Maternity Leave - when did you start yours?

[Evie76]

I'm going this time at 34 weeks.

With Daniel I left at 28 weeks. I wish I hadn't. It was too early and I spent two months just eating and generally missing out on the social aspect of work.

This time I have three weeks of leave - then I take my mat leave at half pay. This will get me to Feb' paid. Then I can apply for any leave I've accumulated during that mat leave (you still accumulate leave). Then I plan on taking my pro rata at half pay. That will get me to June with money.

Confused?? So am I!!

[blondedoctor]

I am leaving this Friday, at 38 weeks. I wish I could have afforded to leave 4 weeks ago as I have slowly and steadily become more and more uncomfortable. My work doesnt have any paid maternity so it was mainly a financial decision, although I did also think that I would be bored leaving any earlier. Little did I know that by now all I'd want to do is lie on the couch and watch Scrubs re-runs

Do whatever works well for you. Good luck

[Rooey5]

Little did I know that by now all I'd want to do is lie on the couch and watch Scrubs re-runs

Yay!!! I want to do that when I get pg!!!

[LimeSlice]

I worked 16 hours a day until I was almost 8 months.
I worked an hour and half from work, and my hours were such that I would get home at about 1am and be up again for work at 7am...
DH was telling me to stop from about 6 months, but I was just happier working, gave me something to do and I LOVED my job...There were also other factors, like the leaving my boss hanging - finding someone to fill my position in a 5-star restaurant is not easy, so that made me stay on aswell.

You need to do what you are comfortable with in the end. And only you know what that is!

Good luck - it is a really complicated decision - I wasnt expecting that

[fionas]

I stopped work at 37 weeks so had 3 weeks off but it was "easier" to go to work than stay home because I had bad SPD so couldn't do anything productive at home (wasn't meant to bend, stand for too long, no walking etc. etc.) Work agreed to pay for a taxi to and from work and I have an office job so that was better for me than sitting at home and looking at all the things that needed to be done but not being able to do them. I was exhausted though. Without the SPD, I probably would have left earlier at around the 35-36 week mark.

So yep, just do what's right for you to be rested, comfortable and not stressing about making it to the hospital.

[NaeNae]

OK - so I rang HR yesterday and foruntately I got one of the girls in there who is pregnant also.
We had a bit of a chat and I found out that yes I can be paid my annual leave then follow that on with my paid maternity leave at a half pay over 26 weeks. BUT the 4 weeks of annual come into the 52 weeks of Maternity leave rather than being an additional 4 weeks off.

Thats ok I s'pose.

BUT I did find out that there are provisions in our award which state that I can take an extra 52 weeks off unpaid maternity leave and still have work keep my job which I didn'y know about SO in affect that equeates to 104 weeks leave.

I had no idea.

Apparently it is subject to approval, but I am sure I could make a case for it. She is going to post me the details as well as the EBA which has the details in laymens terms also.

Its amazing what you find out once you start digging.

Nae x

[Janie]

Yep, that came in a few years ago Nae. You can apply for it, and your employer has to have really good reason if they don't approve it, like it would send them broke or something. Go for it!!!

[NaeNae]

Janie - I had never heard of it, even when I applied for leave last year it was not mentioned then either.

Is it called something special? What choices do you have if the employer refuses to grant it?

I was just thinking because I plan on starting my leave 10 weeks before my due date I doubt very much that I will be wanting to go back before my bub is less than 12 months old this would be a perfect option to cover that additional time.

I can see why people don't know about this as easily as they know about the normal 52 weeks.

[Janie]

I don't know much at all about it hun, just that my boss made a point of mentioning it to me (and all other employees, small business) when it was introduced. I finished work at 32 weeks, and thought that I wouldn't go back before bub was 12 months, but as it turned out I went back one day a week when he was 9 months, so I never had to worry about it.

[berrme]

I have started my leave with both my children as of the first day of the school year (I am a high school teacher). The first time my leave officially started at 36 weeks, this time at 30 weeks. Ed QLD policy says you start leave at 34 weeks unless you have a doctors certificate saying you are still fit. I didn't see the point in going back for 4 weeks before starting leave, especially since I had PE the first time and thought I may need to take it easy again. So since I also had 6 weeks off before my leave I have really been off work since 24 weeks this time. What a slacker!

30 weeks is definitely not unreasonable. You have to think about your wellbeing and that of your baby. If you will feel more comfortable at home from 30 weeks, completely understandable given your history, then take that time off. I would definitely want to be closer to the hospital too. Peace of mind is very important.

[NaeNae]

Thanks so much for your replies ladies and as always your wonderful support.
Its interesting seeing the different times at which people had left work.
When I was preggers with NIki I was planning on working to about 36 weeks - she had other ideas for me
Dh has said he doesn't care so much when I stop so I am going to ring the office today and chat with the HR ladies and see if I can take my accrued leave first then follow on with the maternity leave (taken at half pay over 26 weeks).

Evie76 - actually that makes perfect sense to me . I guess thats the advantage when you're being paid you still accure time.

Thanks again everyone

[daesy]

I'm finishing up at 36 weeks. I'm taking 4 weeks annual leave first then 12 months of maternity leave to follow. I think I'm going to struggle working till 36 weeks because I am already wishing I could leave now (at 27 weeks)

[Miss E]

If you can finish up at 30 weeks I say go for it! I'm finishing up work at the end of next week, but right now am wishing I had of chosen to finish up at 34 weeks (leave would have started this week). I've taken yesterday and today off sick because I'm absolutely exhausted and have been kept awake for most of the last couple of nights with BH and toilet runs.

[NaeNae]

BG - I am under Dr Simon, DH teaches his daughter and said that if she was anything to go by then David would be pretty good. We had him last time with Nikita and he was just wonderful with me. The MW are awesome and its amazing that they actually remember you later on as well. I have a few favourites Wilma, Bernadette, Leanne, Jennifer, Ellenor, Lisa actually all of the ones that looked after me (except one pm me if you want her name) they are all soo good.
I love the rooms too, I didn't see the birth suites (thankfully) but the rooms when you recover are great - I told Leanne the MW that when I give birth I want to go back to room 11 I spent 2 weeks in there I just love it.

Yes they do look after bubs from 34 weeks depending on the bubs needs thats one of my goals is 34 weeks. 30 weeks and I will be happy it feels like a milestone to be out of the 20's. 34 and I get to birth in my hossy of choice. Anything past that is a bonus!!