 months of having a child, so I'm not anticipating it being easier this time around, so the extra time will be welcome.

For me maybe 9 months but go back less days initially. Last time 11 months. New job so I did 3 days for 6 months and 4 days ever since.

I do remember getting a bit fed up by 9-10 months and I had quite a full maternity leave last time.

Equally the last baby so will stretch what I can especially as my first will be in school.

I have told work 12 months.

I can imagine you spend more as you are more confident out but you also won't buy random things that you bought with your first? We are also so resourceful as mothers!