How many weeks will you be....

[Bunny432]

(Sorry popping over from Tri 2)

When you leave / left for mat leave?

I know it's all very personal on when and why you leave, due to the jobs you work in and how you're body is feeling but I was just wondering when you all are planning leave?

I currently 25 weeks and struggling with back pain already, midwife did say I may find it hurts sooner with me being such a small frame, I could adapt to this soon I suppose but with me working in a sales store on our feet all day with not too many staff I'm starting to wonder wether I should leave earlier.

I'm currently booked to leave at 35 weeks pregnant, but won't actually start mat leave till my due dat as I have holidays to take first. I was planning on leaving at 33 weeks but manager asked me to stay as he and our only full timer are off the 2 last weeks of July so I agreed but the more I think about it the harder I think it'll be on me, There will only be 4 staff, assistant manager , me and 2 10'hour students. This surely means more work for me?! So now I don't know wether to go at 33 like I previously wanted and just tell them to get cover.

Sorry for the waffle haha x x x

 

[buggy1]

I'll be 38+2 when I finish. I work from home mostly but have to go in to the office once a week.

With my first I worked past my due date, just from home as I was bored waiting for her to arrive!

 

[Pismo]

I started mat leave at 34 weeks - I'm a nurse and shift pattern was 14.5hour shifts with 90% of it rushing around on my feet and a fair amount of manual handling. Physically I was ready as I was getting so tired and sore. Mentally I could have carried on for a couple of weeks as got bored quickly

HTH a little

x

 

[dolly26]

I am leaving at 30 weeks and taking 7 weeks holidays and starting mat leave at 37 weeks xx

 

[Browneyed Girl]

I'm leaving at 36+4 but I'm taking a weeks holiday so mat leave will officially start at 37+5. I have a desk job though so it's not difficult physically, I do have to be out of the last 11/12 hours a day though just to work 7 hours as I do quite a bit of travelling to get there and back. My oh may need to start driving me in for the last few weeks to make it a bit easier.

If I'm struggling I might leave earlier though. I think you've got to put yourself first, if you want to finish at 33 weeks you're entitled to do so. There's no point putting yourself through agony to try and make things easier for work, they can make other arrangements! xx

 

[claire2602]

Im leaving at 35wks and mat is starting then. Having holiday paid to me xxxx

 

[Emapot1]

I left my first job with my first baby at 35 weeks. I did plan at 37 weeks to go but they decided I was to exhausted for it. I never returned however I now work for myself so will continue to work for myself until I labour as its all home based/office based which is down my road. If I go into labour there it's fine because my husband owns the shop so the mess won't offend anyone if waters break...only him hahahahahha lol x

 

[Emapot1]

Too*

 

[kumber]

I am already off on maternity - it was meant to be at 29 weeks but I was signed off sick at 25 weeks for 14 days, so they started my maternity as soon as my sick leave finished. I work in a vey understaffed, highly stressful restaurant and with having my lb on my own all day and heading straight out the door as soon as hubby walked in to do an evening shift, it was all getting a bit too exhausting!

 

[Hawthorn]

39+3 but I don't recommend it!

 

[twinkletoes220]

I will be 38+2 when I finish!! Only 4 weeks of work to go x

 

[littlemonkey]

Do what suits you and not work. Only you can judge how you're feeling and when it's time to finish.

First time I finished at 37 weeks and was physically knackered by then. Second time around I finished at 34 weeks and again was exhausted by this point. I'm glad I finished as early as I did cos I ended up in hospital at 37 weeks for a week then having baby at 38 weeks! I've been saying recently I wish I'd had more time off before having baby.

 

[ShowingPromise]

38 weeks! No idea if I'll manage it, but the time will be more useful to me when baby is here. Plus I get bored easily and there is only so much nesting I can do! If all goes to plan then I'll be on two weeks hol from end of July and mat leave will start the day I'm due.
It's a personal decision which should be based on your own circumstances, there isn't a right or wrong time to go as long as you think through all the options and pros/cons etc.

 

[Miss_impatient]

I think I might be crazy but I'm working to 39+4... I have an office job and will be put on wind down duties anyway. Plus, I live really close to work and can easily get there by bus. I'm also closer to the hospital if I do actually go in to labour!

 

[Rainbow1234]

I'll be 37 weeks. I'm using 2 and a half weeks ann leave from there and starting mat leave from 39+5 x

 

[Bunny432]

Thanks ladies !

Well spoke to manager and he said I can't leave any earlier now as it's all booked in. So 36 weeks it is with mat leave starting on due date and I don't plan on going back x x x

 

[becky85]

I'll be 37+2 when I stop working but I'm taking 7 days annual leave so will not start official mat leave until 39 weeks. It feels a bit late but I work close to home and am office based and would rather save my leave until after baby is here (although I am hoping for a few days to myself beforehand to sleep and get some energy back but will have to see). Currently feeling fine at 28+1 but I have no doubt a lot can change over the next few weeks so I may regret it

 

[Belfa]

I've saved up annual leave so I'm stopping at the end of this week (at 36 weeks) and taking annual leave until baby is born. I have 5 weeks leave so that will see me until 41 weeks if I go over! Had a bit of a wobble the past couple of weeks and felt that I could work on but after a wee trip to triage last night I have convinced myself that I am stopping at the right time x

 

[littlemonkey]

Thanks ladies !

Well spoke to manager and he said I can't leave any earlier now as it's all booked in. So 36 weeks it is with mat leave starting on due date and I don't plan on going back x x x

He's talking nonsense. You are perfectly entitled to change the date you start mat leave as long as you give them a certain amount of notice, I think it's four weeks but check on somewhere like direct.gov to be sure. They can't refuse this just cos it doesn't suit them. Obviously its would be different if you wanted to take annual leave to finish earlier, this they can refuse.

 

[Natalie_reid]

Ill be coming up for 37 weeks. Trying to work up aslong as possible. 30 weeks tommorow n cant be bothered with work anymore lol xx