Mums when did you go on maternity leave?

SugarSpun

I'm in Germany and you're obliged to finish at 34 weeks. I'd planned to do a lot of stuff in the last six weeks but was too big and too tired.

Every pregnancy is different, don't exhaust yourself before the baby comes because you won't get a chance to catch up till he's about 15 :rotfl:

neneromanova

I wanted to work right up until my due date as my job as a web designer just meant sitting. The bosses weren't too happy about that though as "If my waters broke they would spray all over the computers and give me an electric shock." Their words not mine! DD was due 4th April, came 31st March but I was made redundant in January so not what I wanted but that's a whole other story :beer:

Caroline73_2

I finished at 35 weeks and 34 weeks.

I was nursing at the time and couldn't work safely. I had to run to a cardiac arrest on my last working day first time. If I was sat at a desk I would have stayed on longer.

SingleSue

31 weeks and 5 days with eldest...wanted to work later but it wasn't allowed in those days, any extra time you worked past 31 weeks and 6 days, and it came off your maternity allowance.

17 weeks with middle son...but only because they didn't like the thought of paying maternity allowance (they had just had another female on maternity and didn't much like that either) and handed me my P45, the tribunal part was fun at 39 blooming weeks!

For youngest, I wasn't working as there were problems with middle son (plus it was all rather quick after middle son was born).

esio_trot

Interesting thread, mainly because I can't afford to take the full 63 weeks that my employer allows (due in June, going back in January - or so goes the plan) so I'm working as close as I am able to make sure I can spend as much time as possible with the wee one before I go back.

This is my first time and I've planned to start maternity leave on my due date (:eek:), though I have saved almost all of my annual leave this year and will take three weeks consecutive leave beforehand. I am horribly jealous of those who can go off at 29 weeks though - would only be another 6 weeks for me! (my employer only lets you go off until the child's first birthday, the other 11 weeks of leave has to be taken before)

chickaroonee

Thanks everyone, gosh it's hard isn't it! I want to give my employer a decent amount of notice as well, they've been really good to me, so don't want to leave it to the last minute. Boredom doesn't worry me too much (in all honesty I think I'm more bored at work as my responsibilities are being taken off me in prep for leave) and I'd love to be at home, resting and getting things sorted out and of course, sleeping a bit more!

angelicmary85

I was 'asked' to take 4 weeks hols before my mat leave started so it would benefit me in the long run *insert rolls eyes smiley* but I wanted to work right up until my due date, alot of babies run over their due date and I was a very laid back first time mum so wasn't really that bothered. I ended up nearly rippinmg my hair out, I was so bored at home!

The same thing happened with my 2nd. I left 4weeks before my due date to keep management happy but I had DD to keep me entertained!

mistrihelen

I have four weeks annual leave to use up before mine (at my place you have to use it in the year you accrue it, so I get the whole year's worth up front!), so I'm thinking of leaving at 35 weeks, then going on actual maternity leave a week before due date.

I guess I could have ML start on the due date itself, and save that time for after baby is born, but another week at work means heading into another deadline and I think I'd rather do without the stress.

Evansangel

I left work at 25 weeks, took 4 weeks holiday and then started ML at 29weeks. Which is the earliest you can start it apparently.

My reasons were that i hated my job, so so much and it was stressing me out loads (call centre for SKYTV). And since i wasn't going back after ML anyway i wanted to leave at the earliest possible date, and we worked out we could live on minimal wages.

My ML started in Dec09, so my SMP will finish in Sept10, which is handy as thats when i start my college course

xmaslolly76

If you have holiday left can you not spread it out until your mat leave starts so that your only doing say 3 days a week you may find it easier. I went early last time round i had 8 weeks to go i just couldnt do it any more and this time as im still on maternity leave i dont think i will be in work for more than a few weeks before im off again :-)