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

[azure_dragon]

I am worried about being bored - nesting only creates so many little jobs around the home! Plus at work I can try and ensure I sit down as much as possible, whereas at home I KNOW I'd end up hoovering, cutting the lawn, gardening, walking around and generally making myself ache. It's a difficult one to call... :)

[ias]

I planned and went on mat leave at 38 weeks with the garklet (who wasn't born until 42+1) so I had four weeks of hanging around.

However I also used work's 'voluntary reduced hours' scheme to work 50% from 32 weeks as I thought I might be feeling it a bit by then (only 4'10 tall, spouse a foot taller, bump was massive plus the time of year was induction of new students so on my feet almost constantly). As it happened I wasn't feeling that bad and worked approx. 90% time but rather than getting paid for the extra time I worked (too complicated with our systems), I kept a record of it and took it as TOIL at the end of my mat leave which worked out fine.

[bizarro_chick]

Mine is due 26th of December, but my maternity leave starts on the 8th of October.

However, since last Thursday, I'm currently on enforced annual leave until then, as I'm planning to take a full year off (UK law says I'm entitled to.) and they can't carry over my leave entitlement until then, so I have to take it all now (Our companies financial year runs September to September).

I'm taking my maternity leave this early due to the fact that my job has me on my feet all day in an extremely stressful environment, and they are unable to offer me a comfortable alternative - which is no help, as I have Sciatica (since before pregnancy, but is now exacerbated by it) as well as a couple of other medical conditions, which mean if I'd signed off sick, they would have automatically started me off early anyway.

[habzamaphone]

I'm due 4th December. Due to go on maternity leave on December 1st. However, I am taking 4.5 weeks of annual leave beforehand, so it works out to leaving at 35 weeks.

[katherineh]

My maternity leave was due to start on the 14th July (baby due on 22nd July) although I chose to use up two weeks annual leave so I actually finished work at the end of June. My daughter was born on the 10th July so I lost a few days holiday.