When to start maternity leave?

I had my first baby on 25th July 2024 and took off from 23rd June, it was around 2 weeks of annual leave and then maternity started after that. I’d initially been due to go off on annual leave on 1st of July but I was so exhausted and miserable that they let me move it a week earlier 😂 I will say having that month to nest and rest and enjoy time to myself was amazing!

I had my little boy in April 2023 at 39+2. I used 3 weeks of annual leave and stopped working at 35 weeks, then maternity started. Make sure you give yourself some time off before baby is due. Two weeks I think is most common ❤️ xx

I managed to stay until I was 38 weeks, but it was hard, I worked as a TA in a primary school

Can I start now? No? Haha only joking but I’m on struggle street today, I’m so tired and everything hurts!

My first was due on 20 May 2023, I took 2 weeks of annual leave from 1st May and then I think you have to start maternity leave at the latest, the week of due date. So I officially started on Monday 15th May (my husband booked 2 weeks annual leave from then too) and then started labour on 17th, baby was born 00:16am on 18th. I’ll be doing the same sort of thing this time.

Most employers realise that babies can come early and things can change in pregnancy so I think it can be pretty flexible. You can plan when maternity starts and then change it nearer the time if you’re not coping with workload etc. I also highly recommend adding annual leave onto the beginning, it means you get more rest time before baby but still get paid the full amount and maximise the amount of time you can have off with baby. If baby arrives within that annual leave time, it has to change to mat leave.

With my first I worked until 38 weeks with the intention of having 2 weeks annual leave and then starting my maternity. My little one was a week late so I ended up taking an extra week annual leave. Basically I told work I wanted my maternity leave to start from the date baby was born and then I just let them know as soon as reasonably possible after the birth what the date what was and they backdated my extra leave and submitted the maternity start date. I would imagine they can do it the other way if baby is early and cancel some of your leave to start your maternity early.
I know it’s still early so you might not have told all the relevant people at work but once someone in HR knows there should be certain checkpoints where they have conversations with you around maternity pay and leave etc to discuss your options.

I was due 1rst of October but really September with twins, I’ve used my holidays for the month of August and started maternity leave on the 1rst of September :) but I would say maybe 2 weeks before ? Depends your energy x

So I was due my first baby on the 1st of Feb 2023. Told myself I would work up until. I came back to work after Christmas and had to tell my manager I was so shattered and tired that I would finish the Friday that week which happened to be the 6th. I had a weeks leave to myself, had my baby shower on the 15th and on the 17th my waters had broke and my baby arrived on the 18th 😅 so this time around I’m think 4/3 weeks before I’m due. I had pre eclampsia with my first so there’s a likely chance I will get it again. Looking back I wish I had listened to my body more and not come back after Christmas but everyone had convinced me with your first they arrive late, especially boys so I tried to take it as late as possible 😅

I try to start mine as late as possible to get the most possible maternity leave with the baby. With one of mine I worked up to 38 weeks and gave birth at 38+1!

All 4 of mine were born between 38+1 and 38+5 but hoping this one will be induced a bit earlier.

My full term 37 weeks falls in the school holidays so will probably start it then this time

I had my daughter on 7/07/24. My maternity leave started on 1/07 and I took 2 weeks off on annual leave prior that. It was perfect and I got to spend a year off with her. This time I will push as close to delivery as I can before taking leave so that I have more time with baby

Thank you everyone, it sounds like the general advice is take time off from at least two weeks before baby is due and to consider up to a month by using some annual leave.
Thanks for giving me your input it has really helped, it sounds as though those last few weeks are going to be difficult so I might do two weeks annual leave and then 38 weeks to due date as mat leave. My boss knows I’m pregnant but haven’t had any input from anyone about anything pay and time scale wise. I know I need to submit a form to notify them, not sure where I get that from? I’ll have a google. Xx

I started my maternity leave at 36 weeks with my first, and I’m so glad I did! The last month of my pregnancy was awful, I was tired and in so much pain. It was also during a heat wave so I was throwing up at work.

I had my little girl on 1st December last year. I planned to work til a week before but I was too exhausted and went off on 18th November and induction was 29th November. I’m pregnant again and being at work 4 days plus a 16/17 month old at that time, I’ll be going off at least a fortnight before my due date I’m sure

I worked until 36 weeks thinking I’d have a month off to relax and nest. and then baby was unexpectedly born on my first day of maternity leave 😂😅