At how many weeks did you all start maternity leave????

[*CLAIREBEAR*]

Hi!
My HR department are asking how long i want to work for,im not really sure when to start this??
i do a full time job,it is office based so im sat down all day,which sounds easy but i am finding even now i am getting bad backache.
any suggestions??
im just telling them for now that i'll see how i feel but i think they may want something more accurate then that!!

 

[EllieBelle]

Im not working (having recently returned to the UK after living in France and was 4 months pregnant when we got home).

All that said I can comment that over the last week or so I have noticed a real difference in my energy levels, how uncomfortable it is to drive and just sit, and the fact that my lungs are obviously being squished as I sometimes feel quite suffocated, and this has only been in the last few days.

I was only thinking the other day if I was still working I would be quitting just about now

Saying that I think everyone is different, and really depends on the job - one of my good friends worked until a week before her due date, but she worked at home and could lie on the bed with her laptop all day if she wanted to!

 

[Naterjack]

Ive been off work a week now but i have accrued holiday to take -so

Official mat leave for me starts at 38 weeks but with holiday it started at 35 weeks
I work from home and actually found last week rather boring, but i am getting tired in the afternoons so i am glad i finished early

 

[lisaspoon]

Hi there!

I too have an office job and sit down the majority of the time... finding I am getting stiff etc in my back and legs when I stand up, and get uncomfortable when bubs starts kicking and wriggling around my ribs! Cant seem to create enough room for him/her!

anyway....I'm finishing up at christmas on the 24th when I'll be 34 and half weeks.... cant be bothered going back after xmas either! Official mat leave starts on 5th january for me which I'll be 36 weeks.

I guess you have to go with what your body is telling you.... I would give them a date if they are bugging you for one, but remember it can always be changed

 

[Petra]

I finished yesterday.. also office based job putting strain on my back. I was ok until 33 weeks, the last two weeks have nearly killed me..

 

[chickadee1976]

32 probably to early as im bored now, but i hated my job

 

[Melly+2]

I worked in a busy local pub, left last week at 31 weeks

 

[trixipaws]

i started maternity leave at 36 weeks, but i took the 3 weeks annual leave i had left before that too, so finished working at 33 weeks. i'm an office worker too. x

 

[LisaJ1986]

Also office, but did alot of driving to DVLA and other garages, and i left the day i turned 39 weeks.

 

[XXAmyXX]

I have 5 more shifts 2 go!! Work full time as a nurse, really tired now. I have 2 weeks hols so mat leave will offiacially start at 35 weeks i think xxx

 

[Bee]

I stopped working at 36 weeks. Easter holidays started then so didn't have much choice. I was working 2 jobs right till then. Finlay arrived at 37+1 Didn't have much time off

 

[widowwadman]

They've almost made me redundant at 31 weeks (including a week of paid leave while going through the process), but thankfully I managed to convince them not to let me go. At 31 weeks I certainly did not feel ready to be at home already and it was a relief to be allowed back to work.

I'm planning to work for another 2 and a half weeks, which will take me to 37 weeks and a bit. Then I'll use up my annual leave and the official ML starts a day before my due date.As I've got a desk job it doesn't bother me too much and I'd rather save the time to spend with Horatio after the birth, then slugging around and getting bored before.

 

[Alicebabe]

I stopped work at 35 weeks (actually taking 5 saved up weeks of annual leave - starting actual mat leave on due date). I am a theatre nurse and the job was killing me - couldn't have done any more!

 

[Bexie]

With my first I had planned on finishing work at 40 weeks but on the reccommedation of my consultant finished at 37 weeks, she wanted me to finish earlier, I didn't realise until I finished how much I needed it. With this pregnancy I finished at 34 weeks which was a wise move as I have been so tired (plus complications meant I should be taking things easy). Only you know how you feel in yourself, but I wouldn't reccommend working up to your due date, you need to try and conserve some energy before the baby arrives.

Good luck.

 

[carlyr874]

I am finishing in 3 weeks just before Chrimbo - I will be 32 weeks, I have really found it a struggle the last few weeks, and working in an office too, my ribs are absolutely killing me by the end of the day with baby pressing up against them and also my back kills! It can't come soon enough - I did actually start to consider finishing even earlier! I am no doubt ready to finish! x

 

[emmie]

i was supposed to finish at 36 weeks but i was signed of at 34 weeks, seems like ive been off forever though, i have a very busy week planned this week so hopefully this week will fly by then only a week to go (hopefully)

 

[Jezzabond]

Hi

I started maternity leave at 36 weeks but at week 35 wished it could have been then although they refused as it was short notice. I was in agony with my back and strapped my fluffy hot water bottle to my chair back to help.

Mine was a desk job too but I had back problerms pre-pregnancy so I knew it would just get worse. I am taking a year off so should go back in November 2009.

See how you feel but if they push for a decision I would maybe suggest 34-35 weeks. Depends on how big you are and how far you need to walk to say your car, the bus or whatever after work. I found it a real strain on my pelvis also and was quite painful to walk even short distances. Even walking slowly I'd get a stitch so I wish I could have finished sooner than 36 weeks.

 

[millie15]

This was one of my problems too - deciding when to take ML. In the end I waS 35+4. Being at home has taken some getting used to, but I'm glad I stopped work as I am so exhausted and my sleep patterns are haywire! I might have managed another week if I was in a sit down job, but I teach 4/5 year olds so rarely get to sit down! I think if I had a job where I never got to sit down, like in a bar or something I would have definately gone earlier!! The last week was a struggle but the knowledge that it was my last week got me through!

 

[firstangel]

Finishin on 23rd December, for hols then Mat leave starts on 5th January, Really feel like I need it now, as havin so much hip pain

 

[gracie]

Hi

I'm planning to finish on the 18th Dec but thats only because i've got just over 4 weeks hols to take. I think that makes me 36 weeks when i officially start my mat leave.

Grace xx