Mums when did you go on maternity leave?

chickywiggle

if i remember from 30 weeks i worked 4days and took 1 as holiday a week. then at around 37 took 2 weeks hols then started mat leave from 39 weeks.

went back 1 day a week for 3 weeks when DS was 8 months using my 'back to work days'. I really wouldn't bother with these again next time a proper waste of time as i was used as a spare part rather then being told what had changed in my job - I was FUMING!! Then back 4 days a week (having cut my hours due to flexi working) after this.

Threebabes

With No. 1, I worked fulltime until 38 weeks and he was 2 days over, with No. 2 I worked until 38 weeks fulltime and she was 4 days over. With No. 3 I worked fulltime until I was 38 weeks, I swore I was going to be crawling out the door I was so tired. It was one of the hardest things Ive ever done. I managed it though. She was 8 days over. For me my priority was working as long as possible so to have maximum time off with baby.
:-)

clairec79

dd1 from 35 weeks took a few days annual leave each week (so worked Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri at 35 weeks, Mon/Wed/Fri at 36 and 37 weeks) then maternity from 38 weeks - (she was born a few days into my maternity leave)

dd2 figured she's also come early and finished work just before 36 weeks - could have done with being longer afterwards (but this was when you only got 4 months)

ds - finished at 37 weeks

jillie1974

i was kucky in that i had 4 weeks holiday to use before my mat leave started so i finished work at the end of july at 32 weeks. the next 4 were holidays.

after 2 weeks of 'holiday time' i ended up being admitted for 4 days with severe heartburn (it was so bad it was making me vommit).
with my exisitng high blood pressure, the next 5 weeks, i spent either in hospital or seeing midwives 3times a week along with weekly hospital appointments.

i was so glad i had taken the holidays. as other wise my work would have put me on mat leave earlier than i wanted which would have meant having to go back to work earlier as well.

shelley_crow

I worked in a kitchen when I was expecting my DS, it was very hot and people had a tendency to spill things on the floor and not clean it up, grrrrr. I slipped over quite a few times but luckily everything was ok. I was originally going to leave at 38weeks but by 36 weeks I'd had enough.

I definately second the poster that said not to overdo it in the last few weeks, get your sleep while you can. Oh and don't feel pressured into leaving early by managers, go when you are ready. x

kindofagilr

I am on mat leave now, I left when I was 36 weeks, took 4 weeks annual leave so my mat leave is due to start on baby's due date 8th march.

And boy was I ready for it, I was coming home so tired at night

flowerscotland

Hi

My first daughter was premature so I was working right up until the night before I had her

With my second daughter I took 2 weeks off before I had her, I only worked part time in the evenings, with a 9 o'clock finish, my job wasn't stressful, and it was sitting down, so I found it fine to manage.

If you feel tired you should have a word with your employer about starting earlier, look after yourself and the baby hun :A

claireac

Ican't really remember what I did with ds's as they're 18 & 20!

I had dd in July 2006 and that was the really hot summer! Our office is really hot in summer as it has a flat roof, lots of windows and no aircon, I also work in engineering so that alone increases the heat.

I finished at 36 weeks and I was glad to go!! Dd was 10 days late and I enjoyed every minute of my time off, particularly as it was soooo hot.

Somnium

Also currently on mat leave, and this is my first so like OP I was unsure when to start, but knew I wanted as much time as poss with baby after. In the end I opted to start Mat leave at 38 weeks (last thur) but had 2 weeks annual leave before so havent worked since 36 weeks. I also decide to drop down to a 4 day week for the last 5/6 weeks using up some annual leave and that made life alot easier. I have spd and work in a shop, fortunatley my employer changed my duties the last 4 and a bit weeks so altho dead boring it was physically less demanding. Was deffinatley ready to leave at 36 weeks tho!

mintymoneysaver

I managed to end up with quite a long mat leave with No1 ( now 16) She was due at the very beginning of Nov so to be kind to our head ( I'm a teacher) I offered not to go back in Sept so he could appoint a teacher for the class from Sept. But of course I had the summer holidays before that where I just had to send in doctors notes saying I was physically capable of work. So I left at the end of July , and then she was actually nearly 3 weeks late so I had 4 months off before she arrived!

2nd one I left at Easter, she was due early May so about 35 weeks I think but then she was late as well!