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.

[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

[~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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[~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.

[e_p]

I worked up until 37+5...I had initially planned to work until 38+5 to make the most of my paid mat leave, but work was really busy in the months before I went on leave and I managed to accrue enough flex time to leave a week early without it affecting my pay. I had quite a lot of pre-labour in my last week at work and had thought baby might come before EDD but he stayed put until 41 weeks.

Are you able to work shorter hours or do modified duties?

[peanutter]

While I'm sure my work would be happy to chat about flexible options (shorter hours, less days) I don't think that would solve the issue ... I think I would still be needing to get the same amount of work done, just in a shorter space of time!

Plus I have a 1hr commute each way, which doesn't help, for shorter days, and DH and I share a car which he uses to get to and from his work ...

I have an Ob appointment tomorrow - I think I'll chat with her about it then.

Definitely looks like there's no "standard" though!

Thanks for all the replies

[Mumma T]

I was informed by HR this morning that if I want to stay past 34 weeks I have to supply a medical certificate stating I am still capable of safely working but considering what's involved in my position they would prefer I left at 34 weeks as from now til then I have to have someone help with some of my duties it is. Thankfully this is only a week earlier than I was planning. They pay me for the 6 weeks before my due date so I guess I can't complain.