Query on length of maternity leave......

[nicki1978]

Hi peeps,

Hope someone might be able to help and not sure if a strange question.

I have been given an estimated due date of 20th June 2011 for dc1. If I take 6 months maternity leave, this would mean returning to work for 3 days before xmas. I am therefore thinking about having 7 months maternity leave.

My query is....can you take 7 or 8 months maternity leave or does it have to be either 6 or 9 months (to be paid)?

Thanks Nic :)

You can take any period up to the maximum - it doesn't have to be whole months either.

If you go back just before xmas, you will then get your bank holidays paid, so it may be worth doing.

Hi nicki, maternity leave info here and maternity pay info here on govt website - you can take up to a year off, but will only be paid for 39 weeks. Hope this helps.

Thank you siemum.

I thought so but just wanted to check as you only hear / read of taking either 6 months or 9 months paid and the more I thought about it the more I wasn't sure.

:) xx

thanks also titian, I will check these out :) xx

Are you planning to work up to your delivery date? That's an unusual plan. I did but only because ds was prem!

you should also accrue leave so could attach that to the end ...

no mollie, I was thinking of starting maternity leave on 20th June, but taking the two weeks off prior to this as annual leave :)

I don't think I'd cope right up to delivery date, I am such a wus and will probably wonder if every twinge is labour time, lol :) xx

I am absolutely dreading labour, its the only thing that scares me, which probably won't help my psoriasis, lol, I have such a low pain threshold, I will be insisting for as much pain relief as is reasonably possible, lol xx

I had a 'natural' labour (not through choice and I was induced). When the head MW congratulated me I told her to fuck off.

lol, oh dear xx

Just a comment regarding the length of your maternity leave - have you thought about childcare for when you return? Yes it seems a long way away - I know, it's difficult to focus past the birth itself - but depending on your planned solution, the exact date may shift around.

If this is agreed with family, then fine, but if it's external watch out. The available dates may not stick with yours. They all operate on a fixed carer-to-child ratio and the children already in place have precedence of course.

In my case I planned on nursery for my children, got on the waiting list - and yes there is generally one, do start looking around while still pregnant - but in the end for DS1 they could only confirm a space one month later than what I'd planned. And even then it was only confirmed 2 months in advance, by which point I'd already given work notice of my [earlier] return. Fortunately my boss agreed to the late change.

For DS2 they couldn't promise a space on Tues and Thurs until the last minute so I was scrabbling around trying to find a childminder solution as well.

And bear in mind that when they do start chilcare, babies will pick up every bug going round [good for immune system ] so you'll end up having to take several days off, particularly in the first month just when you want to make a good impression on your return.

It will all work out in the end though. Welcome to parenthood!