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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

When is everyone finishing for mat leave and how far along will you be??

52 replies

Chelle1986 · 30/06/2010 08:07

Hi All,

Just being nosey really!!

I am 28+2 and will be finished in 5 weeks!! Woohoo!! Everyone keeps saying this is dead early because I will only be 33 weeks!

But the reason is because I am actually being made redundant on 31st December anyway, so I am using all my holidays for the year in August and mat leave will automatically start on 1st September while I'm off. This way when they give me my pay off in December they will have had to may be the maximum mat leave before I go! Am being crafty!! LOL.

Am I going to be really bored though....hmmm. My thinking is that this is my first baby so get as much rest in as I can befor emy life changes forever!! lol.

Hope you are all well today.xxx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

toja555 · 01/07/2010 10:15

My mat leave will start 39+5 weeks, but I am hoping to finish around 38 weeks by using my remaining annual leave. Finished around 35 weeks with my first and did not see a point of sitting at home and stuffing myself with muffins, cos I was sooo bored.

emmyloo2 · 01/07/2010 13:39

I am hoping to finish at 38 weeks so still have 17 weeks to go which seems like a lifetime.

I wanted to work to the due date as much as possible to save my mat leave for when the baby is born and I am back at home with my family. I am stuck here in the UK and don't have my friends and family around so taking off lots of time before the birth is not that appealing.

That said - I CANNOT wait to finish work. I plan to take between 6-8 months off before starting work back home.

JBroRo · 01/07/2010 14:19

I finished at 38 weeks.

I'm now 40+2 and starting to get a little bit bored of waiting. I think I would be going crazy by now if I'd finished any earlier.

Thankfully, though, I've had a healthy pregnancy but can imagine that I would feel differently if I'd had any health issues etc.

PatsyIsPreggers · 01/07/2010 14:26

I'm planning to finish at 38 weeks, which by the time I take my annual leave as well means that by my calculations I have 53 days left in work - and counting down! Is it wrong to cross the days off on a calendar like they always do in prison in films?!

Petsville · 01/07/2010 15:29

Mat leave starts at 40+2 (due date is a Saturday, so not quite as mad as it sounds), but I'll take some annual leave first, and I'm dithering about whether to take 1 or 2 weeks. I'm presently 34 weeks and feeling absolutely fine, so if I didn't have a squeamish boss I'd be rather tempted just to carry on till my due date - on the other hand there are plenty of things I should be doing at home once I've finished, and I do have a squeamish boss who will have hysterics if I go into labour at work!

Pootles2010 · 01/07/2010 15:35

My last day is tomorrow! And i'm 38 weeks today. I was planning on working up until due date, everyone told me i was nuts so i changed it.

Really regretting it now - don't feel like i need to stop working, and it's taking time away that i could be spending with baby.

Not taking any holiday because at my work you can take holiday pay in lieu, as i'll be on half pay for my additional mat leave that means i can use 2 weeks holiday to pay for 4 weeks time off, if that makes any sense?

MissCKitty · 01/07/2010 21:31

Am not sure what to do re mat leave maybe you ladies can help. Am currently 9+5 have been thinking about timings for mat leave and stuff. Have an EDD of 29/01/11 but cos I'm a diabetic I'll probably not be allowed to go full term, prob 36 weeks so will potentially deliver around 3/01/11. How many weeks before birth can you take mat leave? If I've got 4 weeks holiday to take first roughly when abouts would I be looking at finishing work?

Original poster

Chelle1986 · 02/07/2010 09:01

MissCKitty - you can go on mat up to 11 weeks before due date.

I think only you can decide when to finish really - completely depends on how you are feeling. Still early days yet, you never know which way your pregnancy is going to turn.

The only reason I am going at 33 weeks is because of the way my redundancy works out - I have to make sure I take all holidays owed to me plus make sure I get the maximum amount of mat pay that I can from my employer. PLUS am bored to tears with nothing to do at work!!!

HTH

OP posts:

PickleSarnie · 02/07/2010 09:03

MissCKitty, you can start your maternity leave 11 weeks before your due date. So technically, you could start maternity leave at 29 weeks. Then you could also take your 4 weeks holiday before that if you wanted but that would mean leaving at 25 weeks and I'm sure you'd just be bored!!

Also, your maternity leave date isn't set in stone. You need to inform HR at least 15 weeks before your due date of your intentions but, if you give 28 days notice (less probably for most reasonable companies), you can change the date if you find you need to leave earlier.

CuppaPimmsJanice · 02/07/2010 09:12

I'm self employed and had a few orders to finish off, so I was working on my due date.

Luckily DS was 3 days late. With hindsight I was stupid to work so late, I guess I didn't realise labour would be so tiring!! After all, if someone had told me I'd be climbing Everest in the next couple of weeks but they'd only give me a few hours notice as to when I'd be leaving, I'd make sure I got plenty of rest first!

Freeasabird58 · 02/07/2010 09:34

I?m taking mine 13th Aug when I will be 30weeks pregnant. This may sound a little early, but I am using up some holiday entitlement & also want to have some time to relax and prepare for the life changing event that is on it?s way :-)
Any ideas/tips on the last 10 weeks leading up to the birth (things to do)

PandaEis · 02/07/2010 09:55

with DD my mat leave started from 34 weeks but i was signed off by the docs as i kept fainting and had a bad back i got a year full mat pay though so i wasnt to bothered when i was going to finish

i am 8+5 with #2 and i have been thinking about it. i think i will probably work until as near as my Due date as possible but i have annual leave to take so i might take that beforehand so i can spend time with my DD aswell as far as i know we only get 90% pay for 6 months so i dont fancy wasting time i could have with my new baby sitting on my arse watching daytime TV

PickleSarnie · 02/07/2010 10:09

PandaEis, you get 6 MONTHS at 90%?!? Blimey! Are they hiring at your company? I could do with some of that!

PandaEis · 02/07/2010 10:15

thats only what i have been told by various members of staff so it might not be exactly accurate but it is a large multinational company that i work for so i would suspect they may have a good maternity package. TBH i assumed that was the norm

PickleSarnie · 02/07/2010 10:26

The norm is 90% for 6 weeks and then statutory for the next 33 weeks. So if you're getting it for 6 months then you're v lucky and I'm v envious!!

We get 100% for 6 weeks and then statutory for the next 33 weeks.

ImaKara · 02/07/2010 10:26

I'm glad someone has asked this, I have to fill in a form and get it to HR shortly and I have been wondering the same.

I was thinking 38 (37 using up annual leave) but it's my first and now I'm thinking maybe I'll go off at 39 (38 with a/l)... I have an office job and come 38 weeks it'll be mid-October and cooled off. Plus I have to do a massive handover so will probably have someone in helping me.

I wish it was easier to change plans but you have to give 28 days notice to do so - not very helpful when it's that last month that you know whether or not you can cope...

PandaEis · 02/07/2010 10:35

il have to check with HR then and see! i havent told them yet as i have had MCs in the past and i wanted to wait for a while i will check on the policies andget back to you and let you know as i havent been told anything about it from anyone official so it may be completely wrong!

legallyblond · 02/07/2010 11:06

Maternity pay is RUBBISH in this country. I have a "good" package and I get 8 weeks full pay, 12 weeks half pay and then statutory.

On of my friends lives in Sweden. All women there get 18 months leave on full pay, which may be shared between the mother and father (minimum of 2 months must be taken by the father, I think). Tthe cost is shared between the employer and the state.

We are taken for a complete ride in this country.... and then they wonder why families struggle....

MrsGubbins · 02/07/2010 12:10

legallyblond.... you jest surely!

I'm in Dubai and the maternity leave is 45 days regardless of when you start, so lets say I work up to my due date but then the baby is 10 days overdue - I should be back at work when the baby is 35 days old!

PickleSarnie · 02/07/2010 13:39

We've got it good compared to the US. They get 8 weeks (unpaid) for a 'regular' birth and 12 weeks for a birth with complications (e.g. a c-section). And I think that, even then, it's dependent on you having the correct insurance. I can't even begin to imagine handing my baby over to a stranger at 8 weeks and heading back to work!

There have been talks to extend our maternity to 5 months fully paid as standard which, whilst I would obviously love, I don't think would make sense. It could cripple small businesses and stop employers from employing women under 40 (which wouldn't be legal but it would still happen)

missdt · 02/07/2010 14:50

I'd like to take 2 weeks off annual leave before my due date however I don't want to lose it if the baby comes early so I might take a couple of weeks off at 36 and then go back in at 38 for a couple of weeks. I just don't know how I'll feel at the time so hopefully work will be a bit flexible about it.

emmyloo2 · 02/07/2010 14:56

I get 10 weeks full pay then 16 weeks half pay followed by 13 weeks at just SMP with my firm. I am entitled to take 52 weeks off in total. I think that is quite generous to be fair. I wouldn't expect to be paid in full for longer than that.

I plan to take 6 months off then go back 3-4 days a week, depending on what job I can get.

whippybamboo · 02/07/2010 22:46

Finished at 38 + 6. But I only work 3 days a week and it's not a stressful job. I wanted to save all maternity for after baby born

porcamiseria · 03/07/2010 18:43

37 weeks, want an august mini holiday before it all kicks off! holiday, as if.........

berrycravings · 03/07/2010 19:45

I'm planning to finish work at 37 weeks but using holiday to cover this. As i'm due beginning of Jan finishing 17th Dec. Will prob be busy with xmas so plenty to do

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