When did you start your maternity leave?

[azure_dragon]

I'm due on the 13th November, and have planned to start my maternity leave on the 1st November. I do wish to hang on for as long as I can so I get more time with little one next year, but as time goes on I'm getting more and more tired and some days I feel I could start my maternity leave now! My work involves a fair amount of walking about, and

Comments

[x_cybergoth_x]

I planned to go on, and went on maternity leave at 36 weeks

[hfnuala]

This time, I planned to go a month before my due date and was signed off work for most of the two months before that. My work could have forced me to start my maternity leave early but luckily didn't.

The first time I officially started on my due date but took 3 weeks holiday before hand - do you have any unused holidays to do something similar?

[azure_dragon]

My first two weeks maternity are actually annual leave, which is easier to change last-minute. I've got a whole more saved I can plop on the front if I want to go earlier, or I can cancel it if I want to stay longer. Nice flexible workplace! :)

[peke]

My due date was 05/01/10 and as other people were on holiday over Christmas/New Year I intended to work until then/whenever she arrived.

I ended up starting my maternity leave on the 16th of December. I was too tired, cranky, prone to bursting into tears and my blood pressure was starting to rocket.

In hindsight, if/when we have another one, I think I'd plan to start leave no later than 36 weeks.

[azure_dragon]

I'm leaning towards 36 or 37 weeks - it seems that much more doable than waiting until the start of November which, right now, feels a world away!

[little_laura]

With my first baby, I started maternity leave at 36 weeks. I was so fed up and tired/achy by then that I just couldn't go any longer.

I'm due at the end of January with this one and intend to finish at Christmas. I commute 120 miles a day to work now so there's no way I want to be doing that after 36 weeks. I already have really bad SPD so here's hoping I make it to 36 weeks.

[ibbs]

Hi, I was due on the 13th November too, but 2007 :-)
Just dug out my old calendar and it says my last day at work was 9th October! I had a week of 'holiday' time then started maternity leave on the 17th... so at 36 weeks. He wasnt actually born until November 29th tho... so in the end I had a bit too much time off work before hand, but it was really nice to be able to relax and have plenty of time to get everything ready, not to mention the nice holiday me and DH went on (we stayed in a nice hotel not too far from home and read books, swam, ate nice food and napped lots!)
(we also have the same height difference, I'm 5'2 and DH is 6'2 so i get the huge bump feeling!!)