When did you start your maternity leave?

[peanutter]

With DS, I worked up until the end of my 38th week.

I would have been happy to stay another week, but my colleagues were having heart attacks about me still being there, and one literally had plastic sheets, towells, and a needle and thread all packed away under her desk and both a taxi and ambulance on speed dial, as she was completely convinced I was going to go into labour at her desk ...

And my waters broke a few days later, so she may have been right, if I'd stayed!

But I was feeling ok - a bit uncomfy, but not too bad.

This pg, I'm hot and tired, have a 19 month old, lots more stressed about the actual birth, having nightmares, not getting as much sleep, less productive at work (due to stress) and feeling sicker than I did last time, and *still* vomiting with m/s ...

So I'm wondering - when did *you* go on maternity leave? With each pregnancy?

There doesn't seem to be any "normal" time to do it, but I'm wondering whether I should actually start considering stopping work around the 34-36 week mark, if I'm already feeling like this at not quite 31 weeks ...

Maybe I should take some time off, get some rest, do some nesting, get some fresh air, and block in some extra counselling sessions in anticipation of Ziggy's arrival ...?

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I planned to work until 36 weeks so i would have 4ish weeks before the baby came to get ready. But when i started having prelabour contractions at 32 weeks and my BP was through the roof by 34 weeks i was told i had to stop. Which im glad i did because i still ended up with my 4 weeks to myself before DD came.

This pregnancy i think i will work until 34/35 weeks. Or i may even see if i can work right up until the baby is due as i only work one day a week as is so its not overly tiring.

[~Hestia~]

I left at 30 weeks, was working as a nurse in an aged care facility and was completely exhausted! Was great having some time at home before Moo made his appearance. But to do this I used all my annual leave I'd saved up so it didn't impact on my 12 months of maternity leave ITMS.

Sounds like the extra time off would do you good.

[PumpkinZulu]

I stopped working at 34 or 35 weeks I believe. I was starting to get too stressed, I was glad to leave

[Mak]

Maybe I should take some time off, get some rest, do some nesting, get some fresh air, and block in some extra counselling sessions in anticipation of Ziggy's arrival ...?

I reckon this is an excellent idea hun. Seriously give yourself some time to enjoy the end of this phase and prepare for the next special addition to your family. xxxx

ETA - I finished at 38 with #1 and 35 with #2.

[Rumpleteaser]

I planned to leave at 34 weeks, but with DS1 had regular contractions at 32 weeks, PROM at 33weeks and delivered at 34 weeks. DS2 planned to finish at 34 weeks, but I was getting niggly pain at 33 weeks, so I got a medical certificate for my last planned week at work and delived at 38 weeks.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

1st pregnancy was only on a temp assignment so finished at 34.
Was bored out of my mind until baby came at 39+4
2nd pregnancy worked until 37+4, baby born 38+6

[sloane]

i finished up at 34 weeks last time. i could have worked for longer but DP was at home at that stage & my workplace was going through redundancies & a tough time & just wasn't a great place to be. i had a lovely time at home & the two of us really enjoyed spending those weeks together as a couple & just relaxing.

this time round i'm not really working, i've primarily been a SAHM - although i'm working 3 days a week during january to get some extra money. i definitely feel far more tired this time round & am feeling the effects of a sleepless night far more (can't just go home & nap for a couple of hours before dinner anymore). i originally said i'd keep working till the end of feb if they need me but i'm thinking that i might retract that!

so imo, i think if you are able to finish up earlier, i'd say go for it. take the time to relax, enjoy spending time with your DS before he becomes a big brother etc. clear your head of all the work stress & enjoy being able to do what you want, when you want (as much as you can with a toddler!).

[Novella]

Im a nurse and our work place policy is you need a letter from your health care provider if you want to work beyond 34 weeks. With DD1 I worked until 35 weeks and she was born at 36+2. With DD2 I worked until 34.5 weeks and she was born at 35+6. With DD 1 the week was enough time off beforehand, with DD2 I would have liked some more time to spend 1:1 with DD1 before baby came, then again she may have started expecting all the extra attention

This time with 2 little ones to take care of Im finishing at 33 weeks. Im hoping I will have at least 2-3 weeks to relax before bubs arrives

I wanted to balance having time to mentally and physically relax before the birth with having as much time off after the birth with the whole family as possible. I am really hoping I dont go over as mentally I think it would be more difficult to go over if I stop early and then spend 9 weeks waiting for baby to arrive

[~Kim~]

With DD I went off at 35 weeks. People said I'd be bored, but I wasn't. I was rested and organised.

With DS I got sick. I went off work 3 years ago last week at 31 and a few days. I was on bedrest though....I was B.O.R.E.D then. I totally agree with the PPs about it being nice to be able to spend time with your LO though.

I think your plan is a good one. Work is an added stress you can do without if you can afford it with so much other stuff on your plate.

[Nai]

I worked until 37 weeks with dd1 and she came 6 days after I finished.

Dd2 I thought she would be early again is I finished at 36 weeks and hung around until 39+3 but it was good. I needed the downtime and time with dd1

[*EJ*]

I worked at a primary school.

So DS1 was due in Jan and i worked up until the end of term 4 (i think it was 6 weeks to go). From memory my offical start date of ML was the day before the end of term. Kind of sh!!ty timing as my ML was eaten up in what would have been my holidays anyway.

With DS2 i scored with the timing. This time ML begun on the first day back of Term 1 so when you look at it as to when no work was being done it was about 10ish weeks to go when Term 4 finished.

DD was at least 7 weeks before as i was tired and i was going to get the most out of my time before bub arrived as i knew i wouldn't be returning to work anyway.

Rest if you feel you need to

[~me~]

I finished at 35wks with each pregnancy. It was policy at work to leave at this gestation. You had to get an EDC certificate from your OB and if you did stay and had approval to stay, you had to have an all clear from your OB or GP to do so, I could't be bothered and I enjoyed the time off. Although the first pregnancy I got quite bored towards the end as I went over and was just hanging around.
Weekly appointments with the OB as well in the last few weeks, another reason I didn't want to have to stay at work.

[Lily Dust]

I was meant tol finish the day I went into labour didnt quite make it to work that day! That said, I was sick and had the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy on special maternity leave so only worked from 20- 38 weeks.

[Kazzo]

I stopped both times at 40 weeks, but I felt great and I worked about a 3 minute walk from home. I only stopped working with DD2 because I had been exposed to Whooping cough by my Dr and had no choice.

If your feeling like you need to finish now then I would say do it. Each person is different and you should listen to your body and how your feeling.

[purplepixie1978]

Thinking I'd go over (Mum and sister both went post-dates with all children, inductions etc), I initially put my leave in for 38 weeks. Got back from holidays at 32 weeks (I'm a teacher) and knew within a couple of days that I wouldn't make it to 38 weeks. Soooo puffy and tired. I brought my leave forward to 36 weeks. When bub dropped just before recess at 35 weeks I knew I had made the right decision. Waddled around the school for another week then sat under the aircon at home until I went into labour at 37+6... yes, had I worked to my original date I would have gone into labour AT SCHOOL. Doesn't bear thinking about.

This time... I don't know, I'm only working 3 days per week, but I'm doing a HT load on those days so much more responsibility and stress. Our award is good, I can take mat leave up to 9 weeks prior to EDD so I'll just see how I'm travelling.

Good luck with your decision making!

[HotI]

Can you do shorter hours for a few weeks before you go on leave?

I worked up to 39.5 weeks with DD and up to 37 this time (would have kept working but it was christmas and they closed down) but i wasn't working full time.

[wysiwyg]

First time 36 weeks DD arrived 41 - I never felt bored wished stayed at work longer. Second time about 34 weeks - and I loved having the time off to spend with DD, catch up with friends etc DS arrived 40 weeks. I would be surprised if with a toddler you ever felt you had left work too soon, unless work is easier than being at home with toddler (which it can be depending on job). Although had extra time off with DS I was far less prepared than with DD and I enjoyed the time at home more because I just used it to enjoy myself, have naps with DD every arvo etc etc.