What is usual time for going on maternity leave?

[connyrabbit]

I am due May 20th and my HR is asking me to set a leave date.
I realise that any time I take before the birth I cannot take afterwards but how early do people usually go on leave?
1 month before due date? more? less?

Thanks all

CBS

I think 4 - 6 weeks before is about average - depending on your job.

But beware! I left at 36 weeks and had DS1 at 37 weeks - so not much rest there!

I left at 36 weeks - had 2 weeks A/L booked so M/L started at 38 weeks.

Went into labour last day of A/L and mat leave started the day after I had DD - couldn't have timed it better if I planned it!!

Does depend on commuting and type of job you do though IME

Left work at 36 weeks, had one week of annual leave so mat leave started at 37 weeks. DD born at 42 weeks so I had a long wait! My SiL gave birth the same week at 33 weeks....impossible to second guess babies!

And you can change your mind - you are supposed to give 28 days notice if possible.

Most people I know aim to leave about 36 weeks, then often have to bring it forward or regret it when baby arrives about 5 minutes after they stop work and they have no time to put their feet up. Difficult though when, as you say, you are balancing it with time off with the baby afterwards.

You can change your mind if you give 28 days notice, and even then, if you say 36 weeks then suddenly really don't feel up to it anymore at 35 weeks, it would be a harsh for someone not to let you bring it forward a bit.

Also depends on your job, how long your commute is, whether you think you might be able to reduce your hours later on/work from home, or whatever.

I originally planned to quit at 37 weeks, put changed it to 35 weeks coz I was severly stressed and knackered. Don't forget to factor in your annual leave - most companies have a use it or lose it policy, and you only continue to accrue it for the 1st 6 months of your ML.

Just to jump in there, you do in fact now continue to accrue holiday (on a statutory minimum basis) for the second 6 months as well..

Even more reason to take loads at the beginning of your mat leave.

Hi, I finished at 31 weeks cause I had 3 weeks A/L to use up so then mat.leave started at 34 wks, this has worked really well for me as I feel i have had a proper rest and some headspace to prepare for the major changes which are now just round the corner. I also had a big commute and honestly don't think I would have been able to drive it everyday much beyond 34 weeks!
I don't think you are obligated to give your HR a def. date at this early stage so don't feel pressured to make a decision as it's early to tell how you're going to feel. I would check with your managers about when you legally have to commit to a date.

Flowery - really? I didn't know that - according to the latest maternity policy I got from my HR it is only the 1st 6 months. Be handy if it is the 2nd as well, as planning on taking 9 months off.
I think you are only obliged to let HR know when you want to start m/l at least 15 weeks before EWC, i.e. when you are 25 weeks. Please correct me if I'm wrong FBB!! You'll need to get your MATB1 form, make sure you get it before then, my MW wasn't going to give me mine until week 28, which I pointed out to her was 3 weeks too late!

15 weeks is right, see here all about maternity leave including bit about holiday accrual in OML and AML.

Might be worth having a look through the directgov maternity stuff together with your policy BT in case they've missed any other recent changes...

I finished at around 32 wks with both, had crap pg's and had just had enough.

I've never managed it! With DD1 I planned to start at 36 weeks and she arrived at 33+4, with DD2 I planned to start at 39 weeks and she arrived at 38+2. I've always worked the day before and then a couple of days after for finishing off - it's amazing what you can get done while you're on the 'baby-high'!

I had an easy pg with DS3, but working night shifts on my feet was just too much, he was due beginning of June, I took April as Annual Leave and started Mat leave in the May. Had it been an easier (and less stressful) job I'd probably have stayed longer.

DS was born on 22 May. I took 3 weeks annual leave - finishing on 30 April. My Mat leave started the day before he was due.

Stopped at 30 weeks. Totally horrible pg and could not physically commute and work. Depends on how you feel.

I will do FBB - thanks for the tip off