When to start maternity leave ?

[TeddysGirl]

Hiya !

I know it's super early to be thinking about this because I'm only 10+5 I'm starting to think about when to take my maternity leave (also because I hate 80% of the people I work with so I'm desperate to get out of there).

This is my first baby so I don't know how I will respond to being heavily pregnant. I am an intervention specialist in a high school so there isn't much heavy lifting but I am on my feet quite a bit during the day and also walking up and down stairs (which are often covered in water and yogurt after break and lunch-teenagers are disgusting).

My little one is due 23rd Dec and we break up for the Christmas holidays on 18th December.....I think that might be cutting it a bit close. Any advice because I would really like a countdown because I hate being there (p.s. majority of people who work in schools are bitchy and love gossip).

Thanks for any advice !

 

[Rags]

Congratulations on your pregnancy and also on taking the time to think about this sooner rather than later. Your job sounds like a bit of a nightmare and I can completely understand why you are letting the thought of a break from it excite you. The first thing you have to consider I would think, is if you plan to return to work after your maternity leave is over? This is a bit of a biggie as it comes down to when you might feel you want this time - before you give birth or when you have your baby and are considering nursery/child care arrangements. I can tell you how I did it and it's worth talking to others about how they found it worked for them.

I was 40 when I was lucky enough to find myself expecting (after assisted conception). My job was very physical and at times involved working with chemicals not conducive to pregnancy or fetal health. This said from the day I started treatment I knew I had no intention of returning to this job at the end of my maternity leave. I chose to save my holiday allocation (not appropriate in your case I would imagine), booked my maternity leave to begin 2 weeks before my due date and my holidays for the 2 weeks prior to this so that I would have a month clear of work and be able to enjoy my anti natal classes. Apart from dreadful morning sickness and a bad cough through the winter my pregnancy was great and I was happy that my physical job (and building full of stairs) helped my fitness levels throughout the time and during the labour. I dealt with the 'hazards' by writing my own pregnancy risk assessment and passing it on to my boss early on with the understanding that this remained private until further on in my pregnancy. As the department head I then re- allocated the departments workload.

I don't know if any of this is helpful for you to know - basically I'm saying that it comes down to your own lifestyle and work load. It's also important to check out any conditions that may apply to your works maternity leave provision (now) and then have a look at the ukgov web site maternity section, it's great for keeping you informed of all your legal obligations, when you need to inform people, all that stuff.

I look forward to hearing how it all goes.

 

[BabyMamma93]

i cant really help you in your situation but i didnt want to read and run.
i was due with my LO in April 2014, i work in a office so basically sat on my rear end all day but, its not as easy as it sounds when pregnant.
anyway i decided to take mat leave as late as i could possibly handle, that way i get longer to spend with him after, especially if you hate your job, just think, you will be in a job with people you hate when you could be home with your LO.

anyway it was 2 weeks to my due date, i was due on a monday i planned to work until the friday before i was due.. i started with slow labour on a monday (2 week early) and still worked all that week through the slow labour, bank holiday friday i went on a cleaning mish and early hours sat morning i was in active labour, i messaged my boss and explained i wont be back to work on monday and that my mat leave starts now, i returned to work after 3 weeks & dont regret it one bit! the only reason i did go back, i only work short hours, 10 min walk from home and i get a hour lunch too, i also havent missed one milestone!

 

[Dinah93]

If you don't plan to return go off as early as you can. If you do plan to return I'd leave on the 18th December - if you have the baby early maternity leave starts that day, but you'll hate to return and leave your baby a lot more than you hate being there heavily pregnant. Going back to a job you like is hard, going back to one you don't is a monumental challenge.

 

[TeddysGirl]

Thanks guys. I'm lucky because I work in a school I have summer holidays. I am planning on going back one week before the summer holiday (2016) that way I get paid in full throughout the summer holidays. That way it means I can save some maternity leave and leave a bit earlier.....if I didn't go back before summer holiday my maternity leave would end just as summer holiday ends so doesn't make sense.

 

[Rags]

A well thought out move. Now try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy.