When did you start maternity leave?

[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.