is this a completely stupid idea?

[firsttimer78]

Interested in opinions on this...

I can only afford to take a maximum of 6 months maternity leave (and even that will be a struggle financially). So far I've had a (touch wood) pretty easy pregnancy with no major issues so this may not even become an issue but...

My contract states that if I am signed off sick 4 weeks or less before baby's due date my mat leave will automatically start, meaning I could have 6 weeks before baby puts in an appearance naturally.

I was thinking about this the other day and wondered what hospital would say if I requested an elective section once I've reached term on the basis that I want to have as much time as possible once LO gets here - what do folks reckon? Obviously, health of baby and me would be my priority and if that looked like being compromised I wouldn't go through with the section, but feel quite sad at the thought of using almost 2 months of my mat leave and then having to go back to work when LO is only 4 months old

TIA for any thoughts.

That's not the sort of thing they'd do an elective for I'm afraid
they'd only do one for health reasons

Ah ok, that's good to know anyway before midwife ejects me from the hospital for even asking!

I know people who have worked up till the day the baby is born to get their full mat leave the other side.
They did work from home and it was all prior arranged though, so depends on the company I suppose.

I don't know anything about c-sections but I am not sure they would carry one out for solely that reason.

tbh i dont think they would consider it for those reasons. my mum is a theatre midwife and most of the women that want an elective tehre have to push pretty hard for it and it will only be considered for medical reasons.

Even if you had a section at term it would only give you a maximum of 10 days more at home with the baby. Then recovery from a cs is much longer than a VB (ime anyway) and is higher risk to you and baby. Regardless, the hospital are very unlikely to agree to it,

excuse the pun 'push pretty hard'

Thanks for all your replies - wanted to canvass opinion before I spoke to midwife. I'm planning to work as late as possible, but I have a long drive to/from work and suspect this may be my downfall in the end but I may be worrying about nothing! I like the idea of working from home, but my job doesn't really lend itself to that very easily. I'm a worry-wart!

Do you not have any holidays you could tag onto either end of the mat leave?

The six months includes tagging on holidays
Being the main wage earner sucks - we simply can't afford to pay all the bills with me on SMP and DH's wages. Ah well, just have to make the best of it!

Are there any benefits you could claim if you find yourself struggling? I know the benefits system can be awful to navigate but might be worth looking into just in case, if you haven't already?

I too wanted as long of with my baby due end of august and as soon as found out I was pregnant we started putting money aside so we have a little to top up maternity pay so I can take 9mths off hopefully, I am also the main wage earner but we will just have to make cut backs and save where possible.

have you remembered to allow for the hollidays you accrue while you're off as well as any you've saved up beforehand?

No chance on the section front, I am currently trying to fight for one with my second pregnancy as I have medical issues, hyperemesis and had a really traumatic labour with DD1 and it's not looking too positive. Where I work you get your public holidays added back into your mat leave as you can't be on mat leave and take your entitlement so depending on when you are on mat leave there might be a few days to gain there

Ryuk - I doubt it. I earn a decent wage but we're crap at managing money!
East - I've been saving as much as I can each month, and I know my outgoings will reduce once I stop work (won't have to spend £350 on petrol a month for a start!!)
Cosmosis - all added in! I'm covered by teachers t&cs but I'm not a teacher so I don't accrue anything like the holidays they do. My KIT days will add a wee bit more cash to the kitty I'm hoping.
Hevster - looks like I have no chance! Which is fine, cos I would really like to avoid a section if posssible, just would like as much time as possible to get to know LO. Hope you manage to persuade them for you tho, sounds like you're having a tough time. x

My understanding is that it's only pregnancy related sick days in the last 4 weeks that trigger mat leave. So it's unethical, but if you had to take a couple of days sick in that period you could mark it down as stomach bug etc. Obviously that won't wash if you're signed off for weeks. Hope you stay well and get the max time at home with your baby.

Hey
I think that your maternity leave would only be triggered if you were off sick by reason of the pregnancy. And to be honest, if you had to have to odd day off because you felt rough then arguably that could be down to anything and not the pregnancy . . .

Yeah, I've been thinking I could use this tactic if necessary - like you say spiltthetea, it's a bit unethical but I'm sure I'll get over it! My sickness record is good anyway - have only had one day off since getting pg.