When to start maternity leave?

Js_Other_Half

I am taking annual leave from next week - when I'll be 34 weeks. I have over 4 weeks annual leave to take though, and I will lose it if I don't take it now. If they'd pay me for it, or let me carry it over I'd still be working (but I do an office job, and drive 30 mins to work each way - so it's not as if I have to negotiate public transport etc)

Congratulations

banana1975

With my first I worked until 39 weeks and he was 2 weeks late.

With my second I left earlier mainly as I wanted to spend some quality time with my son who was then 6 before the baby came as it was the school summer holidays so left at 34 weeks but took two weeks holiday first so really 36 weeks.

Am pregnant again now, my daughter will be 20 months when baby born so will leave earlier but again take 3 weeks holiday before so looking at 34 weeks again.

Scarlett1

congratulations fruit loop :beer:

I worked until I was 36 weeks pregnant, I would have worked until 38 if I could but had to admit defeat cause I was getting back ache sitting at a desk all day

The longer you work means the more time off you have after the baby is born, but you need to do what is right for you and the baby at the time, if you feel well then work longer, if not then go on mat leave

super41

I would echo what everyone has said about waiting to see how you feel. Make sure you speak to your Personnel Department and are aware of your obligations and rights. Obviously the later you work the more time you'll have off after the baby is born. I managed until 34 weeks with both mine but oh boy was I ready to leave when the final day came. Like a previous poster I had SPD and going into work became purgatory, as was life in general! Of course you are more than likely to be fit as a fiddle and running around until the day you produce so you may stick it out longer.

Not wanting to sound negative but 5-6 weeks might be a bit early to tell work (unless it directly impacts on your job). I didn't inform mine till 15 weeks but eveyone is different.

All the best with your pregnancy there have been some really useful posts recently about all sorts of related things.

Nicki

With my two, I told my boss at around 16 weeks, and at the time said that I planned on working as late as I can, but would try and keep her informed if that needed to change early. She had a 2 week holiday already booked for when I would have been 35 weeks and she asked me if I was able could I stay until she got back from this (though made clear if I couldn't that was fine). As it turned out, I was OK to do this, and by that stage we had agreed informally that I could come in slightly later and leave slightly earlier than my contractual hours as I was commuting at rush hour. With no 1 I quit at 38 weeks but finished on Friday and he was born by planned C Setion on the following Monday. With number 2 I was more tired than with number 1, and was very pleased to finish at around 35 weeks. Again, I tried to give my boss as much notice as I could of how I was feeling, was prepared to be flexible to within a few daysa about when I went and made sure all projects were completed before I left.

If you have a good relationship with your boss, I would recommend playing things as straight as you can, and you may be able to negotiate some flexibility towards the end of your pregnancy which will enable you to keep working, but at the end of the day you will have to be guided by how you feel at the time, and there are no guarantees about this.

Good luck though. Have an enjoyable pregnancy, and don't worry too far in advance about anything as the best laid plans...

suzukibabe

Congratulations.

I worked untill my 37th week and will hopefully be doing the same with the next one.
I think as long as you and baby are alright, and you feel able to still be working late into the pregnancy, then go for it.
I was forever being asked by my MW 'are you still working?, you want to think about going on mat leave'

achtunglady

Congratulations!!! With my last one i worked up to 37 weeks, had two weeks leave to take, so my official maternity leave started at 39 weeks. The pregnancy was alot easier to handle than the first with no sickness or fainting, the only thing that happened was I got up too quick and nearly blacked out. My bosses attitude when i told her i was pregnant was " why you having another kid" i said to her " thats rich coming from you, you've got two as well". And it was a battle to get a chair to sit down on, i worked for woolies on the sweet dept and was expected to push fully laden roll cages and lift off the cases of bottled drinks and tinned ones too. I hurt my hip doing this and my doctor wrote a letter saying i was to do light duties only as my ligaments were softening and could cause permanent damage by lifting. When i gave her the letter, i left the office, walked a few steps and heard her shout out to her colleague " for f*cks sake, she wants to sit on the till all bloody day". Needless to say i neverwent back after having a years maternity leave.

inkie

With my first I finished at 29 weeks as I had sciatica - and had 12 months off. With second, I was a lot fitter and worked until 37 weeks - infact the last shift i did was on labour ward all night delivering one of my ladies - the laughable thing was I was in the room myself the following week being delivered myself!

Judi101

Congrats, you must be soo excited. I took advice from my friends and finished at 37 weeks. Only I had a really easy pregancy and could have easily worked right up to my due date (I was a week late anyway, which is supposed to be more common with first babies). I'd say wait and see how your pregnancy goes and how you feel and wait until the last moment to tell work when you are finishing. I should have done this and would have had another 3 weeks with my DD before returning.

evilwitch

totally agree with what everyone else has said. It'll depend on how you feel and how the pregnancy progresses. I'd be hesitant about telling so soon as well unless, of course, your job could directly affect the health of baby and you. I had no choice but to tell my boss(I'm a chemist and couldn't work with the nasties I used to!) and had an awful time as I had to stop doing my normal job straight away and my collegues all thought I was skiving as I wasn't willing to inform everyone about the pregnancy just in case. I had nasty little comments and all sorts of hassle throughout the whole pregnancy. It was the most horrible experience and probably contributed to the PND I'm going through now.

With my first I hadn't left work when he arrived (6 weeks early) tbh I think I was in early labour whilst I was still at work on the friday but just thought it the usual niggle. He arrived the following morning.

Congratulations on the pregnancy hope you have a happy and healthy one
With my daughter my mat leave started on my due date and I'd taken 2 weeks leave prior. She arrived on her due date and the 2 weeks was just about the right amount of time for me. I pottered about and slept and watched rubbish on tv and ate ice and carrots to my hearts contents (cravings eh??)