Maternity Leave

[vixnix]

Hi all, just nees some advice on maternity leave. Work have asked me when I'd be looking at taking my leave, but i don't know what to do for the best. My baby girl is due on Monday 29th July and I will have 3 weeks and 2 days holiday left to take before maternity starts. My boss said i can take them in block then start straight after. Can anybody recommend any dates? I know its personal preference but I don't want too long off before the big day or i'll go out of my mind waiting around. Thank you.

[zara2010]

It definitely depends on your line of work and how you feel.

I have an office job and I had intended to work right up to 38 wks but take maternity pay from my due date as I have 2 wks holidays to use. After a week off just recently I absolutely loved being at home with my DF, exercising and doing the things I cant while at work like resting. My DF works nights so we never see eachother so some time with him before baby would be great and he will only get 2 wks paternity when I go into labour. Im a very organised person and I would love to be completely ready for my baby boys arrival about 2 wks before Im due - Im now re-thinking of starting my leave at 36/37 wks. Which means only 10wks left to work :D

We are getting married in Oct 2013 which means that we are basically saving on one wage from August so it wil be tough for us. I get 6 wks full pay in my work then Stat Maternity pay for a further 33wks which is less than half my current wage now. I definitely want to be at home as long as I can with him then maybe go back part time if we can do it financially x

[mommy2724]

I'm not sure how I'm gonna do maternity leave because I didn't have to go thru it with my first child but I will recommend to everyone to fill out the FMLA paperwork like I'm doing to protect your job while ur on leave. That way they can't fire you while your on leave or say u abandoned your job. Some jobs are shady lol

[LittleMamaBear]

I think it depends on your pregnancy and nature of your job. For me, I've had an easygoing, normal pregnancy so far, and I have a pretty laid back office job, so I'm working up until the week the baby is due. Things might change between now and early- mid July, but that's the plan so far.

[cristina3065]

With my 1st child I worked all the way thru pregnancy but that was  13yrs ago and I had a cushy office job. Now I work for UPS and they allow me to start disability at 20weeks which is a good thing because i'm getting too big to be bending, lifting, and throwing boxes! I still have 2 vacation weeks left so I'll be taking one extra after my 6weeks of maternity leave (if I have a vaginal delivery of course) and one during the Thanksgiving holiday

[Dolphin05]

I only worked while pregnant with my 2nd and at that time I planned to take my leave as of 1 week before due date. However I went into labor at 33 weeks while at work. I took 1 week off and then returned to work as my son was in NICU. When he came home I took 2 weeks off and back to work I went. I know I must sound crazy but I was 19 and a single mom, so I had no choice.

[gilkesy]

for my first baby I worked right up until 2 weeks before my due date since have a desk job and was 4 days late. this time around I am hoping to finish up work exactly a month before my due date. with a 2 year old running around I am more exhausted this time and need more time to potentially get some rest. hope I dont deliver early!!!!

[2ndbaby162]

I'm taking a month off before my due date. That month before my first was a god send to put my feet up and not be all stressed out with work. My girl arrived a week early anyway but I could have happily had that extra week. With all the little things to sort it flew by. I'm really looking forward to taking leave before baby this time. Won't be as relaxing with a 3 yr old around but it will be no stress which will make me feel so much better before baby arrives. It gives me time for the whole pregnancy to sink in and appreciate that there's another baby on the way. Dropping the two hour commute I do will be amazing! :-) I'd recommend  taking as much time as you can so you can relax and have you time - that disappears for the first couple of years of having a kid :-) enjoy x

[stephns]

Im having a similar issue. Only i just started a new job and i havent told them im pregnant yet. I have no clue what theyre going to let me have off and im scared