I have to use all my holidays before I go on mat leave so I'm finishing on 14th May and baby not due till beginning of July. my official mat leave starts end of june. I booked down to work till 38 weeks with my first but he came at 37 weeks so I have a feeling this one may come early too!

Oh defo I only work a 5 min drive from my house so it makes it easier... If I had to do ur commute if probably have given up already! Lol x

It's a toughie..!! Like @cwev I wanted the time with my baby rather than before, but living in Essex and commuting to Oxford Circus is taking its toll. I am starting Mat leave on 22:06 due 26:06 but have a weeks leave booked, thinking I may take another week before so i finish at 37 weeks... See how I go... Only problem is as I joined this job less than 6 months ago I don't get maternity pay, only the government maternity allowance which pays less in a week than I get in a day 🙈 it's tough... Thanks ladies 💋😘

My maternity leave starts at 38 weeks but I have 2 weeks holiday before so leave work at 36 weeks! ☺️

you could always decide on a date to start your leave and then add your holiday on before that? X

I wanted to work as long as possible but I think it depends on your job. I left at 30 weeks as I was a cleaner and a nursery nurse both quite physical jobs and with spd I ended up crying every day with the thought of going to work. X

I am hoping to work till 38 so I can have the time at the other side xx

I want to work until 37 weeks 😊

I worked till week 38 but cut my last 2 weeks down to 4 days as was really struggling xx

My leaving date is the 5th June ... I'm due on the 6th! I'd rather spend my time off with my baby than waiting for him to arrive!

That is what I will be doing @joclarke I will be taking 3 weeks annual leave before I go on maternity leave!! Least you get more full pay as well.. X

Yeah have you got any holiday that you could use and finish at bit earlier? Something like that could work @joclarke xx

Same with me @emlz-grace don't want to sacrifice time with the baby but I am out the house 60 hours a week + I have to get a train and 2 tubes to work... It's tough.. I may use some of the annual leave i have this side of my maternity leave opposed to before I come back xx I

@joclarke,

The way it works where I work is the more you take off before the less you get after. I'm struggling too and I'm 31 and start maternity leave at 38 too x