When is it best to go on maternity leave?

I think especially with January it depends which end of the month. I'm planning on taking mat leave from around 5th Jan, but actually finishing just before Christmas and taking some annual leave. I'll then do the same at the other end so Christmas bookends my leave. Baby is due on 13th, but will be a planned section which will mean probabaly a week or so earlier.

For my first I took mat leave from 31st July (Monday) for my 10th August due date, and had two weeks AL before that. In the end I had a section on August 1st, so I had him on my second day.

I'd consider:
* how long you want to take/can afford to take
* any medical issues which might be harder to work with in the final few weeks
* your work's flexibility in allowing you to wfh during the late weeks if the commute is hard.

I'd also check their policy and don't give them a firm date until the latest moment. Things change and it can be hard to predict. Good luck! ☺️

There’s no ‘best time’ as it’s all subjective. I would just bear in mind the more you take off before the less you have after. I had an easy pregnancy so worked until 39 weeks, but my friend had an awful one and is going off at 35 weeks.

I had my baby early May and worked up until 38+ 2. I managed but I was very tired that last week, looking back I would have finished at 37 weeks. Other than tiredness I had no complications, no particular aches and pains, no sickness by that point so otherwise I felt fine to work up until then. So from my experience I’d recommend 37 weeks but it’s so subjective as you may have a completely different experience! X