Maternity Leave - when to start?

Hey! I’m currently pregnant with my first so I can only tell you what I plan to do but I plan to take 2 weeks annual leave at 34 weeks and then start my maternity at 36 weeks. It we have a hot summer or I decide to work from home soon then maybe change slightly but as I’m currently 21 weeks I can’t say for certain. I know this is earlier than some say but I don’t want to be heavily pregnant at work in the summer (due 2nd Aug) and I want to have time at home to sort out everything, do some batch cooking and relax!

Hey! I’m pregnant with my first and my plan is the same as yours go on leave about 36 weeks, use a weeks holiday so maternity pay will start a week after. Don’t want to go too early but don’t want to go too late! Spoke to a couple of friends and my sister who have recently had babies and they all said that around 36/37 weeks was when they went and it worked well for them! ❤️

Also pregnant with my first and I'm panning on starting my mat leave at 37 weeks with 2-3 weeks of annual leave before. So finishing up work 34/35 weeks. I have low PAPP-A so it's highly likely I'll be induced at 38 weeks if baby doesn't spontaneously arrive by then and I want a few weeks to relax!

Also pregnant with my first here and I’m already uncomfortable sitting at a desk all day at 20 weeks haha have to get up for mental health walks (luckily I work from home most days) I will be starting my maternity from 31st week, just to spend some time with the hubby/finish planning the nursery and enjoy the sun before the baby arrives. But I heard that some people take it literally from the day the baby is born to extend the time together as long as possible, so I think this is a very personal decision. Most work places should also allow flexible work before the maternity (working fully from home) in case you are uncomfortable, etc

This is my second. With my first I finished just after 37 weeks and gave birth the day after 😂. This time I'll be going off at 36 weeks so maybe I'll get a couple weeks with my toddler beforehand. Plus it's summer so can spend lots of time in the garden! I have some annual leave to take so will use that at the end to top up pay because it will just be SMP by that point and make sure I still get a full year.

Also my first baby! I think it really depends on your job & how you feel - I was originally planning on using annual leave so would have been around 36 weeks however everything has changed recently at work, it’s now toxic & I’m utterly miserable so will be starting mat leave 4 weeks early on top of the annual leave just to get out of here! It’ll mean I’ll be 32 weeks so earlier than I would have liked from a financial perspective, but it’s at the point for me where we have to prioritise my pregnancy and mental well being. I’m looking forward to finally having a chance to enjoy everything & prepare for birth and baby without constant stress.

Pregnant with my first and my job is very full on (I’m a nanny to 3 children 5 days a week, 12 hours a day) so I’m planning on starting maternity leave in early July giving me 4 weeks before my due date (10th August). However, this could change and I may decide to start earlier depending on the heat, how I’m feeling etc. I am conscious of making the most of mat pay but I’m also aware that il never get this time back and want to make the most of that time by getting everything ready for baby. I think it’s very much dependent on how you’re feeling at the time!

FTM here due on 19 August. I plan on finishing 1 August and then taking two weeks annual leave before my maternity pay kicks in

It’s definitely personal preference! I’m due on 1st September with my 3rd and will start Mat leave on my due date (unless baby comes early) I really want to save the time off so I can enjoy time with baby. I work in an office and they accommodate regular breaks and limit travelling etc in my risk assessment so I’m not sat uncomfortable at the desk/driving all day. I worked up until due date with my 2nd baby too x

Forgot to add, you should be able to carry your annual leave balance over to the next leave year if you don’t take it before you go off x

My mum had to stop at the point when she could no longer get in and out of her car easily so driving to work became an issue. Think this was 4 or 5 weeks before I was born, but everyone is different, so you can always plan something and find it needs changing.

I work from home so I’m going to try and work to 38 weeks then take AL for a fortnight before starting ML the day before my due date. First baby though so who knows how I’ll feel at that point! My manager is super flexible thank goodness!

Are you all aware that if you are not comfortable or cannot work due to health then your work needs to be flexible or pay you to be off? Thay would not kick in as leave till 4 weeks before edd

I’m pregnant with my first as well and have said that I will be finishing work at 34 weeks but I have a lot of annual leave to use up so I won’t actually start my maternity leave until I am almost 38 weeks. Gives me a few weeks off before baby arrives and means I don’t have to worry about working when it’s hot and uncomfortable.

I went to 37 weeks with my little boy and took 3 weeks holiday so started mat leave on my elective section date. Will be doing the same again this time, I mean I got very bored and stir crazy but this time I think it may be nice to have some time with myself while my sons at nursery and enjoy time with him when he's home. Do what's best for you x

This is my second. With my first I had thought I would go off at around 38 weeks, it was my manager that actually said that it will be a struggle at that point and to take some time for myself before baby comes. I ended up starting my leave on May 1st and my girl was born May 31st (9 days early) and I’m actually glad I went when I did. This time I think I’ll probably go off around 37 weeks but I am a bit concerned about it being summer!

Hey!! FTM - i work 4 days a week in a childcare setting (desk based as management) but i’m currently using some of my holiday to go down to 3 days a week from 34 weeks and then start my maternity leave at 37 weeks (using holiday for a week) or 38 weeks (not using holiday!) Xx

This is my second and I went off 2 weeks earlier last time. To be honest I was a little bored of waiting . She arrived on my due date. This time around my little girl will be starting school in September so I plan to have a few weeks off for just me and her before the baby arrives and everything gets crazy xx

I finished at 36+2 with my first and I had her bang on 37, I was on annual leave at the time which I used before I started maternity but this time round my plan is just to go as far as I can but keep in mind I could have a 37 weeker again so maybe I’ll leave a bit earlier who knows, just going to play it by ear x

I just realized this wasn’t a US feed. I was like who gets time off before the baby arrives! Haha enjoy ladies!

Third pregnancy here, always started my leave at 38+ weeks. Would much rather the extra time with my baby than sitting around thinking about wishing they were here. You’re entitled to adjustments to make you more comfortable at work.

Second baby! Same job type as you, office, park on site. I do get to wfh though and my boss was really kind to ‘up’ my wfh days from 2- to however many I wanted, even the whole week if I chose. I planned on working till 39 weeks, I had to be induced due to baby dropping weight though so ended up messaging my boss saying I have to leave early (only 38w) so went in the next morning just to ‘tidy up’ before I went off. This time I plan on leaving at 37w. I agree 34w is very early, I know I girl who went off that early then her baby was 2 weeks late, seems a waste of maternity leave to me!! Especially when money is so tight in the economy.

This is my second, I’m a welder and fabricator and been told I’m not allowed to work past 28 weeks with my job being classed as a dangerous job.

Second baby, due 7 August and going off 17 July. Know too many second time babies who came a week early, and I want some prep / down time first!! I was waiting and waiting with my first (he arrived dead on 42 weeks...) and it was frustrating and a bit boring but I don't think that will happen this time.

I’m pregnant with my first due 11th but I clean a school so we break up for the school holidays on the 18th July so I’m hoping to take my maternity then 4 weeks before I’m due as not sure how my maternity will work if I choose to take it in the holidays as we aren’t at work x

I managed up until 37½ weeks with my second. Probably could have done a bit longer except that there was so much else going on at that point. First was born during lockdown but had planned on working until 37 weeks and I think would have been fine. This time I'll be working until 32½ but only because of when summer holiday falls (I'm a teacher)

I’m finishing at 35 weeks and taking 4 weeks annual leave, officially starting mat leave a week before my due date

Second timer here but not really sure what to expect as my first born I was on furlough full pay during Covid times from 28 weeks so had loads of time before he arrived at 37 weeks 😂 This time I’ve decided to take 3 weeks leave from 35 weeks and then starting MAT leave from 38 weeks unless baby decides to come earlier again aha