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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DD arrived 39+5 so I was a little bored at home but I had a new 8mth old niece to play with and my sis and mum both off work so that was great.
DS arrived smack on 41 weeks but I was not bored at home at all - just kept busy with DD and stuff around the home. I love being at home so for me it was a case of "how soon can I finish?" Financially we needed me to stay as long as I felt comfortable.
I definitely felt it a lot more with DS. So I know how you are feeling.
P, I think it'd be a great idea for you to finish up sooner. Being at work is not really helping anything... you know your productivity isn't really the greatest, you're focussing on other things right now HotI makes a good suggestion - can you do a day or so from home or wind your hours back? Finish up whatever case work you've got going on, wind it up and then finish completely?
You need time to spend with DS, time to meditate on what is coming.
Hi hon, I think you're right, there isn't any 'normal' time when to start maternity leave it's so individual. I finished up at 34 week and ds was 10 days late so I had loads of time! dh started his 2 month leave when I was 39 weeks I think (or 38? hmmm I can't remember). Lots of people told me that I would get sick of being at home but now way, I new I would love it and I still do
I went part-time, <15 hours/wk, at 23 weeks, and then stopped altogether at 28 weeks. DH would have had me finish even earlier if he could have - my workplace was disease central, there was a fair bit of manual handling involved, and while I was comfortable, I could see that my team weren't. So I left. It was tight, financially, but being at home longer I could do a lot of stuff that saved us money because I had plenty of time. Baby was born just shy of 42 weeks, so that's 13.5 weeks that I had on mat leave! I look back on the time incredibly fondly.
I worked until 37wks with DD. It wasnt work but the train travel (an hour each way) that got to me in the end.
We had to get a Dr's cert to say it was OK to work past 34wks but as I work in IT in an office there was no problem there.
This time around Im going to finish up at 37wks....but I am also taking a months annual leave first so I actually leave at 33wks...
I am so tired this time around and just want to spend time with DD and go on a relaxing holiday before the baby comes but not cut into my maternity leave too much!
Well 'technically' my maternity leave started the day AFTER DD was born.....but that was because I am a teacher and she was born on the last day of the summer school holidays and my maternity leave was technically starting the day teachers went back to school for term 1. In reality, I worked up to the end of my 33rd week, at which point the holidays started (DD was born a week early).
I started my maternity leave at 36 weeks, DS arrived 36+3 so I didn't really get much time to relax as had a few appointments and errands the first few days
I am starting maternity leave at 36 weeks again. I considered maybe stopping at 34 but in the end if I go early I don't mind, I'd rather have more time off while bub is here
I finished at 37 weeks with DS.. with this pregnancy I'm working up until 39 weeks. Financially we need to extra money and I am the main breadwinner. I will stop my interstate travel at 30 weeks, so I'll be desk bound. However, DS came at 39+2 so I am slightly worried that things might happen before 39 weeks and potentially at work.. I have spoken to my OB who has agreed to monitor me more closely and let me know if he thinks I'll be OK to keep working. Also, of course how I feel will come into it.
I just figured that I would be better off sitting at a desk at work all day than trying to deal with a 2 year old at home.. but I'm still really nervous!!
I finished at xmas when I was 30 weeks. I usually have 4 weeks off at xmas, so I figured it wasn't worth coming back for 2 weeks after my break and then going on mat. leave at 36 weeks. But I was already really sore at 30 weeks so it was just as well.
I stopped work at 37 weeks as it was Christmas and work was closing-ish for 2 weeks. But at 41 weeks when baby hadn't arrived, and work had some work for me, i did a day of work. Baby was born that night.
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.
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HotI makes a good suggestion - can you do a day or so from home or wind your hours back? Finish up whatever case work you've got going on, wind it up and then finish completely?
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