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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When to start maternity leave

25 replies

CharBell · 10/02/2005 21:42

I know it varies greatly from person to person and I know it all comes down to how you feel and what you can afford.....what is the average time that people go on maternity leave. I just have no idea.

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PiccadillyCircus · 10/02/2005 21:45

With DS I intended to start it at 35 weeks, but had to stop at 33 weeks due to high blood pressure.

With DS2/DD I am intending to stop at 32 weeks; as I'm due in the middle to end of September, I do not want to be at work during what might be a hot summer. Also the maternity package at my work has improved since having DS.

When's your baby due?

oooggs · 10/02/2005 21:46

WAS due 5 Jan. WAS starting mat.leave on 12 Dec.

NEEDED to start mat.leave on 29 Nov (due to exhaustion)

DS ARRIVED (one & half weeks later)on 11 Dec.

Gem13 · 10/02/2005 21:46

33 weeks with my first. I really needed to do that too. I was working from home twice a week but had a long commute on the other 3 days. Then he was 10 days late.

I was able to have a year off though so it didn't matter too much when I left which was great.

Met a couple of women in the States who were hugely pregnant and due the following week but still working. They looked very uncomfortable but maternity leave over there is rubbish.

Original poster

CharBell · 10/02/2005 21:48

Due July 5. First baby. No problems so far. Had great ideas of saving holiday till baby arrived so I'd get longer off. Now having great ideas of daytime tv... Ho hum, only 20 weeks to go.

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Gem13 · 10/02/2005 21:51

Ahhh, DS was due July 6! Wimbledon is good for lounging on the sofa on a sunny afternoon. Make the most of it as you won't get the time again. Naff sounding as it may be but I missed that relaxing, exciting time the second time around. Too busy looking after DS!

Gem1355 · 10/02/2005 21:52

this is my first baby and i go on maternity on 14th March 3 weeks before baby is due!

Original poster

CharBell · 10/02/2005 21:57

Ooh Wimbledon. How dreamy. Maybe I'll start a little earlier than I originally thought then!

OP posts:

biglips · 10/02/2005 21:58

you can start 11 weeks before your due date

misdee · 10/02/2005 22:00

with dd1 i had 2 weeks holiday owing so took that, then started maternity leave straight afterwards at 36weeks.

but that was when maternity leave was only about 16weeks i think.

PiccadillyCircus · 10/02/2005 22:03

I will be taking holiday before my maternity leave starts; not sure how much I'll have left but an OK amount I think.

biglips · 10/02/2005 22:06

well take your holidays first then start your maternity leave whenever you are ready, i started my maternity leave at 38 weeks as i was really well.

biglips · 10/02/2005 22:08

but if your baba comes early then the maternity leave will automatically start on the date then you gave birth....

irishbird · 10/02/2005 22:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Leogaela · 11/02/2005 08:54

At 30 weeks I had really had enough as i was finding work too stressful and couldn't focus at all so was very unproductive. After talking to my boss he took the pressure off and now at 36 weeks I am REALLY glad I am still working. I am feeling well, a little tired but would be going mad with frustration if I was still at home.

I don't have a long commute and have shortened my days, if I am too tired I take a day or half a day off sick. I'll keep going for as long as possible!

orangina · 11/02/2005 08:56

Am stopping at 36 weeks, which when I arranged it felt like plenty of time.... am 31+5 weeks now, and feel ready to leave now! Feel knackered, brain has more or less stopped working and I couldn't be less interested in work.... will soldier on until 36 weeks though, and take the odd day and half-day off between now and then if I really need to re-charge my batteries....

Leogaela · 11/02/2005 09:03

Orangina, that's exactly how I felt. it doesn't seem so far away before the baby is born, but another 8 +/-2 I think will seem much longer if you are at home. There is only so much preparing you can do for the baby to arrive.

morningpaper · 11/02/2005 09:20

I wish I could have had it from week 6 - week 12 which was when I needed it!

I felt absolutely fine during my last trimester despite being an enormous heffa. I worked until I gave birth at 41 weeks - only problem I had was fitting behind the steering wheel to drive to work.

Also whenever I so much as sighed during a meeting you could tell that everyone's hearts were racing as they were convinced I was about to give birth.

It really depends how you feel and how supportive your work environment is. I booked a few days holiday here and there during my last trimester to have a bit of a break.

morningpaper · 11/02/2005 09:21

My work was the world's most easy desk job though which required absolutely no thinking and I spent most of my time in the cafe eating brownies.

Hulababy · 11/02/2005 09:23

I went on mat leave at week 36, although half term was directly before it started so really week 35 I guess. I was ready to stop then too. Trouble is DD wasn't born until 2 weeks after my due date -s o had a long wait.

As I am a teacher I worked out my mat leave, by working out when summer holidays started - and then worked backwards.

Twiga · 11/02/2005 09:38

I'm planning on taking my mat leave from 29 weeks, main reasons being the degree of physical risk that can be present with my job and also that the shifts involve a sleep-in element but you're not necessarily garenteed sleep which means you could be on shift for 24 hours with no rest. As my annual leave year runs Jan to Jan am hoping to stack up leave in front of this and leave just after 27 weeks. Means I should get a nice long break over the summer too. Am looking fwd to the time at home, going to get the knitting needles out and catch up on lots of jobs - hopefully.

hoxtonchick · 11/02/2005 10:19

with ds i went on maternity leave at christmas & he was born at the end of january (induced a week early), so around 35 weeks i guess. that was about right. i was sleeping so much by then, & no way was i going to walk the half mile to the bus stop.... i actually used up my holiday for that month, so still got 6 months off after he was born. i'm now pg with number 2, due in the middle of july (but again, will be induced early, so end of june is likely). i've told work that i'm going to stop at the end of may & again take holiday. ds will still be in nursery 2 days a week, so i should get a bit of a break.

Azure · 11/02/2005 10:47

I went at 38 weeks last time, DS was 6 days late. I was able to have a parking space at work for the previous two weeks which saved me going on the tube or bus and helped a lot. I haven't decided about this time yet (due end of August) but thinking maybe the beginning of August, as DS will be on school holidays. Hmmm, it may be more relaxing to be at work.

Bibiboo · 12/02/2005 13:12

At the beginning I was going to work until a few days before my due date, but as the pregancy went on I decided 2 weeks before would be more realisitic. By the time I got to 36 weeks I was dead on my feet so left at 37. Next time I'll be off at 36 weeks if not sooner!

biglips · 12/02/2005 13:48

its all depends what type of job it is as i work in a call centre in motor claims so my job was not that active but i make it up so i didnt sit on chair more than an hour..... but if you got a active job like standing on your feet all day then youre bound to knackered yaself out more

SANA · 13/02/2005 22:42

I was planning on working till 38wks but went of at 36wks as was just so tired, however hated the first week at home as was so restless, I am 38 wks today and really glad that i dont have to go to work and glad I went of ealr now as have had time to get my hair done and just rest

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