Hi there
I work in a very corporate enviroment with 4hours commute a day. I'm thinking of going for maternity leave as soon as I qualify in week 29. Do most women still have the energy to continue for a while? I hear of people working right till birth!
Mother1
0
Replies
If I were you I would give the date you'd like to finish but make it clear to HR that you make need to bring this forward or backward. Don't forget, you're not legally obliged to tell work you're pregnant until week 25. It sounds like you're trying to help them and yourself plan ahead, but so much of the reality seems to be out of our hands, eh?!
How far along are you and how do you feel?
xx
I think the best answer is that you stop when you feel you need to. I'm a teacher and had originally planned to work up until week 36 so that I could have longer after the birth before I HAVE to go back to work (after 6 months maternity leave). However, I got to week 20 and decided that I just wasn't going to be able to cope working up to week 36 on my feet all day and dealing with hundreds of stroppy teenagers. I worked out that if I worked up until the Easter Hols, had the two weeks off, went in for the teacher training day (first day of summer term) and then officially started my leave the day after, I wouldn't need to go back until 8th Oct. So, on the training day I was 34+1 but really I'd had two weeks off before that too due to the Easter break.
Now I'm at 36+3 I know there is just no way I could have worked up until the end of last week. You have to look at your finances and your company's maternity policy and work out when you can go. My mw said that the sooner you can stop the better it is for you...
Floopy
36+3
I would have really struggled to work any later (34+5) and I'm looking forward to having some time for me before lo gets here. You will know yourself when it is time to finish and I agree with weeza, make clear the date you provide is flexible.
xx
Try going to reduced hours as you get bigger and more tired, it really helped me keep going.
Good luck
Also, is there any chance your work can alter your hours slightly as it gets hotter in the city? I've moved my working day one hour earlier and it makes getting a seat much easier, tho the bus is still steaming hot in the afternoon, even in this weather!
Good luck - you'll get to week 29 before you know it!
I'm only 16 weeks but have already sorted out my maternity leave as it was playing on my mind-I like to have a plan!! I'm finishing at 32 + 3 and using 4 weeks holiday before starting my maternity leave.
I've only booked the leave so far but they know I wont be back!! I just need that time to be comfortable at home-at the moment I struggle to see me lasting 16 weeks!!
xx
with my first i was working in a nursery and used to spend 2 and half hours traveling to and from there every day i planned to leave at 36 weeks but ended up leaving at 34 weeks was the middle of summer (july/aug) so was really hot and just started to feel so tired think its different for everyone though so would leave whenever you feel ready to
emma xx
9+2
So your not finishing that much earlier than most of us and with a long and stressful commute I can understand why.
If you do stay after 29 weeks, especially with that commute, I hope you get a big thank you and good maternity benefits from your employer!!
i'm a teacher like someone else who posted though teaching much younger children - year 1! I wanted to go on maternity leave as soon as possible and it worked out that I left at the end of the 'spring/easter' break when I was 30 weeks pregnant.
so, my maternity leave officially started last Monday after already having 2 weeks school hols and I dont regret it at all!
I didn't want to work up till the next half term and was finding teaching very tiring and getting up and down off small chairs increasingley uncomfortable.
I'm enjoying getting the house ready for when the baby comes - we moved in at the end of last august and until leaving work have been too tired to help decorate it!
My husband is enjoying me being off work as he comes home to a clean house everyday and I have taken over doing all the cooking (which he did until now)! I cant belive how busy i've been though, all the little jobs that need doing and people to visit or have over!
to the other teacher who has written - how come only 6 months? I'm taking a year? and have already negotiated returning part time only?!