Commuting and pregnancy- how long before birth did you start maternity leave?

[GYo]

I am due in march and have a 1.5 to 2hr commute into London each day consisting of 10min drive, 45min train ride on v crowded train), 5min tube ride and 10 min walk.

I am trying to work out how much time off I will need before the birth. Ie when will i find the commute too hard to continue?
I know everyone is different but I'd like to get an idea of other experiences. I am looking at 4 weeks at the moment

To be honest the commute has been quite hellish since I got pregnant anyway due to tiredness/nausea etc and a long day in the office is tough. I try and work at home 1 or 2 days a week for my sanity.

[jlh69]

I stopped work (with commute in London) 5 weeks before due date with DD. Unfortunately she appeared a week later so only had a week off! Not uncommon for the babies to arrive the day after you've finished at work..

[GYo]

Thanks Elkie- I think I did know that but hadnt really thought about it!

Will see what time the classes are- but great if I can go to stuff during the day.

[elkiedee]

GYO, you have a legal right to ask for paid time off to go to antenatal classes (although your dh doesn't, unfortunately).

Last time I had a real battle getting on to an NHS class, as I was just told they were full and then my mum rang and pushed and they gave me a place on a Saturday class which was only organised a week beforehand and was already filled on the day. This time I asked the midwife on booking in and she put me on a refresher on 18 December. And I couldn't even get info on local NCT classes.

Eeek at some of your commutes, I guess I should feel lucky at having just over half an hour door to door. The worst bit is coming through Kings Cross station, which seems to be organised to make things as hard as possible for everyone but especially getting out in the morning and getting in in the evening.

[CatIsSleepy]

last time finished around 37 weeks, plan to do the same this time...or a bit earlier depending how much holiday I have left

commute= take dd to childminder's
if walking, 25-30 mins then 10 mins to station (more realistically will probably start using the car alot more)
30 mins train
bus from station to work, actual time on bus about 15-20 mins, + hanging around time and short walk at end about another 30 mins total

[chandellina]

i soldiered on with 11-hour work days until 38 weeks and DS was born a week later. had to take either three tube trains or two buses to get to work - yes a hassle but everyone is different and it wasn't that bad for me until i got SPD (pelvic pain) for the last few weeks.
for me, even that one week at home pre-baby was a bit dull, but i love my job and find it boring to sit around the house.
of course now doing lots of that.

[EffiePerine]

yes may be a good idea to adjust your working hours if you can - even half an hour each way may make a huge difference

[CS7]

Hi GYo. I've taken the plunge and paid for the NCT classes. Mine are all during the day. 9:30-4pm on Tuesdays for 3 weeks starting on the 24th of Feb. The middle class is women only.

I don't know if the NHS ones are in the evenings. I've decided I'll just attend both really.

[GYo]

Hi Effie
Thanks for your reply. Same as you I have to use up my leave, so Im being careful what i use now so Im hoping to have 5wks to play with so I can start my official mat leave the day before my due date. Want to preserve as much leave as possible for when I have the baby

Think I need to toughen up a bit about the commute . Its not that bad but I just hate the crowded trains and have started feeling quite claustrophobic if I get sandwiched between two large shouldered men! I also find it very tiring vs a day working at home.

I might try going earlier and leaving a little earlier to get quieter trains. The train people say I can take a first class seat if there are no standard seats free but I cant imagine they will make me check the entire train for a cheapseat! A seat that is a bit wider would make all the difference to being in a crowded carriage.

[EffiePerine]

Do you need to use up accrued leave before you start your ML (my employer asks you to do this in the same year, so I'd have about 4 weeks to play with). If so, you can use this rather than your proper maternity leave.

I'm leaving at 37 weeks, using up hol and then Xmas break, but though my commute is about an hour it's 2 min walk + 40ish mins on bus (always get a seat, reasonably peaceful journey) then 10-20 min walk depending on how energetic I'm feeling.

Does your train company offer a free upgrade to 1st class in the final trimester? Worth checking.

[GYo]

Thanks Dungungirl- that was my big question, is it worth doing both, guess there cant be two versions of the information....

Hmmm- so many people have said do NCT to me that Im not sure. Guess I will see if I get a place then see.... Also depends on times of classes since if one set are in the day thats useless for DH and me if its before I start mat leave.

[CS7]

Thanks Dungungirl I didn't really know much about the antenatal classes. Everyone i know seems to have done the NCT ones (and so recommended that). Its good to hear from someone who's done NHS ones.

[DungunGirl]

I did the NHS one when I was preggers with DS. From what I heard from friends who did the NCT one, there wasn't really any difference besides the cost!

To be honest, personally I don't think it is worth paying the money for the NCT one...but that's me and I was saving every penny for maternity leave!

YOu will meet nice local mums whichever one you decide to do really.

I made 5 great friends from my NHS classes....we still see each other every other week with the kids! So weird that they are all so big now and most of the other mums already have a 2nd or third baby now so we are quite a big gang!

[CS7]

Hi,
Mine is 28 so I guess I've got time too. I think its just that my mum felt that it was leaving it a bit late and apparenlty in her time, there used to be one from 16 weeks. I think i'll tel my midwife about wanting to do the NHS one. I hadn't done so because i was counting on only doing the NCT ones but it doesn't hurt to do both, i guess, plus, i'll also meet more mums to be in the area.
Thanks

[Ewe]

I commuted from Surrey to the West End which was about a 1.5hr commute and worked until 39 weeks and genuinely felt fine until that stage. The tube was sometimes stressful but when it was busy from delays I would grab the tube man who would escort me on to a seat!

I think it helped that the weather was so cold so the tube and train wasn't baking hot.

[CountessDracula]

2 weeks before
but then dd was a week late

[GYo]

Hi

I was talking to my MW about this only yesterday.

I plan to do the NHS ones as well as NCT, and like you my NCTs are in February. BUt not sure when the NHS ones are yet.

I have a list of dates for the NHS classes and the MW said they will "invite" me at the appropriate time. Im hoping it will be January time rather than feb. Might ask her next time I see her. Maybe it depends on area. Im in Surrey.

Are you doing both NHS and NCT?

I guess that it depends on when in March your due date is... mine is 17th so I have time to do the classes in Feb.

[CS7]

GYO can I ask, which antenatal classes are you planning to do? I looked into NCT ones but they are really late- looking at February start! My mum reckons there are early antenatal classes. Have you heard of any?

[GYo]

ooh yes sounds like bliss. might make a list of nice things to do!

[CS7]

Me too GYo, me too. Our house extension will just be finished by then so I'm hoping to be able to waddle to JL and other home decorating shops and supervise the decorators during that time. Or just have loads of naps and meet other mums-to-be from ante-natal for coffee

[GYo]

Goodness Bramshott- better watch out then on SW trains!

Hope you were sitting in a first class seat!

[GYo]

Hi CS7- cool, glad it helped. Its really hard to know how we will feel come the new year!

Though im secretly looking forward to being lady/whale of leisure for a few weeks before the birth.

[CS7]

Thanks for this post GYo, I'm also due in March and was wondering about when to start ML. Its been really helpful reading everyone's advice.

[Bramshott]

Yep - no earlier problems before that, she just suddenly appeared one night! That was South West Trains too!

[GYo]

crikey- not bargaining on beany being early!

was this your first DC Bramshott?

[Bramshott]

I got off the train at 7pm and went into labour with DD1 at 10pm - lucky she wasn't born on the train really! That was at 33 weeks though . . .