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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How many weeks pregnant were you when you started mat leave?

26 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 18/04/2009 21:46

Just trying to work out what to do. I was 34 weeks PG when I left to have DS but not sure what to do this time!

When did you stop & why then?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ShowOfHands · 18/04/2009 21:48

39 weeks, but took a week's holiday beforehand. Good job because dd was born at 38+6.

Didn't see any reason to start earlier.

thisisyesterday · 18/04/2009 21:50

i was 34 weeks with ds1. no real reason, just picked it out of thin air.

about 37 weeks with ds2 because I got bored with all that time waiting for ds1 lol

this time i'm not working so no mat leave

sarahken · 18/04/2009 21:56

I am starting maternity leave from Monday when I will be 36 weeks, I have been off work since 31st March (33+ weeks) due to annual leave I still had. To be honest I wish I had worked till 38 weeks and taken 2 weeks holiday as I'm bored and have nothing to do. I thought I would be tired by 36 weeks but to be honest I feel complteely normal and have loads of energy.

tartetatin · 18/04/2009 21:56

Still working at DS is due next Saturday. Tuesday will be my last day (39+3), but I have to say that I haven't been pushing myself...

ChasingSquirrels · 18/04/2009 21:57

31 wks both times.
with ds1 was very sick throughout and just so exhausted that I stopped early.
with ds2 I was nearly as sick and utterly exhausted as also had ds1.
Both were born at bang on 37 wks.

Haribosmummy · 18/04/2009 21:59

With DS, I worked up until the day before I had him. So, 39 weeks...

With DD, my only job is as a housewife and looking after DS (now 10 months), so I'll do that up until the day I go into hospital at the end of July

Haribosmummy · 18/04/2009 22:00

Oh, sorry... the whys are:

DS: I needed the money
DD: I don't have anyone else to look after DS

InTheScrum · 18/04/2009 22:03

With DS1 I started ML quite early. I was finding school very tiring and being a moody bitch by the afternoon. I also knew this would be my last opportunity to be a lady of leisure!
With DS2 I was about 34 weeks. I timed it so that I got an extra weeks leave at either end of my ML (half term holidays)

tigana · 18/04/2009 22:05

I went on mat leave about 10-14 days before due date. Because I wanted to save as much maternity leave as I could for after the birth. It was pretty knackering..and if I did it again I'd ask to work from home more in the last few weeks.

Phoenix · 18/04/2009 22:12

With ds i was 36wks.

This time i had a month off sick from mid Feb-mid March and am on light duties now and very bored so i've put 6wks leave in, starting in 2 wks time, and mat leave starts when i'm 35wks .

Chellesgirl · 18/04/2009 23:34

I was 34 weeks but wish Id taken it a couple weeks before to get some kind of rest as dd was born less than a week later!

stillenacht · 18/04/2009 23:36

29 weeks for DS1 as was desperate to get out of work and had a bad pg too

33 weeks with DS2

Portofino · 18/04/2009 23:37

36 weeks. I was HUGE and so uncomfortable and couldn't sleep. I planned a month of r&R and girly lunches but ended up in hospital for weeks with polyhydramnios (sp.)

tessofthedurbervilles · 19/04/2009 06:01

I am 33 weeks and we haven't agreed a date yet tho my boss is keeping towels in his drawer and the kettle warmed up...I am not sure when to go either as work with back stabbing bitches and my hormones are shot and I keep crying so maybe soon!!

StealthPolarBear · 19/04/2009 06:53

Last time technically at 40 weeks (ML started on Sunday and I was due on Monday) and plan to do the same this time, although both times have about 2 or 3 weeks holiday in advance so 37/38 weeks really.
Reasons: I have a comfortable office job and a 15 min commute so work isn't a strain physically, and I want to save as much for after the birth as possible. Also DS was 4 days late, and I'm expecting this baby to be late too, so really I'll be off for almost a month before the baby arrives!

georgimama · 19/04/2009 06:56

30 - desperate to get out of work as hated my job, and wanted some time to relax before the baby was born (had been very stressed during pregnancy, the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy was the only part I enjoyed).

SesIsCountingdowntheweeks · 19/04/2009 07:16

Technically I'll be 40 weeks when ML starts but me holiday year started April and I'm lucky and get 6 weeks so decided to take 5 weeks tagged on before ML so that means I've not been at work since 35 wks.
Felt ready to stop as was driving for an average of 2.5hrs per day as part of my job which was giving me back pain.

ActivityApple · 19/04/2009 10:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

tvfriend · 19/04/2009 14:13

35 weeks with DD- luckily, as she was born at 36 weeks
Wasn't working with DS- also luckily as he was born at 34+4
Still mourning the 4 weeks of doing nothing I should have had before DD

SheWillBeLoved · 19/04/2009 14:26

I'll be finishing at 35 weeks. 27 weeks now. Constantly on my feet in my job, the shifts are 12 hours long, and it's getting harder to recover from them as I get further along!

We're also planning on moving house a month or so before the baby is due, and as DP can't take time off work, I'll have the month to 'nest' and obsess over paint colour charts without listening to him moaning about my choices - bliss

flippineck · 19/04/2009 14:34

First time, mat leave started at 38 weeks but had two weeks annual leave before that (and for my last two months at work I worked 1 or 2 days a week at home).

Ths time my mat leave officially starts tomorrow (37 weeks) but I've been off work (annual leave again) for 3 weeks - I would have stayed at work a bit longer but our childminder has been on holiday and I had no one else to look after DD. And work has been really boring!

llynnnn · 19/04/2009 14:35

Hopefully (if I can last that long!) I will work up to 38 weeks this time, am 34 weeks at the mo and doing ok so far! Trying to save as much leave for after the baby is born.

With dd I finished at 36 weeks as I'd had enough by then and was shattered!

loganberry12 · 19/04/2009 16:43

Im leaving at 29 weeks and taking a weeks holiday before that so 28 weeks really. Hate my job and standing on my feet for hours at a time im knackered, cant wait to leave.

froggy16 · 21/04/2009 08:31

Just started at 33 weeks! Had planned to go to 37 weeks (had ds and dd at 37 + 38 weeks) but have SPD this time around and am on crutches, tried to keep working but am in too much pain and absolutely knackered by it all so decided to give in!

Myneaux · 21/04/2009 13:43

I will be finishing in 2 weeks when I will be 36 weeks. I initially wanted to work as late as I could but had to take some annual leave or i would lose my allocation.

I am now really glad I am finishing early. Eventhough I have an office job which isnt physically (or mentally !) tiring I think its easy to underestimate how uncomfortable you can get sat down in an office chair all day (especially when you are getting kicked in the ribs on a regular basis).

To be honest my focus has gone completely...must be something to do with nesting but all I can think about is babies !

Not entirely sure how I will occupy myself for 4 weeks at home though !

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