I don't mind at all, I actually live in the UK and work for a big pharma company, they have really good maternity benefits x

@four you guys are really lucky. I would enjoy all if that time with my baby!!

@jrdye they will try you!!! But I'm glad you pulled out the manual on her bc that's not fair for them to try and pull that stunt. I went to the dr on Friday and she told me I can get a note anytime so I'll be taking that maternity leave about two weeks earlier ?

In Canada we get paid by the government up to 50 weeks. As long as you worked so many hours in the yr before (which is easy). You get paid about 55% of what you made before. So I'm taking it all off - why not!

I completely understand Boss issues, mine is pulling all kinds of shenanigans... Even went so far as to try and enforce me to exhaust all my Vacation, Sick, and PTO during my leave, when I clearly have access to the employee handbook, so her attempts were futile. I'm due 3/25, my last day will be 3/21, I'm taking 10 wks. ThankGod for FMLA

@sherry if you don't mind me asking, what state or country do you live in?

Yes I'm really lucky, my company pay 6 months full pay and then I get government statutory pay for 6 months which isn't much but I've been saving every month since finding out I was pregnant to supplement it! :) it means my family will have to watch what we spend for a year but we felt it was worth it :) x

Am leaving at my 36 weeks am a waitress got 2 jobs feet and back hurt a lot so leaving at my 36 weeks

@sherry a full year?? That's awesome!!!! I would love that!

I go on maternity leave this Thursday ?ill be 39 weeks.

I finished yesterday and have 3 weeks to go to due date, I'm just too tired to carry on! I very lucky to be taking a full year off on maternity leave :) x

Lucky you UKmummy!!! I wish I could go out now. I'm so ready. My job is tripping and I feel Luke they are forcing me to quit. It's not fair but I honestly am ready to. If I didn't need my insurance paid for....

I left work today! I have a weeks holiday and then officially start my maternity leave on 24th feb (I'll be almost 36 weeks). Feels amazing, I was ready for it physically and mentally xx

@tanisha that sounds like a good idea. I may think about that one

I was going to work up until I deliver but im so tired now and I'm moving extra slow so at my appt today I told my doc I want to stop working at 38 weeks and I'll go bac to work in June.

I just started mine on Friday at exactly 36 weeks. I think it depends what your job involves. Mine can be quite strenuous at times and I don't think I could have gone on any longer. I now have 9 months off minimum and 1 year max :)

I just started my maternity leave this week (38 weeks) but we are also moving so it will help w/time to pack up and get settled in to our new digs. I'm hoping to stay home w/ him for 6mo to a year but we'll see.

I think I will work till 37 weeks. I have a very hands-on job... lifting patients... 12 hour shifts. It's getting hard to do.

I work in a busy country club restaurant and my last day was Friday and I'm due in 2 weeks, it was rough but I managed.

Lucky you @lee. I'm moving to Canada for a while so I can get your benefits lol

I also live in ontario, Canada

I get 55% of my pay. I'm only taking 3 months and giving my spouse 9 months as he gets 98% .... So jealous!!!!due date is July 12..

@lind that's kinda how my job is. I have to take all if my sick and vacay time.....but what happens when and if my baby gets sick :/ I can't take off even if I could. I would have to be sick and use a "personal day" which I only get one of

I'm due Feb 26 - and planning on working until labor begins! I'm taking 12 weeks off, but only 5 are paid through short term disability. I am required to use up my all of my vacation/sick time too, which is 4 weeks. So I'll have 9 weeks paid, 3 weeks unpaid. Not too bad - but working the rest of the year with NO additional time off & a baby will be brutal! ?

My due date is Feb 25th. My last day at work was Jan 31st. With my company the automatically take my sick time then everything else kicks in. I'm out due to preterm labor and they still give me 6 wks after but last time with my daughter they gave me 12. Hoping for the same. Fingers crossed.

@kerry can you claim short term disability with your job?? That way you'll at least get something

I don't have any paid time off work so I'm working up until labor and taking only 6 weeks off (cry)

No prob Valerie!! @lovemy3sons oh ok. I was just wondering bc it didn't seem right. It seems like my boss is doing some shady stuff now that I'm pregnant. She lied and said she didn't have anywhere to put me when there are ppl leaving plus she won't allow me to go to a consistent schedule once I return from maternity leave. Ugh! I can't wait to take a break from there. But I hope you get the rest you need

@texxie i have no idea but i wasnt complaining. It just means we will be on one income a little longer. Im 37 weeks now and it came as a relief bc at 32 weeks i started feeling overwhelmed with trying to do it all. Im alot more relaxed now.

Aw just saw your response! Thank you hun :)

Sweden is the place for best maternity or so they say!!

@mystarbaby yeah it sucks here. It would be nice to get alot more time off for my baby. I should move to another country to have my baby so I can get that sweet deal haha

@lovemy3sons is that legal?? I thought that YOU chose when you wanted to take your leave...

Man! I feel so much for you American mamas!!! You get such a raw freaking deal with maternity leave it seriously makes me sad and angry. Every mama should get at least a year paid off with their babe. I feel for u ladies. I hope that changes soon.

My last day was last Friday, I'm 37 weeks. I can barely walk so I had to get outta there. My maternity leave doesn't start until I give birth. Right now I'm on a medical leave

I'm going at 39 weeks.

I'm planning my last day march 3rd and I'm due march 18th.. I work nights at nursing home. But sometimes lately I get lots of Braxton hicks

I'm due February 26th and taking my leave febuary 20th .

My boss decided to start my leave last weej. Im 37+2 i really didnt have a say i called to get my schedual and she said that i was on leave until i have the baby and have doctors permission to come back. It was wierd but exciting

@valerie hope this will allow you to get more rest and help with your sciatica

Sounds like you ladies have it all figured out. Hoping everyone have a safe delivery.....we're on the home stretch now!! ☺☺☺

I'm taking maternity leave from my two jobs at 36 weeks and my third job which is for my dad and is ten mins away from my hospital ill work up until I deliver

I'm due April 25, my last day was just yesterday (Feb 7). My job is very physical and I'm not having the easiest pregnancy. I haven't worked a full week since becoming pregnant due to either sickness, or inability to perform at work, or chemicals they were using being unsafe for baby. So it seems early to start leave but if I could go back in time I would have quit when I found out I was pregnant. My sciatica probably wouldn't be as bad and I would have had a much less stressful past 7 months.

I'm due March 17 I'm leaving March 8

Im going to take it a week before my due date. But I think I'm going to have my daughter before then. I'm only going to take 7 weeks. I need to make money.

Jenna, I only work the standard 8 hours but I also go to school at nighttime. Plus my schedule is really crazy.....it changes every two days between late night, middle of the night and dayside. I also feel myself slowing down with less than ten weeks to go....I'm seriously considering going out earlier than the 14th tho. What's your schedule? Is it consistent or all over the place?

Tosoff, my due date is April 15th and I plan to work until the 14th.....and if the baby don't come on time then I'll prob continue working until he/she does. Now that's crazy

Im due april 18th... Planning to work until april 14th.. Is that crazy? Im feeling fine:) Im hearing from girlfriends that ill get bigger and more tired towards the end .. So may not make it that long (at work)? So i guess ill have to wait and see:)

Yeah I have to use my sick and vacation time which SUCKS!!! What will happen if my baby gets sick? Them what am I going to do?? I just asked today if I could get a weekend off bc I really need to sleep. I forgot we're in one of those crucial months where we can't take off so I might not get it until march ?

I wasnt planning on going yill the 13th of feb 5 days before dd. But my doctor checked me on tuesday for the first time and said im not to go to work anymore. Im 38 +2 and I feel like im wasting time!!!! I only get 12 weeks but only 7 are paid.

With both my last 2 pregnancies I worked until the day I delivered. This time I'm a stay at home mom lol.

I was going to work until 38 weeks , but got taken off work at 37 for some marginal blood pressures, protein in my urine Nd lots of swelling.

Im currently 35+4 and im going to take mine when im 38 weeks and ill be returning in may

I'm due April 24th, and I'm trying to make it to April 15th. My bday is March 31st so I may be done around that time lol. That last two weeks may just not happen! But I'm planning on taking 10 weeks off and using short term disability. So I will probably go back to work after the 4th of July sometime

You ladies are lucky!! I have work and school to worry about. I go to my doc next Friday and I will ask her when I should go on leave tho. Especially since I'm super duper tired and I know my body needs rest

I've been restricted to 4-6 hr days in my office only.. So I'm hoping I can keep going til the baby gets here.. I'm only 31 weeks and 5.

Had to finish at 30 weeks after taking a bad turn at work. Im now 37weeks and still waiting for the little man to come. This has taken forever!

38 weeks lol I was just told by my doctor no more working because this baby could come any day. It sucks though because I had so much more unfinished work to do.

Wow - sorry ppl don't get paid maternity that would be hard :( as if buying stuff for little one isn't a strain enough. Yes get paid for the 10 weeks so am very blessed in that sense. Just packed my hosp bag this evening, getting more real now :) just paranoid about water breaking at work that would suck!!!!

Oh wow. I just have school and work (both full time) and I thought I had it bad!! But you are super mom! Keep up the good work but don't tire yourself.

I'm 35 weeks and still going strong. Working 20 hours a week with two jobs and taking 3 college classes , swimming, fitness walking and math. Lol. Don't plan on stopping until I have my wee little.

The only reason I'm going back is so ill have my hospital bills paid for. I don't want any confusion or any type of foolishness. I really hope I can get my schedule changed....although my boss is tripping and won't change it ?

I went on maternity leave at 36 weeks and I may not even return to work after baby is here! :)

Im going to work til the day i have her my job only gives me 30 days maternity leave and its unpaid ugghhh so ill leave whenever she gets here...

The 7th is my last day I will be 39weeks...

I'm taking 12 weeks off and hoping to work up until labor...hoping anyway. I am doing the same as a previous post and limiting my hours to 40 and will probably do 35ish the last week or two. I'm due March 9th.

I cut myself back to a strict 40 hours in my last trimester and I'm cutting back to 35 hours next week at 38 weeks. Hoping the baby shows up on or before my due date :-)

I'm due march 25 and taking my leave march 4

@simmy are you getting paid for the whole ten weeks?? I'm going to be out for eight weeks and I have to use all of my vacay and sick time for the year ?

I wish I could get more rest time but I don't think it's possible. I'm getting super tired and worn out and don't know if working until the last days will be best for my body.

Upto my due date - but kind of regretting it now!!!really starting to slow down physically, my initial thinking was for more time with baby after before returning! Get 10 wks total maternity. 20 days to go till my little one unless she comes sooner!!!!

I'm starting my maternity leave next week, which is about 3 weeks before my due date, and I'm going back to work in May.