Maternity leave - how many weeks before due date?

[passionberry]

I keep forgetting to ask people for advice on this in real life!

My boss suggested I start maternity leave 2 weeks before my due date and add holiday on before that to make it 3 weeks.

The thing is, I have a 20 minute walk to work (each way) and I'm worried I will be maybe stuggling with the walk by then (?)

So, now I have put on my form that I will start maternity 3 weeks before due date plus 1 weeks holiday - making it 4 weeks.

Does this sound right? It's my first so I have no idea!

I'm currently 36+3 with first, and have another week and a half to go. Not liking it, even though this week is half term! I wish I had said I would stop now and not go back, but it was partly out of my hands as they couldn't find a maternity cover candidate and insisted on a week's handover so I don't really have a choice. I think a lot depends on the commute. I have an hour commute, with a train and a tube and that is the bit that stresses me out the most, as they are so busy and you end up getting bustled about and arriving stressed before you've even done anything. I think if I had a car, it wouldn't seem so bad. I am knackered though.

I'm planning on stopping at 35 weeks. MatLeave starts at 36weeks with a week's leave before that.

My job is very physical though, I'm on my feet all day working with horses and teaching riders. I'm already finding it physically very hard and I'm only 28 weeks. I'm counting down the days and I can't imagine getting bored on Maternity Leave, I love not being at work

Sounds like a good plan to leave 4 weeks b4 - but as people have said, everyone is different. I was due to leave 5 weeks b4 with my first but had to leave the full 11 weeks b4 due to veery high blood pressure. My son then decided to arrive 2 weeks late so had 13 weeks at home twiddling thumbs - that was far too long.
Go with how you feel - it can be changed if needed.
HTH

I took 5 days holiday then started mat leave this monday at 38.5 - but on holiday from 37.5. Was going to try & go longer but actually found the frist week off really exhautsing - think i tried to schedule in too much as was worried about fitting everything in ... my mum's fortune teller had said the baby was gonna be two weeks earlier! Anyway now am having 2nd more chilled week off & definitely don't feel like i could be in work now, too large, breathless, uncomfortable.

Was planning to work until 34 weeks, have one DS already and fancied a few weeks of being having some time to myself at home while DS was in nursery his 3 days.

Due to a combination of various issues and the associated palava of trying to sort those...have pulled the start of my maternity leave forward. Am now using some annual leave up from 30 weeks and taking mat leave from 31 weeks! How decadent.

On the plus side, my stress levels have come way down and am feeling heaps better.

I stopped 3 weeks early last time. DS then decided to make an early appearance, on the Monday of my first day maternity leave (after 2 day labour!) Cheeky monkey.

Definitely stopping at least 4 weeks early in March!

Hi all i am going to finish work at 31 weeks and 2 days but my mat leave wont kick in till 37 weeks! i have hols that i have to take first which will cover all december and the first week in Jan 2010 - so im
will take the 40 weeks off then will use the hols i have accrued to make it longer! if i need to.