When did you start maternity leave?

[Stickytoffeepudding99]

I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant, and haven’t yet decided when to begin maternity leave. This is my first baby and I work two days a week in a nursery. When did you begin maternity leave? I’d like to maximise the time with my baby, but it’s not a sit down office type job! Any advice/experience is great

I worked until 37 weeks but then DS was a week late so I ended up having nearly a month.

Around 37 and a half weeks both times. Babies were born at 38+4 and 38+6 respectively. I'm a teacher and both times picked the date because it fell at the end of a term.

I’d planned to work up to 39+5 but somebody had other ideas and appeared (veryyy dramatically) at 39+2

Worked til 39 weeks, but desk job and I Worked from home a lot. Baby came at 41 weeks, Im glad I worked that late, I was so bored waiting!!

38 weeks with my first
37 weeks with my second

I was in an office job though and with my second, looking after my toddler whilst pregnant was significantly harder than going to work 🤣

I’m a nurse. I went to 36 weeks and took annual leave, then started mat leave at 39. I’d planned to go off a bit later, but it was getting to the point where I’d have to leave my patients halfway through their appointment so I could go to the toilet as I thought I was about to piss myself. Luckily all my patients were really understanding as I was visibly very pregnant, but I just felt so unprofessional and embarrassed!

38wks both times

Baby 1 I was working Monday to Friday 9-5, 35 hours a week and I finished work 8 weeks before.
Baby 2 I was working 2 days, 9-5, 14 hours a week and I went on maternity leave 4 weeks before.

37 weeks. I appreciated the time at home. Work was really busy just before and I was anaemic so when I finally stopped having to keep going I just slept for the first three days.

if you are only working two days a week though I’d say you can potentially go as long as you like as you’ll still have lots of time to rest.

Baby arrived at 40+1 but planned as I knew they wouldn’t let me go overdue

The earliest possible time…29weeks…I just didn’t want to work anymore tbh 🤣🤣

I started at 38 weeks and had DD at 38+2.

DS I was meant to go at 37 weeks but ended up going at 36 weeks due to a Covid outbreak at my school closing my bubble.

Started maternity leave at 36 weeks but DS was early and came along 4 days later. I worked in an office so not on my feet, but was full time. You may need to see how things go regarding your energy levels.

The day I gave birth, twice. I'm a teacher and had a pretty long commute but also didn't struggle with pregnancy. Assumed first baby would be late but actually they were born a week early. Second came about a week and a half early as I expected but didn't feel I needed any time to myself. Both times I was glad I'd absolutely maximised the time I had with the baby before I needed to return to work.

2 weeks before each time but they were scheduled sections so no waiting about. I was big each time though.

I had holiday I had to take before my due date (and I would accuse another 41 days when I was off) , so I was off about 5 weeks prior to my due date. It ended up being 7 weeks as she was late!

Probably just as well, as it was an insanely hot Summer- not fun to be heavily pregnant in 39c!

38 weeks both times.

First time officially my leave started at 39 weeks but as this was a Monday my last day was 38+4. My waters broke at 38+5 and she arrived the next day.
Second time I was made redundant at 8 weeks and didn't work again. I developed complications at 32 weeks and I would have had to stop work then
if I had been working. By the time I was called in for induction at 36+6 I had had 4 trips to triage and 2 hospital admissions. He was born at 37+1.

I finished the day after my due date. Office role with a 45 min commute.

I worked until my due date. I had DS 3 days later.

DC1 - 38 weeks and he was born at 42 weeks - I was going mad by the end!

DC2 - 38 weeks again and she was born at 39+6 - that felt like the right amount of time.

Im pregnant again and will probably go for 38 weeks again this time, all being well.

About 30 weeks for my second, using up all holiday allowance and then mat leave. It was needed due to complications and I was struggling. Born at 39 weeks.

About 36 weeks with my 1st and was late went almost to 42 weeks

Baby 1 - technically mat leave started at 40 weeks, but I used annual leave and left at 38 weeks. Baby was born 40+4 - wish I had more time off to enjoy the peace, ha!

Baby 2 - plan to go on mat leave at 35/36 weeks. Currently 27 weeks with a 15 month old, work 3 days a week but I'm knackered already 😂 also want some time with my eldest before baby comes along!

Until my due date. But.....I have a very sedentary job and I knew I would only be able to afford to take 4 months off.

DD1 was meant to be 38 weeks but she came early and started it at 36. DS1 was 37, he was born 37+4. DD2 (currently snoozing on me during her maternity leave) was 36+5, she was born 37+1

Good in the way that it’s maximised the time spent with the baby during maternity leave but also kind of sucky that I didn’t have much in the way of resting beforehand