When should I take maternity leave?

[AnxiousGurl]

So im about 21 weeks and havent told my job (nanny to 4year old twins) just because last time I gave the parents plenty of time (atleast a month's notice) when I had to leave for school. They screwed me over and found someone the next day. Now, I understand that you gotta do what you gotta do and she had to get someone to watch her children, but she knew it was a month's notice. I just felt like they could have atleast given me 2 more weeks worth of work and/or pay.
Anyway, they have 2 golden retrievers that are not trained and have the tendency to jump up sometimes, the fur is everywhere.......my back hurts, and I just cant wait til I get a break. lol sorry if it sounds like im complaining, but when do you typically take maternity leave? Pretty soon it's going to be warm out and I can no longer where big hoodies, so pretty soon im just going to have to tell them. I dont plan on working up until my due date, I just dont know when a good time would be to actually leave (Like the next  day, in case they screw me over again) ?What do you think>?

[AnxiousGurl]

The kids are going into kindergarten in Sept so I wont be working for them after I have the baby. I'm not really trying to hide it so much, its just that I dont want to be screwed out of a job. I really cant afford to leave early
We do have a great relationship, I have been watching their children since they were 4months old, its just a matter of when to tell them hoping they wont get someone else right away.

[AnxiousGurl]

Well, I wont be able to hide it much longer!! So far im able to is bc its still chilly out, so i wear an oversized hoody, once it gets warm out forget about it, they will know right away without question!!

[songinmind]

Are you hoping/planning to return to this job after you give birth?  I think that would impact when I decided to work through.

If you are hoping to return to work with this family afterwards, it would be a really nice gesture if you had a friend or colleague who could cover for you during your leave.  That way, you'd have a better chance of returning and not starting your 'leave' immediately.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

It really just depends.  Typically I think women leave as close to their due dates as possible becuase most only get 6 or 8 weeks total of maternity leave.  But it's really a personal choice.  I think if you can afford to leave earlier then it should be based on how you feel.  I have always worked up until I gave birth, with the exception of last time, I started my leave about 5 days before.  But keep in mind the longer you hide it the more betrayed they are probably gonna feel becuase you hid it from them so long.  Being a nanny is more of a personal job than working for a company.  It's more intimate, so they may feel a little offended that you didn't confide in them sooner.  But that depends on the type of peopel they are.  

[jschoch8]

I cant believe you can still hide it! People at work already asked me if im pregnant so I couldnt hide it anymore. I am leaving my 35th week. I work an hour away, so I dont want anything to happen while im all the way out here, otherwise, id probably work up till the end (pretty low stress desk job). It all depends on how you feel.