When did you take maternity leave?

I originally planned to go off at 39 weeks hoping to have 1-2 weeks off before going into labour (first baby) but when I hit 36 weeks I was so tired I spoke to my team about finishing at 38 weeks. I did perk up after the 36 week slump but was glad of the time off before baby came (at 40+5) to prepare and do some self care.

I’m 35 weeks and finishing at the end of this week - I’m already so tired and finding it difficult to have the energy for a full workday! Everyone is different and I know people who were happy to work right to the end, but I’m going to really enjoy a few weeks of rest before baby arrives. You can always see how you feel closer to the end?

Think it's more important to take a week or two for yourself I know you could potentially go a couple of weeks past 39 but you also will probably be quite uncomfortable and may have appointments or monitoring more regularly hitting that gestation and may appreciate not being at work especially if you have little bits to do to prepare for baby xx

With my first I worked until my due date (she came 5 days past) and with my second I worked until I went in to labor at 37 weeks. I work from home though. I think if I had still been working in office I may have opted for a bit of time off before my due date if it were an option at the time.

I stopped work at 39 weeks and it was tiring but people were understanding and not giving me a hard time. I’m so glad I persisted because I was so bored that 1 week at home as I had finished all the preparations, and just sitting around waiting for baby to come was not fun 😂 Also absolutely dreading going back now and so glad I didn’t waste time before and I can now have it with my baby. Everyone is different though. You’ve got to think about what works for you x

I went off couple days before 36 weeks I had enough working with customers who at times were vile, sitting long periods and or standing it was too much and so uncomfortable and I was only part time. I’m glad I went off when I did as baby came at 38 weeks and was up at PAU quite a few times too in those weeks off before she arrived

I’m going on maternity at the end of this week at 35 weeks, my job is very active though and I’m on my feet a lot of the day, so giving myself that time to relax and get prepared for baby. But honestly I’d work until you feel comfortable too. If my job wasn’t so active I’d probably work until Xmas break where I’d be 39 weeks 😂

I worked until 39weeks, up till 2 days before she was born. Took my 12 weeks when she was born. Glad i did it the way i did so i had more time with her and to heal. Ended up having an emergency C-section

I left work early at 39 weeks with first bc I felt so sick and went into labor that night around midnight. I went into a very fast natural labor at 39 and half weeks with my second. I don’t think stopping work at 38/39 weeks when you’re pregnant is a bad thing. Baby can come at any time any time at that stage and I didn’t want to go into labor at work. I am glad I stoped work at 38 weeks with my second pregnancy because he came before his due date and it was a fast labor(under 5 hours)

So I originally planned to work up to my due date with my first. Due beginning of Nov. It got to Sept and realised I just couldn't. I was starting to get tired and was in pain. I then changed it to 3 weeks before. Went on mat leave 15th October. Baby came 4 days early at the start of my third week.

I was due to work to 39 weeks however was induced so literally worked right up till baby was born. Everything was already sorted. I have an office job so wasn’t hard on me physically and I went back at 9 month so wanted as much time with baby as possible!!

I had originally planned to go until due date but it was getting too much as I was on my feet all day in the days I was working. Was doing part time as I was also in my last semester at uni so had a bunch of exams two weeks before due date. Ended up at 39 weeks but didn’t have her in till 41. Best/worst two weeks ever😅😅

I worked up until the day i went into labour at 41+3 (i worked from home for the last few weeks of pregnancy). personally i didn’t have a reason to finish earlier, it’s not as if i had loads of things planned as i wanted to stay local incase i went into labour, so really i’d just be sitting around the house doing nothing, as i already has everything ready. by taking it as late as possible allowed me to take as much time as i can when baby arrives. it’s also worth bearing in mind, first babies are more common to arrive late, so if you finished at 37 for example, baby might not arrive till 41, so then that’s a whole month!

Baby 1 I went into labour at work, 3 days before my maternity leave was due to start. Baby 2 I’m finishing at week 37 and they are due week 38. I prefer it that way as I get the full year before going back, I can’t imagine starting early and going back to work with a teeny baby in daycare.

I was going to stop work at 38 weeks (working from home last 2, to isolate during Covid times for Csection) baby decided to come the day after I stopped working. I wasn’t prepared - hadn’t finished off any work either. Definitely give yourself a few weeks!

35 weeks as had annual leave to use up maternity leave started at 37 weeks.

I went off at 37+4 but the last two weeks I really struggled. Depends what you do for work I guess and if you will be on your feet etc much

I'm planning on starting my mat leave at 38 weeks, just in case little one arrives early!

36 weeks and I was sooooooo done! I swear my brain switched off and didn’t work past 2pm at that point 😅

I stopped at 38 weeks and used the next 2 weeks and abit to literally sleep and rest was definitely needed!

Im on maternity leave now. I’ve taken a year off and I have 2 months left until I return to work. My pregnancy was great, no complications so I worked right up until 39.5weeks. I plan to use accrued holiday for a couple of weeks when I’m due back so I won’t actually return until the end of January. If you can, I would work right up until the last minute x

I'm not sure where you are located but here in NJ, I took maternity leave at 36 weeks! I was supposed to go back after 6 months after birth but decided to stay home with my baby until she was about 8 months.

This depends on so many factors like finances, how demanding your job is, how your body is coping with pregnancy etc. with my first I finished 3 weeks before my due date- two weeks annual leave then started mat leave at 39 weeks. The first week I did well relaxing and cleaning the house then the last two weeks I was bored and very unsettled as I was just waiting for baby to come. That being said I'm not sure I could have worked longer, my ankles were very swollen the last few weeks and I was very uncomfortable. But also wouldn't have wanted to finish earlier- I knew I wanted to maximize time after baby and it turned out for me even a year wasn't enough and I quit my job on leave 😅

I’m due Monday next week, my last day is Friday this week 🙈 I’m doing well so far 🤣🙈

It depends how you feel, I’m due early May and using all my annual leave before hand to finish work at 36 weeks. You don’t have to give your employer a date until 15 weeks before your due date

I went off at 36 weeks and I was very very done with work by then. I was so happy I could nap when ever I needed and relax before baby

If I could have worked until 39 weeks I would have but I ended up finishing at 35 weeks due to severe PGP and a return of my 24/7 nausea. I kept having funny turns in work and was in agony so made the decision to finish early

I was going to work until 38 weeks but ended up going off sick at 35 weeks. I work in healthcare, doing shift work and it got too much. But then my baby was born at 41 weeks so I sat at home for all this time and it felt too long. I believe you can always bring your starting date forward if situation changes

I planned to go off a month before my son was due but was signed off for 7 weeks prior to this due to pregnancy related issues. My little boy was almost 5 weeks early and arrived on the day my maternity leave started! I’m also taking the full year but got an extra month with my son him being premature x

I'm due in Feb So maternity leave in jan Weeks holiday first 6th jan , then maternity leave 13th jan

I planned to work until the end, so a week or so before due date but I was super unwell through the pregnancy so I took the rest of my annual leave and left just over a month before my due date on my daughter 2 years ago xx

I finished a week before my due date with both of mine. My first, I was induced 3 days after I finished work and had him 7 days after I broke up. My second came 9 days after I broke up from work. I wanted to work up until the end so that I could have more time with them once they were here and I definitely do not regret it. The last few weeks of work were hard but I wouldn’t change it. I also always had in my head that I could potentially go overdue so didnt want lots of time off before hand and then potentially loose another 2 weeks if they arrived late x

I also took bare minimum holiday whilst pregnant and tagged it on to the end of my mat leave when i dropped to no pay which again was well worth it!

I took mine at 35+4 cause I felt awful but then had pre eclampsia so delivered at 37 bang on 😂xx

I had my first leave at 39 weeks and was fine. My second I had at 38 weeks. I’m a teacher so tried to finish each time based on school term time.

Like two months b4 I had my baby lmaoo

I finished work the day before I was due to be induced (so on my due date) 🙌

I started my official maternity leave at 38 weeks but took 3 weeks annual leave before x

I stopped 2 weeks before my due date, but I was really lucky as work let me work from home and literally only gave me 1hrs work to do each day

I plan to work right up to my due date, my job is extremely physically demanding but I plan on going to desk duties a bit closer to the time when I feel it’s getting too much!

Thanks so much for your responses! Helps so much to get other perspectives

With my first about a week and half before he was born. With my second I’m taking it at 30 weeks for many reasons. One being I’m overworked and not enjoying my job. I have to take eldest to nursery and pick up. I’m not reliant on the money from my stressful job & most importantly I can spend some time with my first born (& potty training) before number 2 arrives

i went off at 36 weeks but had 4 weeks holiday saved up 🙈was well and truly over working especially 12h night shifts but was lucky i did as i had my baby at 37+4

I say listen to your body, I worked up to 4 days before my daughter was born. But I will say my labor was very fast for being my firstborn.

I took mine at 30 weeks and went back to work earlier. I preferred being able to rest and slow down completely before baby arrived as it’s totally full on after.

I'd personally work as close as you can. There's not much to really do beforehand 🤣 I'd much rather have the time before baby. With my first, I finished at 36 but purely because it was covid times and I was working from home permanently and was just bored of it. This time I'm finishing at 37 but then a weeks leave so mat leave from 38 but only as I'm being induced early x

I put my mat leave start date as my due date but took 2 weeks holidays before. I wanted to extend my mat leave so I was off for my babies first birthday x

I was lucky coz I’m a teacher so put my mat leave in to start the day after the Easter hols which was 11 days before my due date so had an extra 2 weeks of holiday. However if that wasnt the case I would have worked up to 38 weeks as would want all the time off I could!

I think 39 weeks is wayyy too late you need time to get your life in order and put your feet up! My first pregnancy i went off at 36 weeks but used a week of annual leave so I only had to use 3 on mat & gave birth 5 days past the due date. This time I’m going to go off 6 weeks early. When I went back I’d accrued over a months worth of annual leave so I didn’t feel I missed out on any time off on the back end with going off 3 weeks before the due date 🫶🏻

I finished work on 30th August and was due 18th September, he ended up arriving 9 days early so I only got a week off work. For me, it was fine but I had an office job so it really depends on your job and how you’re feeling near the end as you can become super uncomfortable and sore x