when did/will everyone start maternity leave?

[flower]

Hi!

I was just wondering when the rest of you started or are planning on starting maternity leave. i was hoping on working to the end of august, but im totally shattered at the moment. I work in a shop and we have to do ten hour shifts, so i basically dont get to sit down all day.... and i live in spain and its absolutely boiling at the moment! i really want to start my leave no but my boss is being funny about it because she hasnt found a replacement yet, and now says i have to give her 21 days notice, even though before we had arranged that i would just stop working when i felt it was becoming too much. Sorry to go on about it, im just so fed up at the moment im dying to stop working!

 

[Snuggle]

I've started mine already, well actually I'm currently on annual leave til end of month which is when maternity starts

 

[Sabrina]

I started my maternity leave at 35 weeks. I was originally going to work till 38 weeks but, like you, I got tired working and wasn't feeling well.

I took 3 weeks annual leave before starting the maternity leave proper.

Not sure how the rules are in Spain but in UK they can enforce that you give them at least 4 weeks notice to change dates if they really want to. Depends how nice your employer is I suppose.

I hope you can get to finish early.

 

[flower]

thanks for your replies girls.
I guess i will just have to work another few weeks and hope i dont get too tired! I wish by boss was a little bit nicer!

 

[Nicola]

I stopped working about 3 years ago....not maternity leave just very early "retirement" I suppose. I don't know how you ladies cope with working once you hit the later days of T3 I really don't, hats off to you I just don't think I'd cope I'm exhausted.

 

[Baileysmummy]

i started 21st june..... which worked out well with me i suppose cos baby arrived 26th june

 

[Tangerinedream]

I finished work at 34 weeks

 

[smurf]

I finish the end of next week when I will be 37 weeks. I can't wait. I was originally planning on working til 38 or 39 weeks but am knackered so delighted only have these last two weeks to go.

 

[Vickyleigh]

I am a bank Auxiliary nurse in the main hospital round here. All my shifts are booked over the internet and I choose the ward I work on and the hours I do. If I want time off then I don't have to book it off I just don't book any shifts.
As soon as I found out I was pregnant I stopped booking shifts because of all the nasty viruses and MRSA that go round.

 

[eightball]

I'm stopping this friday and sooo ready to finish.
I really hope you get to leave when you want, it's not like your boss hasn't had plenty of notice to think about getting a replacement.
Don't over do it, and take time off ill if you're feeling too worn out, keeping yourself well is the most important thing!

 

[pigletpoo]

I had to stop when I was 16 weeks

I work with young offenders and young people in care, and because of the violent aspect and the fact we have to restrain, I was not allowed to continue. I have been sooooooo bored!!

But I couldnt be working now, I am knackered all the time and get that many pains!!

to those of you still working!

Piglet xx

 

[weenik]

My maternity leave starts on my due date, 5th Sept but I'm stopping work on 10th August because I've got annual leave to take first! I've got a few holidays booked in between now and 10th Aug, and only work 4 days a week (10.5 hours) so I've really only got 8 full days left at work. I'm looking forward to finishing but am making sure I've got things to do over the 4 weeks because I hate being bored!

Hope you get to stop soon flower - I don't have to stand all day; I wouldn't be able to stand all day xx

 

[mayday]

I'm still working! My lovely employer doesn't believe in maternity pay so I will get SMP only for the time I am off - which won't even pay my council tax bill let alone the mortgage.

I've got a 4hr simulator session tonight, a 2hr sim tomorrow and an end of work report to write, which I can do at home. It amuses me when I get to the sim and see the look of horror on the pilots' faces - I tell them not to thump their landings in too hard or it could start things off. I've never seen such smooth landings .

I did make a bit of a tactical error though when I got pregnant. Your grounded pay through pregnancy is determined by you last 3 months salary before you get pregnant (we get paid an hourly rate.) I didn't know this and had been on holiday twice in the preceding 3 months, so my pay was down a bit. What I should have done was overtime till it was coming out my ears! Then I would have earned I higher sum, and been able to take maternity leave at a bit more sensible time.

 

[smurf]

Aw Mayday you poor thing I am in the same boat I only get 6 weeks at 90% then the wonderful SMP which is rubbish and the reason I and working til 37 weeks but cos I've got SPD I physically can't go on any longer the loos are miles away from my desk and it takes me ages to walk out there.

 

[clairescunny55]

i am leaving next sat, and cant bloody wait lol

 

[leckershell]

I left at 30/31 weeks.. I had 4 weeks of annual leave to take beforehand so this week is my first actual week of 'maternity leave'. The commuting was doing me in more than my actual work was.

 

[Clydesdaleclopper]

I'm stopping 2 weeks before my due date for the actual maternity leave but I've got 5 weeks of annual leave to take before that so I finish at the end of next week. I'm lucky that term has finished though cos I wouldn't have been able to go in and carry on. I'm working from home at the moment but I'm not getting much done as the SPD means I get very uncomfortable sat at my desk.

 

[flower]

Wow! im amazed at how many of you have carried on working right until the end! it think that must take a lot of strength. i mean, just the thought of working up until 39 weeks exhausts me! Well done ladies for being such strong pregnant women!

 

[nikkif]

i finish at the end of next week !! can't wait

 

[elaine22]

I took maternity leave as early as i could which i think was 29 weeks but my last 3 weeks was annual leave. i did plan on working til 34/5 weeks but i was working with people with learning disabilities who were liable to be violent at times and i just felt more and more vulnerable. i also had to do a long shift once or twice a week where i'd work 3pm-10.30pm, sleep ( like thats possible on a crappy futon with baby kicking all night lol) over then do 7.30-3.00 the next day. i'm so glad i finished when i did lol.