How much maternity leave

[JustTrying]

So ladies I hae asked this question before but how much time are you intending to take?

I told my employer today I am pregnant and he is being so supportive. I was crying so much because I feel like I have let him down considering I only joined the company 2 months ago.

He's happy for me to take upto a year off which is very kind of him however I am not entitled to maternity pay from this company and was leaning towards 6 months however I need to work out finances first and see whether I can afford it.

How much are you taking off?

Also how long are you working till? I intend to work until a week before due date.

 

[BabyRuth]

Hi just trying how did your scan go the other day? I'm taking at least 10 months, hopefully a year, just depends if I can afford that final 2 months ... right now as fast as we are trying to save, we are having to spend it to cover bills as hubie is self employed and income is hit and miss... it's so frustrating! Really want to take the Whole year off but will have to see.. I'm lucky in that I would get 7 months full pay (6months plus holiday pay) so it's a bit easier to bridge the gap xxx

 

[BabyRuth]

Ps I'm due 16th Feb and hoping to work until end of Jan xx

 

[CARNAT22]

I'm taking 9 months then tacking on a months annual leave so it will be 10 months. Finish mid Jan 2018 (some annual leave to take here) and back end of Nov 2018.

X

 

[Alipops1986]

I'm due 10th Jan - will stop work on 20th December, then have two weeks hols, so starting maternity leave officially on 1/01/18.
Will be taking roughly 6 months, back early July. Husband then having roughly 4 months off for shared parental leave. As, due to finances this makes sense.

 

[Mayflower85]

I only get statutory maternity pay, so I'll be taking the 39 weeks paid and adding my remaining annual leave on the end.

 

[TORino]

I'm taking a full year off. I'm the breadwinner and earn double what my partner does and will likely have to go back to work full time afterwards so I want a whole year with the baby.

Last day working will be 22nd December. I have 24 days annual leave then mat leave will start. I didn't want to come back to work after Xmas so I'm going off at 34 weeks something. Hopefully the baby will come early lol.

 

[Boobaby]

I'm in a similar situation to you JT, I've only been with my company 3 1/2 months, it was my dream job and a big promotion for me to take this job. When I told my boss I cried too, and really felt I had let them down, but they have been amazing, they are happy for me to have a year and go back part time if I feel I want to.

My OH and I both earn a similar amount, he's self employed though, but the deal is I try to save as much as I can before baby arrives, he's going to match it and that's my money to live on for the year. But the agreement is if I need more cash he will support me, I've offered to do his office paperwork for him so I don't feel like I'm sponging off of him (I'm a Financial Controller in work world so I'm more than capable, but he won't let me! (I don't think he likes letting go of the control) Haha). The biggest killer is the flat rate £140 per week from the government...I'm slightly gutted as if I was still at my old company I would be entitled to 5 months full pay...but then I don't think I'd have got pregnant due to the stress I was under.

My plan is to finish early Feb 2018, I'll then be owed my holiday pay in December that I've accumulated for the year, plus I'm going to use my KIT days in December and January to support the year end audit, then back to work probably 4 days a week from February.

 

[Beauandhamish]

I'll be taking the 39 weeks I get paid, going off 23rd December as didn't want to work over xmas and then using two weeks holiday first. Will use what remaining holiday I have before I return x

 

[Loveandpeace]

I get 5 months full pay then 4 months SMP. I'll then also have 6 weeks and 3 says annual leave to take so thats almost 11 months. If we can afford it a full year would be ideal as its time with the baby that you can never get back.
Someone advised if you want longer to take sick but I would feel bad doing that.........
I want to go back part time but we want to have another baby soon after also so I will probably go back full time with the hope of being pregnant again so I can get the benefits of maternity again for another year lol.

 

[JustTrying]

Hi just trying how did your scan go the other day? I'm taking at least 10 months, hopefully a year, just depends if I can afford that final 2 months ... right now as fast as we are trying to save, we are having to spend it to cover bills as hubie is self employed and income is hit and miss... it's so frustrating! Really want to take the Whole year off but will have to see.. I'm lucky in that I would get 7 months full pay (6months plus holiday pay) so it's a bit easier to bridge the gap xxx

hey, it went very well except baby is measuring big. Not something a first time mother wants to hear

wow you are extremely lucky with 7 months pay and also you will save so much on childcare costs.

 

[JustTrying]

Ps I'm due 16th Feb and hoping to work until end of Jan xx

thats good, you get 2 weeks rest xx

 

[JustTrying]

I'm taking 9 months then tacking on a months annual leave so it will be 10 months. Finish mid Jan 2018 (some annual leave to take here) and back end of Nov 2018.

X

you will be enjoying the full summer

 

[JustTrying]

I'm taking a full year off. I'm the breadwinner and earn double what my partner does and will likely have to go back to work full time afterwards so I want a whole year with the baby.

Last day working will be 22nd December. I have 24 days annual leave then mat leave will start. I didn't want to come back to work after Xmas so I'm going off at 34 weeks something. Hopefully the baby will come early lol.

a year is fantastic. Very jealous.

Was your first also early?

Im just assuming I will be overdue because its my first.

 

[Hollyhotlips]

Hey Hun, I worked up until 38 weeks with DD and she was 10 days late so I was soooo bored but this time I am taking annaual leave for 3 weeks an the maternity leave will start at 39 weeks so I have a month off before baby arrives! I know I am going to be exhausted this time with 3yo to run around after still lol
I get 18 weeks full pay then up to 9 months statutory allowance. I can then use AL during the unpaid period to get some extra cash so I will hope to have 12 months off and need to save £7K to cover it all! Good luck xx

 

[MrsS15]

I've been going round and round with this question too but I think I've finally decided. I'm finishing work at 34 weeks and taking 5 weeks accrued annual leave to take me to 39 weeks then starting maternity leave. I can't carry my annual leave over so may as well use it before hand. I'm a children's nurse on a really busy surgical ward doing 12.5hr night shifts so I know come 34 weeks I'll be desperate to finish! I'm then taking 11 months off and tagging another 4 weeks annual leave on the end so I'll be back January 2019! We get a good maternity package and can spread our payments equally over however many months we want so although my wage will be less at the start than it would if I took the normal payment plan, it means I get paid every month I'm off. I'm trying to take as long as I can as this will most likely be our last baby and was long awaited. We'll need to make cut backs but will be all worth it 7 weeks left to work eek xx

 

[TORino]

I'm taking a full year off. I'm the breadwinner and earn double what my partner does and will likely have to go back to work full time afterwards so I want a whole year with the baby.

Last day working will be 22nd December. I have 24 days annual leave then mat leave will start. I didn't want to come back to work after Xmas so I'm going off at 34 weeks something. Hopefully the baby will come early lol.

a year is fantastic. Very jealous.

Was your first also early?

Im just assuming I will be overdue because its my first.

My first was a due date baby. I've been told I def won't go over 40 weeks and they may induce me at 39 weeks. But all depends on how it's growing due to this Papp A thing I have,

You could go over with it being your first but it doesn't always follow. Check your hospital policy, mine doesn't let you go past 40+6 now.

 

[Loopylou1980]

When i left work to have my son i already decided that i would be taking off the full year, I`am lucky enough to recieve enchanced maternity pay from my company so i`am on full pay, However i have just told my employer that i`am expecting again & as my maternity leave doesnt run out until the 9th of December i will then be going on annual leave & then straight back onto maternity leave at full pay again for another year then ill be returning back to work, I feel like ive won the lottery This is my last baby & i`am absolutely loving it

When i had my 1st child i had to return back to work when she was three months old as i just couldnt survive on the statutory maternity pay.

If your not entitled to statutory maternity pay through your employer & your working you can apply for maternity allowance from the goverment instead its worth the same as statutory maternity pay its just the goverment pay it directly to you.

 

[Firsttimemumx]

Those of you in employment but not entitled to maternity pay through the company may be able to claim through Dwp so double check on the gov website xx