Maternity Leave question

[joyjumper]

Hi all

This is my first baby so I don't really know what to expect - I'm trying to sort out my maternity leave start date at the moment.

How long are you/did you all take off before your due date? Is two weeks before pushing my luck or is that normal? Is a month off beforehand too much? I am trying to juggle it so I get full pay in January as my ML package is not great and my salary drops as soon as I leave work. I also don't want to be bored at home on my own.

Work are asking me for my finish date and I really don't know what to tell them! My job is not physically strenuous - just sitting at my desk all day, but I'd be mortified if I went into labour at work!

Thanks
X

 

[Brown eyes]

It's really up to you and people finish at various times depending on their own circumstances. Although your job isn't physically strenous you will get increasingly tired as the weeks progress, believe me I am really ready to finish this Friday at 34 weeks! Also, do you have any annual leave to take beforehand? I'm taking 2.5 weeks A/L before my Mat leave starts which means I can finish a bit earlier.
I think having some time to rest before baby arrives is really important but only you know how you think you'll feel and what is right for you. Good luck!

 

[joyjumper]

Hiya - yes, I have 5 days of annual leave left, so could potentially finish work almost 3 weeks before baby is due.

 

[Jenniflower]

I took off as soon as I could. So the 11th week before my due date. But that's mainly because my job is horrid and stresses me out on a daily basis that it was suggested to me to take off asap. I don't intend to go back so I'm not that bothered. Not that that really helped you any, hahaha.

As for you, I hear a lot of people say 4 weeks is a decent time to take off. Gives you sume much needed "me time" before LO arrives and allows you to get last minute things ready.

 

[Celtic Dragon]

I wanted as much time afterwards as possible, so worked up to 38 + 4. I'm now a week overdue, so I'm glad I didn't have any longer off first - I'm so bored! It really depends how you feel though... I would tell your work as late as possible - you can always leave earlier if you need to.

 

[saphino]

I finished at 36 weeks and although I am sooo bored at home on my own, I was really really starting to struggle at work by then!

Think it's a personal chocie, however you think you will cope! Donn't wear yourself out though xx

 

[SharonF]

Hi

I finish when I am 37 weeks, but I have 3 weeks annual leave left so don't start my Mat leave until my due date. My job isn't particularly strenuous and I wanted to have as much time off after the baby arrives as possible.

It depends on how you feel, how well you can cope at work and how much you feel you need to get done before baby comes along. If you will just sit at home bored then maybe it's better to work as late as possible? You won't go into labour at work, you will get lots of signs that you are starting, I'd imagine, before you were in full blown labour. I doubt you'll be pushing baby out at your desk!

Like other say, it is such a personal choice! You probably have a commitment to tell your work your leaving date by a certain date, but you can probably change it if needs be.

Good luck!

 

[CandJ]

My last day at work is Friday, but my maternity leave officially starts on Monday when I'll be 36+1. I would have liked to have left earlier as I'm exhausted now, I don't think I'll be bored between monday and having baby as I've my 2 year old to keep me busy!

I think it's a personal choice. I'm on my feet all the time I'm at work, so if you're sitting down and you can go to the loo as you please and take 5 minutes off as you like then I'd stay as long as you could so you've more time with baby after.

 

[EmzyJA]

im starting mine at 34 weeks. i dont enjoy my job and sitting at my desk all day is doing my back in really bad. i just cant wait to get out of here. i'm not coming back which also helped my decision as i dont have to worry about how much time i'll need off with the baby. x

 

[tink23]

I took off as soon as I could. So the 11th week before my due date. But that's mainly because my job is horrid and stresses me out on a daily basis that it was suggested to me to take off asap. I don't intend to go back so I'm not that bothered. Not that that really helped you any, hahaha.

Exactly the same here

 

[redwine22]

I gave up work at 36 weeks and although my job was not physically demanding I started having trouble sleeping at 34 weeks and the last two weeks were really tough to get up at 6.30am every morning and go to work.

Everyone is different one of my friends worked right up to 38 + 2 weeks and although tired she was able to do it.

 

[sincerevon]

I plan on working up until I got into labor. I have a sit down job and I'm fairly comfortable at 34 weeks, so hopefully I can hang on. I get 12-13 weeks maternity leave and would feel better if I could spend all that time with my baby girl. But the choice is yours! GL Hon!

 

[angelic000]

It is definitely a personal choice and circumstances.

I plan to work up to 37 weeks. The job isn't stressful but the commuting 1hr30mins each way os tiring. I have purposely not used 11 days of my holiday allowance so that I can start my maternity leave on my due date.
Also I think if I was at home a lot earlier I would just be twiddling my thumbs getting bored and time would go really slowly.
I would say finishing 4 weeks early is fine. The girl I was working with finished work at 31 weeks and she only lived 15 mins away.
You have to do what is right for you and your circumstances.