when are you starting MAT leave

[MunchkinJess]

so im 31 weeks and recently I have been feeling so tired its hard to concentrate or keep my eyeballa open!!!

I am due to have my first baby on 10th October and last working day will be 30th September.

I really enjoy my job as an EA but it is extremely fast paced, high pressured. ny boss is really nice but im just finding it hard to gey the energy to get to and from work and function.

I am only taking 6 months MAT, we need the money to be honest.

just wondering what is the normal time before birth to take off...am I working myself too hard too close to it ?

I started at 38 weeks with both BUT from 30ish weeks, took a wednesday afternoon off to slob at home. For the last month I took a whole wed off, to split the week up a bit.
Any chance of judicious use of holidays to make things easier?

I started mat leave at 38 weeks but took holiday from 35 weeks. tbh I was exhausted by then and really struggled on the last couple of days at work. It all worked out really well for me as ds came at 37&6 so I didn't feel as if I wasted any precious mat leave with no baby! :)

All personal choice - finished 3 weeks early with dd1 but then she was two weeks overdue. With dd2 I wanted more time after the birth so I finished the week before I was due so we had more time after. From my experience it is more tiring once they are born but you just can't think how at the time

Not had mine yet - am due end of Nov

I plan to finish at 35+3 but have a weeks holiday then so maternity leave is 'officially' starting at 36+6 I work in education but travel around to different schools in the area although my base is in one school. Supposed to be going to a conference at 33 weeks which is quite a distance from home and overnight so bit worried about that but hopefully will be fine

I'll be taking 9 months off in total but then need to go back full time due to finances