When did you go on mat leave?

[Babybear260]

Just curious… FTM and feel like I really need to maximise relaxing, and preparing for the arrival of baby. And to just enjoy the last few weeks before life changes completely (of course in a good way) but I can’t even imagine working from home beforehand. I need to be completely stress free. At least a month beforehand I reckon. I currently don’t plan on returning to work so from that perspective it doesn’t matter if I have more time before or after the baby…

First child I was working full time, finished 8 weeks before. Second child I was working two days a week and finished 4 weeks beforehand.

First time 40 weeks, I ended up being 2 weeks late anyway.

Second time, I think it was 39.5weeks. Contractions started few days later, but gave birth a week after.

I had the same thinking with my first! I took 2 weeks of annual leave from 38 weeks and then my maternity leave technically started when I was 40 weeks. Baby came at 40+4 - I was so grateful for those two weeks off!

I'm now pregnant with my second and if all goes well, I'd actually take more time off work to enjoy some one on one time with my first before it all changes again!

Although best laid plans may go out the window - babies really do come when they want to come!!

If you're not going get back then work out what is best for you financially and how you're feeling. Does your job allow you sit comfortably, stress levels, commute, you said option to wfh? It's nice to have some time to prepare so if you are able to then go for it, but if money is an issue then knowing you don't have a set time for maternity leave is a wonderful situation to be in.

38 weeks, and 1 week after I rang my midwife begging to be induced cos I was so bored 😂

35 weeks with both. With my first we'd just moved house so I spent the month before she arrived decorating the house. With my second I wanted a bit of time just me and DD before new baby arrived then ended up with a section at 39 weeks.

Around 37 weeks both times, babies came at 38+4 and 38+6 respectively. Second time round I was working part time and my work days were actually more restful than the days with my toddler!

I was full time in the office when I had mine and also had PGP so in pain at the end. Officially started ML at 38 weeks with both but took annual leave beforehand so actually finished work at 36 weeks. It was nice to get some time to relax and prepare for the baby before the birth

With my first I was working full time and was due to start my maternity leave at 39 weeks and baby arrived at 38+6. I had planned a week of baking and relaxing and was quite bitter about missing as I had been craving home made scones with clotted cream for most of the pregnancy but with hyperemesis it wasn't possible. This had eased at 36 weeks so I was hopeful I could make them. I managed to make them after 8 weeks and I felt like me again!

With my second I stopped work at 7 and a bit weeks on the day I found out I was pregnant! I was made redundant but I .would have had to stop work at around 30 weeks as I developed obstetric Cholestasis and spent the rest of the time in and out for hospital for tests and admissions as my health started to decline. Contractions started at 33 weeks and I was in hospital at 34 weeks with threatened preterm labour, at 35 weeks with extreme fatigue and at 36 weeks for scans looking for blood clots. I was induced at 37 weeks. I had hoped to have some precious one on one time with my first during her school holiday but I couldn't stay awake and wasn't safe to look after her or drive so grandparents had the precious one on one time and drove me to all my appointments

Three weeks on the first one and two days on the second one.
Back to work when they were 8 months

First one I stopped 3 weeks before due date and he was 10 days late

Second pregnancy was twins.
Due date 8 May but midwife signed me off work in early February ( she’d been insisting since Christmas) as I was enormous etc They were born mid April

I’m working until 31 weeks (weekend before Christmas) and then taking some holiday and starting mat leave officially at 35 weeks.

I’m not yet sure if I’m going to return to work (keeping options open) but I, like you really want to just enjoy a bit of time to myself before baby arrives. I’ll never get that time back! I also think as an introvert it’s needed and really important for me to be as relaxed as possible going into labour.

I worked to my due date. Gave birth 3 days later.

About 36 or 37 weeks iirc, to maximise time with the baby afterwards. Which in hindsight was a mistake. I couldn’t wait to get back to work and ended up counting the days to do so, going back at four and five months each time. My childrearing days are long over but given the time again I’d have finished much sooner and put my feet up.

I went on Mat leave at 38 weeks, had planned to go at 39 but was fed up! Good job I did as my little boy was born at 39+2!

I finished at 35+5 weeks with my first, as I had some annual leave to use before going on mat leave. (My mat leave kicked in at 38 weeks.) I worked on a busy ward and was absolutely exhausted! My baby came 3 days later at 36+1 weeks (emergency induction/c-section due to pre-eclampsia) so I never got any time to rest.

I really recommend taking some time to rest beforehand and to concentrate on getting your mind ready for having a baby. I wish I had gotten the chance to!

35 weeks and then had them at 37 weeks. A twin pregnancy was rather challenging and tiring as you might imagine

I would have been bored out of my mind going off a month before I was due.

I had about 10 days before my planned c section and that was ample time to get the house ready, wash, cook, clean, exercise and relax. I wanted more time at the end when the baby was actually here and am glad that I did.

2 days for the oldest, 1 for the youngest. Worked from home from 2 weeks before. Maternity leave is too short to waste it before.

I’m in exactly the same boat (& I think I’m one week behind you in pregnancy) but it’s reassuring to know that other people take a decent chunk off before baby arrives. Everyone I’ve spoken to in real life seems so shocked but I think it’s very necessary for myself

I was due to go on maternity leave leave at 37 weeks but baby came at 36+1 so I didn’t even get a day to myself.
pregnant again and planning on going at 38 weeks this time

First baby I wanted to work til 38 weeks (non clinical NHS worker) but ended up with pre eclampsia at 33ish weeks so went off then and had baby at 37 weeks. Second baby wanted to go at 36 weeks but I kept going into threatened pre term labour and was induced at 36 weeks anyway 🤣

I took it at 36 weeks. Even though I had a basic work risk assessment I was strongly advised by my midwife that I should leave from 34 weeks. It hit me that I hadn't been putting my baby first and nobody else gave a shit. I'd been in some situations during pregancy I shouldn't have been in e.g. up heights, moving large loads while working alone. The midwife was not impressed with me at all. I did get some comments from a few colleagues saying they'd worked until 39 weeks.

First child i spent 2 months in hospital so was there when he was born.

Second child I finished on the Friday and went in for a induction on the Monday (37 weeks).