when to give up work?

[1pregheadpumpkin]

it's coming up to the time where i need to hand in my MATB1 form but im not sure when i ought to say im leaving.

the problem is, i dont earn enough to get SMP and cannot get income support because im still doing my A-Levels and i need this for Maternity allowance.

so obviously, whenver i leave, im doing so without pay, luckily DP will still be working, but i feel bad leaving him to support us.

i'd love to give up earlier rather than later as standing for more than 3 hours at a time makes me want to saw my won legs off, as does smiling at customers when you NEED to be in bed. (i know, whinge, whinge, whinge) but i really do need the money for as long as possible.

Dp says he wants me to give up at 32 weeks, dont know why exactly he chooses this as a cut off point, i was thinking perhaps 35, if i can manage it.

long winded i know.

job descrpition. busy fast food restaurant, only 4 hour shifts, but always rushed off feat. 15 min break, not allowed to stop serving. ever. just really tiring actually.

Personally I'd put down a later stage, say 37. IT's easy to change it and leave earlier if need be but you can't make it later. I felt awful around 20/24 weeks and much better later, you may be annoyed if you end up stopping when you feel fine. I originally put 38 weeks, but had to leave at 36 weeks. They were more than happy to see me go early considering the state of me!

personally i would go on leave earlier, but this is my third, and when youve already got DC at home, you are much more tired than if you can just go home and rest. with DD1 i went on maternity leave at 37weeks i think, but i was absolotly shattered and really wished i had gone on leave earlier as its in my contract that if i wanted to change my date for leaving i had to give 4 weeks notice to going earlier, and at 33 weeks i thought i could still make it!

you will be more knackerd the later you go on leave, and your going to need to rest up for the labour and looking after the baby, get the clothes washed, room ready etc. i would check with your boss, and see what notice you would need to give them to change your leave and how receptive they would be to letting you leave earlier if you needed, that way you could plan to go at say 35 weeks but go earlier if you need to?