When did you go on maternity leave?

[TrippleBerryFairy]

I'd like to start the ML 2 weeks before my due date - is that unreasonable? I keep seeing raised eyebrows when I tell this to my friends - for them it seems way too close to the due date! I am however feeling perfectly fine and don't see why I shouldn't be able to work until the very end (ok, I'm sure I will certainly hate London underground with all my heart by then but I can make this little sacrifice for a few additional weeks with the baby later...)
So when is the reasonable time to stop working?

i told my compay i was starting my maternity leave the day before my due date, however docs decided to induce me a week early,so i went to work on friday then was induced on saturday,and started my maternity leave on the monday. no reason why you shouldnt work as long as you want if you feel fit and healthy, pregnancy is not an illness

The day after they were born in both cases as they came early.

DD1 came on a Sunday at 32 weeks so ML started on the Monday.

DD2 came on a Wednesday (Christmas Eve) so ML started on the Thursday - which means officially I am due back on Christmas Day this year!

With DD1 I had planned to finish at 36 weeks. With DD2 I had planned to finish at 37 weeks (yes, in denial that this one wasn't coming early!) Timings worked out with what was practical at work really, not sure how I would have coped never having been 'full-term' size.

In both cases though it is nice to have so much paid leave after the baby arrives - even if the baby spends time in NICU to begin with.

And luckily DP has great employer who gave a week compassionate leave on the arrival of DD1 and then allowed him 2 weeks paternity (on full pay) when we brought her home. For DD2 he was on holiday - Christmas closing so ended up with 3 weeks off as paternity started when he was due to go back in the New Year.

I worked until 7 days before my due date (worked until Monday, had planned cs on Thursday morning). To be honest, I was bored out of my mind those 2 days.

I did however feel great, had more energy than usual and the commute was ok (20 mins overland, 10 mins work to work / station) - might not do the same if I felt any different. Oh, and it helped being highly pregnant during winter, of course.

If I were you, I'd stick to my original plan unless things change (tired/commute getting to you etc).

Ah, just one thought, and I'm not even sure if this is different if you stopped earlier, but probably the only negative was that I didn't know any other new mothers in the area once I was actually on maternity leave. I quickly met lovely people at the health centre once ds has arrived, but I have wondered about this before.