When to take maternity leave?

[PigeonDuckGoose]

My manager has asked me to start to think about when I will take maternity leave.

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and I haven't even thought about it so far because after multiple losses then anomalies at our 12 week scan we didn't think we would even get this far. (We've now been cleared for any chromesone abnormalities, baby is looking normal at the last 3 scans, we just need to pass an echocardio this week).

With my son I went off quite close to my due date, but money forced my hand a little there and I wished I was off a bit earlier. I don't want to waste mat leave being fat and grumpy with no baby yet though.

I work a hybrid office role, so not on my feet or any manual labour. It is quite a stressful role though.

When did you take maternity?

I took annual leave at 39 weeks and went on mat leave at 40 weeks. If you can make it as close to your due date, do it so you can get the extra pay. Ask to WFH from 37-38 weeks if possible so you don’t have the commute.
i had my kids at 41 and 41+3 but I was fed up and heavy by 38 weeks

I left a month early with no 1 but I had pre eclampsia so was in and out of hospital u til I was induced.
With no 2 i left 6 weeks early, using holiday for 4 weeks at the beginning and 2 weeks at the end as my daughter was only 2 so we had a lovely few weeks just us before her brother came along.
No 3, I also left at about 8 weeks to go for the same reasons as above, but I went 2 weeks earlier than previously as I could no longer fit safely behind the wheel of my car! I was so big I couldn't walk anywhere so those weeks were a bit miserable, but I knew my section date early so my maternity leave started the day I had my baby.

I went off the day before due date (due on Saturday) and didn’t give birth until almost 42 weeks, I’d have preferred to have worked another week but work had been hinting they wanted me gone after 37 weeks as I worked with a bunch of male engineers who were petrified I’d go at work 😂 Personally, I’d leave at 39 weeks, and hopefully have a week to get sorted but I think it depends on your pregnancy and how shattered you are this time round with another wee one!

Being older this time might have a bearing with hybrid and stress too and the journey you've had so far.
Baby injured the muscles between my ribs so I had to go at 32 weeks.
I did 32w-36w annual leave (i'd saved) and then from 36w.
I was induced at 38.

It worked for me!

But absolutely how you can manage.

I was due on a Monday so planned to go on MAT leave from the Friday before. However at 38 weeks I just couldn’t be bothered any more so took 2 weeks leave. Then went 11 days over 🙄😂

I did 38 weeks for both of mine seemed a good balance

Although the first week was annual leave so really mat leave from 39 weeks

I went off at 36+3 as I had saved up my annual leave and then started my ‘official’ maternity leave at 39+4.

Everyone (including me!) thought my DS would come early as my bump was dropping by the hour and I could barely walk, but he stayed put until 40+3 when he was forcibly evicted via EMCS!

I waddled went to my work Christmas meal at 38+5 because I was fed up and bored of being at home waiting

I was due early January so it was easier for me as I normally take 2/3 weeks off at Christmas anyway so went off for Christmas. My maternity leave didn’t officially start until 1st January though.

I think of if I didnt have a January due date I’d do maybe a week before due date purely to maximise time with baby. I’m in a similar role to you in that it’s hybrid working.

1st baby I worked to 39 weeks and baby arrived on his due date. 2nd I was due in the office on the Monday and he arrived on the Sunday 2 weeks early. 3rd I worked until the day before my due date and he arrived 10 days late. A complete mixed bag for me.

Company policy at my place states maternity leave must start 2 days before due date or before. I started mine 2 days before but took holidays from about 37/38 weeks. COVID leave with my second so left at 28 weeks. Think mat leave officially started at 38 weeks.

I took both my maternity leaves 6 weeks before due date. Purely because I was fed up of being fat and achy at my laptop 😂 I also rested while I could and prepped everything for my babies. They both came a day after their due date

I went officially on maternity at 38/39 weeks with both mine but used annual leave to take an extra couple of weeks off before it started so actually finishing work around a month before my due date.
I was full time in the office then though and had quite bad PGP so it was a struggle towards the end. If I had been able to WFH I might have gone a bit later

I'll go at 37 weeks provided I feel OK until then.

But I'm not someone who minds being at home for a few weeks if the baby is late.

I could quite happily spend 4 or 5 weeks off work pottering and relaxing before the baby comes, or be ready at week 38 if they come early. Either is fine.

It's best to be a bit flexible if you can.

I can see im taking my mat leave earlier than the norm but I'm so tired and have constant back pain, also high risk so decided to take it easy!

I'm going on weeks annual leave then I'll be off officially from 23 June. Giving me 2-3 weeks before my c section. I plan to sleep and organise in that time. I'll be 35 weeks.

I went off at 37 weeks which was one week before my scheduled C-section although DD ended up coming 2 days early. I plan to do the same this time. I used annual leave and only started Mat leave when DD was born.

I'm leaving at 33 weeks but I've used my holidays towards it so my last day on paper is when I'll be 36 weeks. A bit early, maybe, but I'm on my feet all day in a warehouse doing a lot of manual labour, and I'm already hot and miserable and struggling a lot with back pain. I've made plans with my mam and husband on these days off to try to pass the time; getting the house sorted and batch cooking meals and having a nice family get together when we can.

I worked until 36 weeks for both of mine. It was great having the time to myself first time around to prepare and DS1 ended up coming a week early. Second time around it was again lovely to have some 1-2-1 time with DS1 before DS2 arrived. I took the full year so still had plenty of time once baby arrived on maternity leave.

I took maternity leave about 3 days before I had baby. I'm glad now as It meant I got a little longer with baby. I worked from home and in an office, so I felt I got enough rest before baby came

I was annual leave for 2 weeks from 37 weeks, then mat leave. Baby came bang on time. I was grateful for the few weeks off as I had a lot to do - we'd had a series of (wonderful) social events when I was 8 months pregnant. But it meant there was no nursery furniture until I was 36+6. I needed some time to get the baby clothes washed & folded!

I think it can depend on your job as well. My role, and probably my personality, meant I was working hard with fairly long hours until l went on leave. Winding down wasn't really the vibe, it was a complicated handover process which encouraged me to try to close off work wherever possible. So I was keen to be able to finish properly and just have time for nesting, admin, rest etc

I went at 35 weeks but I’m a vet so very full on. Mat leave starts at 38 weeks for me, I used my holiday before (currently 37 weeks)

Each time i’ve had my mat leave officially start on my due date but taken 2-3 weeks holiday before hand!

I went off two and a half months pre due date. I think close to the earliest you can.

Probably wouldn’t have gone as early but didn’t want to work Christmas. So to save the annual stand off just took maternity.

It actually was really good. I didn’t do much nesting. I just rested. Watched box sets. But I think that time did me well. I came flying out the gate after babe was born with so much energy. Healed super quick from a plan C. 3 months in nearly back to my post partum size, don’t feel shattered and in the usual post partum haze. Have nearly decluttered the entire house; just the study to go. Made lots of money on vinted. Planned all the redecoration I am about to start; fully itemised for each room. Started a natural history course. Dug up half an allotment. Renovated half the garden. Been on a holiday.

Writing that down it’s incredible actually. And most importantly I have been loving this baby stage. I don’t think I would have felt that way if I worked up until due date. Sadly it’s my last but glad I have experienced this last maternity and feel like finally making the most of it.

I've just gone off at 33 weeks as I've been in agony for weeks. Second baby and I have high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. Just go off when it feels right for you. No way I could have stayed till 37-38 weeks like most women do x

I used two weeks annual leave from week 36-38 and then started my maternity leave. Baby didn’t come until 42 weeks, so I’m really glad I didn’t use 5 weeks of maternity leave before hand, but I was huge and so low on energy so I was glad to have that time. I had lots of grand plans to organise the house and batch cook meals but I mainly just napped!