Q from Pregnancy - when to start mat leave?
Hi Ladies,
Hope ypi don't mind me posting here again. I'm only 15 weeks so still have a while to decide but don't know what to do.
I have almost 4 weeks AL that I have to use so will definitely be finishing at 36 - 37 at the latest. But I don't know whether to finish even earlier (32/33 weeks earliest). Mainly because:
1) I HATE my job and they are being really mean to me
2) it will be summer...
3) It would be nice to have time to myself to sort out lots of stuff and chill out before baby comes.
4) I'm hopefully not going back to work anyway
But will I get really bored if I finish too early. And I suppose it would be good to have money for longer, although thankfully not essential for us.
Can I have thoughts from those of you who have experienced this.
Thanks
xxx
Hope ypi don't mind me posting here again. I'm only 15 weeks so still have a while to decide but don't know what to do.
I have almost 4 weeks AL that I have to use so will definitely be finishing at 36 - 37 at the latest. But I don't know whether to finish even earlier (32/33 weeks earliest). Mainly because:
1) I HATE my job and they are being really mean to me
2) it will be summer...
3) It would be nice to have time to myself to sort out lots of stuff and chill out before baby comes.
4) I'm hopefully not going back to work anyway
But will I get really bored if I finish too early. And I suppose it would be good to have money for longer, although thankfully not essential for us.
Can I have thoughts from those of you who have experienced this.
Thanks
xxx
0
Replies
I was planning to go on Mat leave at 35 weeks but my feet and hands got so swollen I had no choice but to go earlier and I wish I had gone before I did as you need all the rest you can before the little one comes along and by the time I did go I was so exhausted.
What job do you do? I am a Care Assistant so very tiring as always on my feet and a lot of lifting and pulling and pushing.
I do 12 hour shifts(which I cut down to one a week after I was 20 weeks) but that meant I was there nearly every day to fit in my contracted hours.
It will depend on the time how you are feeling and weather you can still carry on working.
Gem x
I'd wait until the last possible moment to tell your employer so if you need to stay you're not pushed out and vice versa.
Also remember that if you can accrue your holiday, it is VV helpful for when money gets a bit shorter after not working for a while. You could "work" for however long you have, take it off as holiday, then quit. xx
It will be many years before you can enjoy your own company, just sitting in the sunshine so id enjoy it
xxDBxx
I didnt get bored because we had just moved to a new place so i spent my days painting and decorating.
Definatly use the time before baby to do all the things you wont be able to do when he/she comes, make the most of it!
And Congrats on bump!
Gill
sarah
Next time I think I'll go off earlier, perhaps 35 or so weeks, as although I don't really believe in wrapping yourself up in cotton wool just because you're pregnant I do think I needed to look after myself a bit better than I was towards the end of my pregnancy and not try to do everything I always did as usual.
Like you say I can always see if I can change it nearer the time. I work in HR asnd ironically we wend up having to follow the rules me than anyone else so I have to give 15 weeks notice to start with and then can give 28 days notice to change it.
Wish I had a crystal ball...!