How many weeks before EDD are you leaving work?

[Mrs_Grissom]

I just wondered, as this is my first and I literally have ZERO idea of what to expect regarding how I'll feel later on in the pregnancy, how many weeks before your estimated due dates are you leaving work?

I'm a teacher and planned to leave 3 weeks before but as I am currently hating my job with a passion (lol :/) I am looking for excuses to leave a bit earlier!

What's a 'normal' amount of time to finish work before baby comes? x

 

[Jims_Girl]

I'd rather have the time off once the baby is born so I'm leaving on the Friday, baby due on the Monday.........
Well.... That's the plan!

 

[Katie.2011]

Its my first too and had no clue about how id feel etc so iv got 12 days holiday left too take which for me equals too about 3 and half weeks off, so iv decided to book it from the end of november,so by the time my maternity leave actually starts will be 5 days before the due date,wanted to hang on as long as I could so get longer when babys actually here, but figure if im struggling il just go early, u can change ur maternity leave date. xx

 

[mrsbw]

I'm also a teacher. Finishing exactly 4 weeks before due date.
And probably not going back

 

[Ashlee B x]

Last time i left 7 weeks before EDD as i had some holiday to use up too but this time im leavin 4 weeks before as thats what work places recommend that you rest well before LO comes lol

 

[littlelady23]

I think I'll leave at 35 weeks. I despise my job, it is incredibly stressful and I want the time off before to have some final me time - will be the last time for the rest of my life that it will be truly just me! xx

 

[Katie.2011]

I hate my job too and keep thinking Iv done the wrong thing by leaving it so late but really want to spend more time with baby with he/she is here, im so excited now and I keep telling myself i just need to get october out the way then its not that long away til im off. xx

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

Its my first too and had no clue about how id feel etc so iv got 12 days holiday left too take which for me equals too about 3 and half weeks off, so iv decided to book it from the end of november,so by the time my maternity leave actually starts will be 5 days before the due date,wanted to hang on as long as I could so get longer when babys actually here, but figure if im struggling il just go early, u can change ur maternity leave date. xx

Just been reading all the documents, I can change my mind about leaving/returning date as long as I give 28 days notice!! Which seems odd to me because you might not get 28 days warning of how you'll feel lol, ugh.

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

I hate my job too and keep thinking Iv done the wrong thing by leaving it so late but really want to spend more time with baby with he/she is here, im so excited now and I keep telling myself i just need to get october out the way then its not that long away til im off. xx

I'll be leaving Feb half term so I suppose it's not THAT long but it feels like forever!

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

I'm also a teacher. Finishing exactly 4 weeks before due date.
And probably not going back

I wish I could do that, bloody hate the place at the minute. It's such a shame because I loved it before September. I'm leaving Feb half term (calling my first day off the first day of next half term so the half term hols don't get counted in my weeks.)

 

[AmyMumToBe]

I was meant to be leaving 4 weeks before but have been suffering from back and stomach pains (ligament pain) already quite alot at work. I'm a therapist and hairdresser, so I've decided to leave 8 weeks early as self employed so really it's up to me. Mega busy in October so I'll be glad to finish at beginning of November xx

 

[mitchnorm]

I am due? March 13th...planning to finish work end of February to get more time off after baby. Howver i am going to do some sums around my annual leave and work out exactly when i can finish etc. I also hate my job......heres to very little work being done in 2012

 

[Mrs_Grissom]

I'd rather have the time off once the baby is born so I'm leaving on the Friday, baby due on the Monday.........
Well.... That's the plan!

Blumming heck that's brave my maternity leave will run out just before summer holidays so it doesn't really make a difference that end of the leave because I can't go back in the holidays. I am so tempted to leave earlier though!

 

[1982emmac]

I too am a teacher and due 3rd jan... leaving 16th of december by my maternity leave
won't officially begin until 2nd jan so i'll benefit from having those two weeks. Maternity pay isn't the greatest and want to take as long off afterwards as possible,

 

[_dreamer_]

my edd is 2nd feb and i'm finishing work 22 dec when i'll be 34 weeks as i have holiday saved. maternity leave will start 17th jan just over 2 weeks before. i couldnt face going back after having a break at christmas, am so excited its worked out this way x

 

[Peyre]

Hi Mrs Grissom !

If you are hating your job with a passion and looking for excuses to leave a bit earlier, you don't need any excuses.

If you are entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay (have worked for same employer continuously for at least 26 during the 66 weeks before the baby is due and earning more than £103/week), you have to wait until the 15th week before your baby is due, and work at least one day on this week. Visit this link for better explanation https://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/statutory-maternity-pay-smp/eligibility/
If you have been having more than one employer, then you can not get SMP, but may be able to get Maternity Allowance. In this case, all you need is 26 weeks of work during the 66 weeks b4 the baby is due. Therefore, you can leave whenever you want if you are able to support yourself until you can get MA. Don't need excuses, just normal notice.
Both MA and SMP last for 39 weeks. Then, you will decide if you go back to work, stay at home, change occupation, or work part time.

Obviously, the latest you get SMP or MA the longest you will be with your baby once he/she is born...

If you want to leave before the qualifying week (15th week b4 baby is due) and can not support yourself withouth unemployment benefit, you have to convince your GP that you are unfit to work (and get medical certificate), then, you will be put on Income Support if have no savings/are single.

 

[_Lexi_]

I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing yet. I'm looking to be moving as me n oh have broken up, but still living together. I want to move out the city and back to my home town which will add 3 hours travel onto my working day. I really hate my job, as I'll be on my own, I won't be going back, and I havnt been there long enough to get maternity pay from them, just from the government instead. I got told women have similar pregnancies to their mums, well I was 9 weeks early, 1 of my brothers was 8 weeks early and the other 6 weeks early, so I may be leaving a bit earlier as I may not make it. I would like time to myself before baby comes, so I don't know what to do. I feel do exhausted all the time if I could leave now I would!!x

 

[Peyre]

I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing yet. I'm looking to be moving as me n oh have broken up, but still living together. I want to move out the city and back to my home town which will add 3 hours travel onto my working day. I really hate my job, as I'll be on my own, I won't be going back, and I havnt been there long enough to get maternity pay from them, just from the government instead. I got told women have similar pregnancies to their mums, well I was 9 weeks early, 1 of my brothers was 8 weeks early and the other 6 weeks early, so I may be leaving a bit earlier as I may not make it. I would like time to myself before baby comes, so I don't know what to do. I feel do exhausted all the time if I could leave now I would!!x

If you want to leave now, you can, since you have become single, and therefore, could claim JSA or, if very ill and able to get medical unfit note (probably due to depression??), IS, both until 15th week b4 baby is due, when you will get MA.
However, if on JSA, you have to "pretend" to be available for work and sign on every 2 weeks or really look for another job in your hometown...

You won't get much for living though (£67/week).

 

[mamawannabee]

I'll be cutting down my hours about 3 or 4 weeks before baby is due, right after thanksgiving, then working part time right up until my due date as long as LO doesn't come early. I love the holiday season and will probably only keep 16 or 20 hours a week at that point, but can't imagine taking time away from my favorite time of year at work. Granted, if I am crazy uncomfortable I can change my mind down the road.

 

[Lilmiss1]

I'm leaving 4 weeks before edd. But I'm already struggling standing up 9 hours a day. Just taking one day at a time and looking forward to each milestone helps. Hope things get better.