Question for working mums

filigree_2

When I took maternity leave in 1993-1994 my employers' rules were that you could get 18 weeks paid leave starting from 34 weeks pregnant - you could work later, but it would reduce the 18 weeks. I left at 34 weeks, he was born at 42 weeks. When paid leave ran out I used up my annual leave then had some unpaid leave. I went back to work when he was six months old. If I could have afforded it, my employers would have let me take a total of 52 weeks if I wanted.

Josie_Jump_3

My little one is 4 in August. With her I went on maternity leave around 1st week in June (using a couple of weeks holiday to extend my leave) and this coincided with the start of the 2002 World Cup - neat planning by me! I was due return 2nd Jan but decided to take extend for another month and returned 1st Feb.

crispeater

when i was pg with my first i didnt bother to save any money as i was with my partner but to be honest he didnt help with money and i struggled. 2nd time round once i found out i was pregnant i knew i was going to have a year off so i saved some money up. i managed to save 2K before my son was born and i have to say its been a godsend!! to be able to have something to dip into every now and then really does help so if you can do it, do it

oh and i kicked dp out during the 2nd pregnancy too so that helped lol

flea72

with dd1, being self employed, i worked until i went into labour,and returned to work when she was 6wks old

with dd2, i worked until 4wks before my due date, and then returned at the end of 3m mat leave

i think with your first child, most people say they will work til they drop, but they dont realise how draining, the last few weeks of being pregnant can be. with your 2nd child, you realise that being a martyr does you no favours, and you start your mat leave as soon as you can, making sure to add on all your accrued holiday leave, so you dont have to return so soon either.

Being self employed though, really makes it hard to not get back to work as soon as you can. i wouldnt advise going back before your child is 3m though, thats just too soon, to get into some sort of routine, and for you to actually feel back to normal, fit and well

Flea

Sazere

Worked as sales consultant in e/agents on commision so with baby no 1 worked until two days before birth, had day before off for antenatel appt, was admitted and had section following morning. Went back to work when baby was 6 weeks old exactly (day after postnatal check). With baby no 2 I finished about 6 weeks before birth and extended my maternity leave then didn't return. Baby no 3 not working, baby no 4 at uni and not due til Oct. So mixed bag in my case, lol!