Ladies what is the latest you advise starting your maternity leave? And what's the minimum you'd…

It's really whatever works for you. I personally didn't want to work until I popped with my 1st as I was working 10-11hr shifts in a day nursery & was getting tired. I stopped at 38weeks. This time, doing same job plus having a toddler, I decided to finish at 35weeks 😊

You only by law have to have 2 weeks off after you've had baby. You can wait right until the end to take it though... So once your waters go or whatever. It's completely personal preference. I wouldn't recommend going back for at least 6 weeks as you need that time to recover and bond with baby. But if you feel Fit enough to work until you pop then go for it. Xx

Ahh okay thanks ladies @jodieiokie @sara-lou I think I'll take at least 4 months and maybe go back part time for a while after that. I'm so torn as to wether to work until I pop or set the date at 38weeks. I don't know if I'll get stir crazy or not! Xxx

You'll probably be glad of the break once you get to that stage to be honest. Plus imthose last few weeks you can use to get everything ready and make sure you're prepared. Xx

I was adamant I was going at 38 weeks babes but I got to 34 and had to go I couldn't handle another day at work I was so so so exhausted all the time. it's whatever is best for you we are all totally different xxx

I did get a bit bored however at the same time couldn't carry on doing the hours then travelling to & from. My work weren't flexible with cutting hours so I just stopped. I took 15months with my 1st. I was ready to go back to work around 9months but we were moving so there was no point. This time if I go back it will be around 8months.

@jodieiokie, that's what I'm thinking, but I do get really stir crazy even just on a day off lol @sara-lou yeah I work really long hours and these 4 kids are demanding & I do a lot of house work too which is already taking its toll so I don't know @catherineln25 thanks Hun, I know right. There's no one size fits all in pregnancy xxx

I find myself just sleeping most of the time but it means I can get everything ready for baby without having to stress about work etc. we are in the process of moving house as well so it's all go go go. I bet you struggled at work today hunny in this heat xxx

I went until 36 x

Yeah I've been here 12 hours so far & the mums still not home. I've had 1 on summer holidays and 3 at school so it could have been worse I guess!! @catherineln25 I have sat in the sun for a while with my feet in the kids pool & eaten a ton of ice cream lol xx

I sent my momma out for a paddling pool today and sat in there all day so I was nice and cool. in fact I'm hotter now than I have been all day long! I'm sweltering I can't get comfortable what so ever 😭😭 xxx

I went at 33 weeks as I worked in care and it was getting so hard! do whatever is best for you xxx

I'm a nanny Hun and I stopped at 31 because my boss was a bitch and it was getting harder every week and being a nanny if you don't feel good you can't just take days off as if you were in another job it's a full on job so id say stop as early as you can but I wanted to go back after 3 months and I'm defo NOT ready now he's here I can't leave him yet so don't rush it cx

Thanks @holliesinead it really is hard, there's been days where I've felt terrible especially in the begining but I've still had to go to work because there's nothing else I can do. Likewise I can't just finish early if through the day I feel crap. My boss is lovely but she also lives in cookoo land and is always late or texting me last min to work!! If I can cut back the hours I think I'd be okay maybe?. I don't know 😩 like today I have fat feet & have been here almost 13 hours and I've had enough and she's late home. Again. @holliesinead xxxx

@emmaelaine, I'm a nanny too and I'm finishing at 32weeks. I look after 2yr old twins n it's so bloody hard as they so naughty. They still want to be picked up etc and it's getting harder mainly due to their behaviour sometimes. I'm finishing end of Sept and I can't wait 😊

That's the thing with being a nanny you can't just get up and go if you feel rough and another thing if you were to go into labour or anything like that you can't wait around for mum or dad to arrive home you'll have to leave asap then it's thinking of the kids etc. Just do what is right for you xx

Well I wouldn't be able to fit the tribe into my beetle if I did need to get to the hospital ASAP. It only has 4 seats lol! @holliesinead @missy84 it really is hard being a nanny! When did you let your employers know by? Xx

I was planning to leave at 36 so that would of taken me to start of May but then we decided in late feb it would be end of April I'll finish and take my holiday but one day she turn around and said the baby was going to nursery 3 days a week and cut my hours so much then she turned around said oh I've started your mat leave for the 1st of April the week before it started and literally gave me no choice! I'm not going back because she's a bitch but you change your mind if you wanna finish earlier or later xx

@emmaelaine, I told them at 12 weeks because I had some morning sickness so it would've been a bit obvious. Plus I wanted to be honest (my biggest flaw sometimes). Had a few tough times with my boss,she didn't really make it easier at the beginning but I just got on with it. Now things are fine and I'll be out of here end of Sept xx

@missy84, haha honestly is my biggest flaw sometimes too. Told my boss at 8 weeks. She's a midwife & mum to 4 so she would have guessed with the sickness and the rest of it!! I think I'll have a chat with her after my 25 week midwife appointment and put something into place xxx