When did you start maternity leave?

[BekZ]

I worked till 35wks. At the time my office had no aircon and it was coming into summer, needless to say I was huge due to fluide retention and very glad to be giving up work.

I thought that I would have heaps of time to clean and shop for Christmas but because I was so huge I didn't get as much as I wanted done.

A collegue of mine worked till 38wks and she gave birth the next day..she had no time to prepare.

Personally I loved having the last bout of me time....I don't think I'lll get that back for years to come....I don't mind tough.

[Karina]

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?

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.

[MrsC_Aussie]

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.

[Mrs Jak]

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.

[Karina]

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.

[MrsC_Aussie]

If I want to stop work earlier than baby is due, I can take annual leave or unpaid leave, but I can't start the official maternity leave component untilbaby is born. from all I can gather, I'm quite permitted by the company to work right up till, and theres no requirement by law for a person to start before bub is born

[OceanPrincess]

I'm planning on finishing up about 4 weeks before EDD. A lot will depend on how I am feeling - at 20 weeks I started getting swelling in my feet and my Obs is worried about my comfort (or discomfort I should say) as it gets hotter and I get bigger.

The most I can take is 6 weeks before but I'm going to try for 4 weeks so I can take longer after. It should be ok as the four weeks before I plan on leaving are Christmas/New Year/early Jan so it should be nice and quiet and broken up by lots of public holidays.

We'll see!

[Pandora]

With DS I worked until 38 weeks.
This time i am aiming to finish up at 37 weeks.
I would like to finish earlier but i need to take annual leave until my due date - my employer offers paid maternity leave, and i qualify for it but only just - my EDD is 4 days after I finishe the required service period, so any leave up until then has to be annual leave.

[Saffi]

I worked up until 37 weeks. As soon as I stopped working I developed shingles, plantar warts on my foot and huge fluid retention. I think I was running on adrenalin for so long that once I stopped my body shut down. Bubs ended up being a week late so had 4 weeks rest all up.

Next time (if there is one) I'll probably stop work earlier. I'll have a toddler at home that will be keeping me busy.

[TwinsMummy]

hey i was 30 weeks pregnant with the twins when i left work wish i could of stayed longer it was the only place i wasnt in pain except my feet.

[Isadora]

I finished up at 35 weeks and was hoping I'd have bubs around 37/38 weeks. Not to be we made it to 40 weeks and 5 days, I was bored outta my brain! Theres only so much Dr Phil & Oprah you can watch!!

[lubby]

I anticipated have issues with my pregnancy so went on ML for the last trimester. Turns out it was a trouble free pregnancy so I ended up doing lots of swimming, shopping and socialising : )

[ness]

I left 3.5 weeks prior and felt i could have gone atleast another week/week and a half
the first week was good - did the whole nesting thing but by week 2 boredom andspending too much money at the shops kicked in.

[Maybebabie]

I left the day dd was born, well actually i rang and said i wasn't coming in so tech finished the Friday 3days before. I was suppose to have about 3 weeks off and with my first thought this would give me a lovely chance to relax. Well dd decided to cut short my final two weeks at work.

I felt great throughout and i have a desk job so it cetainly made it easier.

This time round i'll probably finish up about 36weeks depending how i am feeling as I am a lot more tired this time around. Plus i'll have a toddler at home who will no doubt occupy me.

Like most people I am required to produce a doctors certifcate if i don't leave 6 weeks before, i am also required to take 6 weeks after. I am probably only taking my 3months paid leave plus a couple of weeks annual leave so it's a juggle about how much before and how much after, but my work is pretty flexible and i can also work from home a bit as well so i don't have to rush it too much.

[Tiff+2]

I finished work at 38 weeks as I was exhaused (I did work 10 hr days though) and then had time to finish getting bubby's cothes washed and ready etc.

Good luck with the final stage of your pregnancy... Not long to go now!

[queenbee]

I was 20 weeks when I left. Had the second half of my pregnancy at home, to relax and enjoy it. There was no way I was working right up until she was due, I worked in a really stressful environment! Ended up my Dad passed away 8 days before I was due to go on maternity leave anyway

I really did enjoy having the second half at home though

[~Hestia~]

I'm pregnant with my first baby & I am planning to leave at 30 weeks. I am a nurse in a very heavy Aged Care facility, which makes it harder to keep working. Also my husband will be starting his annual leave at this time so we can have some time together before bubs is born.
I'm using my years annual leave first, which is for 5 weeks. Then I will start my maternity leave which I will be on for at least a year.
I think it's personal choice. I've had people tell me 30 weeks is sooo early, & others say I'm leaving it too late. You have to do what's best for you.

[TreeTops]

Thanks everyone for your replies. They helped me make the decision to finish up at 35w2d.

I'm also taking one day of annual leave per week in Feb, in addition to the 4 day week next week, so this is my last 5 day week - yay!