QUick poll for second timers....

[biggest]

When did you take maternity leave?

I am dure to finish at 36 wks (am 31 now) but completely underestimated how knackered I would be with a toddler.

Considering leaving earlier, making stupid mistakes at work, have UTI and lots of pg niggles - would happily leave tomorrow if I could afford it!

36 weeks both times.

Used annual leave 2nd time round to make my working week shorter in the last few weeks so could relax a bit while ds1 went to nursery.

i left later the second time than i did first time!

34 weeks first time and 38 weeks second time

32 weeks both times, was just exhausted.
with 1st was working full time, with 2nd was doing 22.5hrs over 4 days.

you may also be underestimating how much more tired you will be if you don't have the blessed haven of work to escape from the toddler

first time around i went on leave at 38 weeks, second time around i was a SAHM, but needed help (although didnt get it lol, useless ex husband) from around 34 weeks. this pregnancy (number 3) i was planning on going on leave at 29 weeks, purely because i wanted to relax and enjoy the end, spend some of the time doing the things i needed and wanted to do, not just having to rest because i was already so exhausted. but it was easier for me as i get full pay on maternity leave this time around, and will have a whole years worth of annual leave to play with when i go back in november

Lots of problems at work though making me stressed, so isn't the haven of calm it once was! I can take annual leave too so not losing huge amount of mat leave time.

sorry, I was being a smart arse.

If you can afford to I recommend keeping your toddler in childcare for a couple of days a week or so. You need to rest when you are off and the days with the toddler on your own will be exhausting.

That said I found it less tiring than work because you can please yourself more (toddler mood permitting).

dont forget whilst on maternity leave you are still entitled to the childcare help from tax credits; this has been a godsend to me as im bed bound. my job was super stressful, another reason for me planning to be on leave from 29 weeks this time around.
i actually went on sick leave at 19 weeks and havent been back since, and wont be going back until my maternity leave ends. kinda worrying i wont know anyone in the office when i do get back!

35 weeks first time, 38 weeks second time. TBH as I'm a teacher the date of starting ML has fit in with school hols or exams etc...

Have to admit going to 38 weeks with a 2yo was a killer, feel much better since leaving. I would say, see how you get on and it you can afford it leave as soon as it becomes physically to stressful for you. Unfortunately you don't get any medals for staying.

went on leave at 30 weeks (this week) using up holiday and then on official maternity leave from 35 weeks.

Have been on sick leave for nearly all of the past 8 weeks though (went in for a couple of weeks in the middle).

I timed mine to go off when the refurbishment of our workplace started as we would have to stay on site while it was done. And I didn't fancy portaloos and noise/dirt.

Glad I did because even without the illness I am now huge and breathless all the time.

With ds I worked up till 37 weeks and that was about a week too long.

I'm lucky in that being low paid means my maternity pay/smp is similar to my normal wage which means I don't have to worry about money so much.