Registered User
I was 36 weeks when I went on mat leave.
Our work enterprise agreement says that we have to go on mat leave 6 weeks before the due date unless we can get a letter from a Dr saying that we are fit to work. I got a letter signed saying I could work up to 4 weeks before my due date but they were reluctant to sign anything. I found the 4 weeks went really fast and bubs arrived 9 days 'late' anyway.
Hope that helps.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
It was the same in my workplace - had to finish at 36 weeks. I actually found it boring too, but I finished then because I couldn't wait to leave work behind for awhile!
With no 3, I planned to finish 3 weeks early but she decided to come the very night I finished - yep, went into labour at my last team meeting!
I think 3 -4 weeks before you are due is optimal, but the best thing to do is leave some of the planning for those weeks. Most of the time we go nuts and have everything ready by the time we finish work, leaving nothing else to do.
The weeks before baby comes can drag on a little, but its also wonderful time to really slow down, enjoy the anticipation, wash and fold those tiny baby clothes and finish off the nursery. Try not to get everything done too soon ifkwim? Enjoy the pre baby rituals.
Registered User
is really weird, I found out the other day we can't take maternity leave until baby is born..so if we want to stop work before baby comes we have to take annual leave or unpaid leave..how weird is that?
Registered User
is really weird, I found out the other day we can't take maternity leave until baby is born..so if we want to stop work before baby comes we have to take annual leave or unpaid leave..how weird is that?
Registered User
I am lucky as I have a very flexible company that I work for. Plus bump is due in early January. I will stop coming into the office in just 6 weeks, I will be 33 weeks by then, but I will work right up until we break for Christmas but I will do those last 2 weeks from home. So I am on annual leave as per normal and that will take me up until the baby is born (aprox). Then I will be on unpaid maternity leave for 3 months and we will see how we go after that. But the plan is t come back to work after 3 months PT but from home. Then after another 3 months I plan to be back at work FT but a mix of the office and at home. Will see how that plan actually works though!
BellyBelly Member
I went on mat leave at 33 weeks. At 38 weeks I went to Perth to have bubs, so had around 5 weeks at home, it was the hottest March ever so I laid under the AC a lot!
Registered User
That doesnt sound right. You might want to check what the rules are in Vic.
I started my maternity leave at just before 37 weeks. I could have gone right up until the day before Claire was born (I had a good pregnancy with not much discomfort) but I was getting so frustrated with work that I just couldnt wait to get out of there. I spent the first week doing housework, and the second week sleeping, then Claire was born at 38.5 weeks.
Registered User
looks like its quite correct actually, requirement is for 6 weeks maternity leave FROM date of birth! Found the below on a government website
Maternity LeaveEntitlement
Female employees may take between 6 and 52 weeks of maternity leave in one unbroken period. There is a compulsory period of 6 weeks maternity leave following the birth of the baby.
Requirements
An employee must give the correct notice in order to be eligible for maternity leave, except where that notice cannot be given due to the confinement occurring earlier than the expected date:
* at least 10 weeks before the expected date of birth an employee must provide her employer with a medical certificate stating that she is pregnant and the expected date of birth.
* At least 4 weeks before an employee is to commence her maternity leave, she must notify the employer of the proposed commencement date of the maternity leave. She is also required to provide a statutory declaration stating any paternity leave sought or taken by her spouse and her agreement that for the period of maternity leave she will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with her contract of employment.
Registered User
I think last time I finished at 32 weeks and took 6 weeks annual leave first.
This time I'm looking at finishing at 32 weeks again and taking 3 weeks leave before it.
I'm also adding on 4 weeks leave without pay, so I will be off for 60 weeks, which is in our agreement.
MrsC, I think it means that, as a minimum you have to take at least 6 weeks leave from the birth, so that you would have had your 6 week check-up and be cleared to work again after the birth, if you chose to do so.
You are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave or you can have as little as 6 weeks. It's your choice how long and when you start it.
Registered User
Yep, I am pretty sure it means you have to take at least 6 weeks off after the birth of your baby. They wouldnt make you work right up until the day your baby is born. You just have to give them 4 weeks notice of the actual date you want to start your leave.
I remember when I was applying for my maternity leave, they told me I had to start my maternity leave 6 weeks before my babys due date, but if I got a medical certificate to say I was fit to work later than that then I could... so I did and I worked till 37 weeks. But either way, I had to have the first 6 weeks off after she was born.
Registered User
I went on Mat leave 6 weeks before my due date. DD came 4 days early. I feel it was just right for me. I got to have a break before I had DD. I ended up quitting my job a week before DD was born coz I didn't want to travel all the way to the city for work when I had a baby at home. Now DD is 7 months and I work 10mins from home and have been full time ever since DD was 4 months old. I love it!
Registered User
I went on mat leave when I was 37 weeks. I gave birth at 38 4 so I got a week and a half off work before bubs was born.
The last couple of weeks were a little hard, particularly the last week. I had swollen feet and it got really uncomfortable walking around and I had to go bare foot around the office sometimes as my shoes wouldn't fit.
Registered User
I will be finishing when I am 38 weeks - so 2 weeks b4 bub is due! I am tiered now but I have a desk job and I would rather have the leave after bub than b4. I am looking fwd to finishing now tho!
I work for a pirvate company so I am taking all the AL that I have accrued (7 weeks) and having it part pay for 14 weeks then the reminder of the 6 months off at no pay. Then back to work 3 days a week - thats the plan now - but who knows!!
Registered User
Two weeks before DD was due - I would have finished a couple of weeks before that though because I was really tired but I had pelvic instability so it was actually easier going to work (they paid for taxis woohoo) rather than sitting at home unable to do any nesting because I couldn't bend or lift anything. I found I was virtually comatose at work until about 11am though so I wasn't super productive!!!
Registered User
I was supposed to leave at 34 weeks (I worked for Qld Govt) but went into pre-term labour at 31 weeks so had to go on immediate maternity leave and on bed rest. I thought at the time "woo hoo, TV and sleeping and lazing around the pool for 9 weeks". That thought lasted two days, there is only a certain amount of lazing and watching TV a girl can do (IMO anyway, feel free to disagree). I think 34 weeks would have been good.
I'm still on maternity at the moment and am 20 weeks pregnant again so not going back to work.
Registered User
I finished up at 35 weeks on the dot (it was a friday so good timing LOL!). i absolutely enjoyed the time off. it gave me a chance to organise the baby shower at 36 weeks and prepare the invites for our wedding etc. i also used the time to just chill and do some relaxed and indulgent baby stuff shopping.
DD arrived at 38+2 weeks, so i was quite shocked! (being my 1st i just assumed i would be over). so next time i might go off a bit earlier, especially as i will have DD tiring me out as well as work.
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