Maternity Leave - when did you start yours?

I will be needing to submit my letter for maternity leave within the next few weeks as we have to give 4 months notice.

I am contemplating leaving at 30 weeks and take my 4 weeks accrued leave first then follow this on with the maternity leave (if I can do it like that). I guess because making it to 30 weeks will be a huge thing I will be wanting to take it really easy once I make the 3rd tri.

Is that unreasonable do you think?

I am already not wanting to drive to one of our offices because its 2 hours from my hospital but won't make a big deal about it until I get further in if I am not comfortable with the distance.

How far did you work into the 3rd tri?

Nae x

Nae do what is best for YOU hun - if you think you need to take it easy from 30 weeks, do it. being 2 hours from your hospital will be rather scary for you later in the piece given the circs with Nikita's birth, so if you want to be closer and/or more relaxed, do it!

ooh, meant to ask - are you going to be birthing locally or heading to Melbourne again? i seen something you posted about spending some time in LRH recently and honestly thought WGH would be closer for you so i was a bit confuzzled!

I started my mat leave at 35 and a half weeks thinking I'd have about 4 weeks off before DS was born but he had other ideas and I only had a week and a half.

I don't think your plan sounds unreasonable. Do what you feel is comfortable and give yourself time to relax and take it easy.

BG - yeah I get around don't I :lol:
Hossy of choice is Warragul its the closest to home and close to DH's work as well. I was sent to LRH because I couldn't get into Warragul for my anti D injection. As for Melb - I never want to go back there unless I have another pretermer (which I am hoping I won't). It is the ghosts of what happened with Nikita that makes me nervous about being so far from Warragul and work know that as well so I am sure when time comes they will be obliging in keeping me closer to Warragul. - fingers crossed anyway ;)

Laranna - hehehehehe yeah I reckon that'll happen with me too :lol:

With DD I worked until 36 weeks, and she was born at 37+3wks. I was planning on doing the big cleaning stuff etc, but DD was born a few weeks earlier than I expected! I was working full time with her pg. With DS I finished at 34wks. I was finding being pg so close to my previous one (DD was only 7mths when I fell pg again) was taking a toll on my body and I was just so much more tired and my body (hips, back, tummy, knees) was just sore! Plus my DD didn't sleep well and I was exhausted and over working. It was hard enough to look after a toddler let alone go to work 3 days a week too.

Nae - in your circumstances, I would do whatever you think is best for you - not what other people do ;)

But since you asked - I work up to 38 weeks usually. Think I worked to 37 weeks with DS but that was only cos the office was closed for the xmas period anyway and he was born in early Jan :)

I'm thinking that since I haven't actually told my boss when I'm due with this one - I'll work up to my due date if my pelvis lets me!! :) Sucker for punishment I am ;)

from my convo's with WGH, if you make 34 weeks they'll let you birth there, and if there are complications with bubba needing SCN and they're busy at the time (so no extra middie on call to look after bub) they'll bring in a paed and arrange transfer you. provided nothing is needing major attention, you can transfer to LRH cos they have the level 2 nursery (WGH have the facilities but not the funding for the staff which sucks sooooooooooo badly!)

we finally got to take a tour there the other week (nice to make 37 weeks almost before you see the inside of a birthing suite!) - it's really surprisingly nice given the age of the hospital! DH was impressed and i was too - i thought LRH birthing suites were nice but WGH are much better set up... am thinking the bath might get a fair workout for pain relief!

the middies there have been fantastic too - no "worry" is too small for them to talk to you which helps heaps when you're anxious...

i'm under Dr McLennan - are you under him or Dr Simon?

I stopped work at 34 weeks and think i will probably do the same next time (maybe a bit longer as wont be working as many days a week as I was doing before DS)

I think 30weeks sounds just perfect. I started mine at 32 weeks and i really enjoyed it. Yes, i got a bit over the waiting for bub to arrive but it was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy those last few weeks of being pregnant. I had to take it easy due to PE but i watched loads of trashy tv and had a few friends on mat leave too whom i caught up with.
Do what feels right for you but i personally think that starting at 30 weeks if you can is a great idea.

do whats right for you nae, but 30 weeks sounds good..plenty of time to take it easy and enjoy your last few weeks.
love rach xxx

I started at 35wks 4days and had DD at 36wks3days so 6days later. I think 30weeks would be good even earlier if you could and want. One of the ladies I work with went of at 26weeks (she is a midwife) didn't know you could go that early so next baby I have I will be looking at going early probably between 28-32weeks. I think in the public health sector where I work under 34weeks you need a dr's certificate which generally isn't hard to get to commence mat leave.

i keep working until I felt like I could not did not want to anymore as I was temping at the time their was no notice period required

I worked up until 2 weeks before due date as I was feeling fine

Nae I finished up at 36 weeks and ended up with 3 weeks off. But what the others have said is right do what feels right for YOU!

I had school holidays for 6 weeks when I reached 31 weeks and then I went back to work for 3 days at 37weeks and it was too hot so I took sick leave for 1 week and then maternity leave at 38weeks. Then DD was born at 42weeks so I already had used up 4 weeks mat leave before she was born :(

Sorry that was a bit long!

I am starting my leave in a couple of weeks when I'll be 30 weeks. People told me that this was too early, they managed to work longer etc, but it's a personal choice.
I actually wish I'd started leave earlier than 30 weeks as my job is very physical & I underestimated how tired & uncomfortable I would be at this stage. But I only have 7 more shifts so there is light at the end of the tunnel!!
Do what you are comfortable with. If you're not willing to drive 2 hours from your hospital then don't - yours & bub's health is more important.

If you can leave at 30 weeks, then go for it! It is absolutely a personal choice.
DH is happy for me to go at 28 weeks, which we discussed before TTC, but now that I'm at a desk job I could probably stretch it out. I'll be 36 weeks at the start of our Christmas break, so that's when work will want me to go. I get the feeling I'll want to go a bit earlier, but we'll just see what happens.
My predecessor worked up til 37 weeks, and did a really bad job of the last 4 or so, and was stressed out of her pants. I don't want that to be me.

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!!

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