Maternity Leave - when??
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Topic: Maternity Leave - when??
Posted By: KiwiL
Subject: Maternity Leave - when??
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 8:39am
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For all you mums who have been there, done that, when did you go on maternity leave? I am not sure how far before my due date I should finish up.
I am a team leader in a busy banking contact centre, so whilst I don't have to be on my feet all day, I do have to be able to rush around and help people who are spread over a reasonable floor area. I am wondering how cumbersome this will be later on? For me, I will have to be pretty specific with the date I leave, because there will be someone being seconded into my role, and it would be hard for that person to change their dates. Therefore, I don't want to finish too early and then be feeling fit and well, but I also don't want to be finishing late and be miserable and uncomfortable. Any recommendations would be welcomed - I am applying for my maternity leave later today. |
Replies:
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 8:49am
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If I had of still been at work I was going to finish up at about 38 weeks, so Id have a couple of weeks at home to sort myself out before the monkeys arrival. Did work out liek that for me tho, I been home since Jan and Im goin insane with boredom lol
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 8:50am
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I took 4 weeks off and at the time thought I was being stupid but on the first day of my leave I realised I would have struggled with another day. I had a sedentry job...but was using my ever failing brain. Basically, though, I had had enough of work by that stage and was thinking baby.
Someone recommended to me that you need to ensure you take enough time off so you are totally and uterly bored out of your skin before the baby is due....thats when you know you have taken the right amount off. |
Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:01am
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Yeah I finished at 35 weeks and then he was 10 days late - I was totally bored, but loved having that time as well...
I had originally planned on leaving at 36 weeks, but couldn't handle anymore... I had a desk job, but the concentration and working was proving too much like hard work... but I know many peopl work closer than that ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids 
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:06am
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I finished up at 33 weeks. I wanted some time before Daniel arrived to have to myself. Plus I couldn't stand it any longer. I had a desk job but was on my feet running around the building (which was just the nature of my job) and I was exhausted every day.
I did lots of things around the house that we didn't bother getting done because we didn't want to "waste" our weekends with fixing various things. So it was great. |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:11am
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I finished work 8 hours before Michaela arrived. The intention had been to have 5 days off but she had other ideas and I had to leave work midway through my last day.
I work in an office and didn't need to run around and I'm pleased I didn't take any longer off as it would have affected how much time I got with Michaela once she was born (as I only took 5 months off) but I did find the last 2 weeks difficult. I was ready to give up at 38 weeks but I was project team leader while my manager was in Fiji then when she returned the next week I thought what the heck, only 5 days left I may as well go the distance. IMO you should finish at 36-37 weeks because as a team leader you're rushing around a bit and will be both physically and mentally exhausted by the end of each day. I don't regret working till the last minute with Michaela but I'd be interested to know whether I would have been as exhausted during the first few weeks if I'd had some time off prior to having her. -------------  
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Posted By: gemsmum
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:14am
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I'm a nurse and on my feet all day. With the first two I took my AL before I started my Mat leave so ended up leaving work at about 34 weeks and was glad of it. Unfortunately we are not in a very good financial space at the moment and I need to work as close as pos up to due date.....have told work mid-August, I will have a weeks AL to take, so Mat leave will start at 37 weeks. Am hoping Bubs is considerate and comes early hehe. I would like it to be later but I know I will struggle physically with being on my feet all day by then.
It's a tough call cos you can't see into the future and see how you will be coping, and you want as much time off after Bubs is born as possible. Good luck with your decision Laurie. Debs ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:15am
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I finished work at 36 weeks (teacher - wanted to hold out til the end of the school year) and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. If I was in a different type of job where I didn't feel so bad for leaving, I would have finished up alot earlier. It was a massive struggle towards the end - physically having to lumber about and mentally as well. ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:22am
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36 weeks here too. I was in retail and on my feet all day.
I was just so tired by the end of the day and like NZPiper, my brain just wasn't coping very well with it. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:31am
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20 weeks for me.. for various reasons but otherwise i would have left 35 weeks.. preschool teaching not that great when you are heavily preg:)! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:40am
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With my first I worked up until 6 days before (inc a weekend) - the main reason being financial .. on my actual due date I was back at work begging them to let me do something I was sooo bored already.
With this pg I'm planning on finishing at around 38 weeks but I will have AL due so it won't be such a stretch financially.  -------------  
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: josephnia
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:51am
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I'm finishing at 34 weeks (this Friday!) although I've had quite a bit of time off over the last two weeks due to my bp. I'm pretty ready to finish up now though, I really want to make sure I have some time for me and be as rested as possible before the baby arrives. -------------  
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 10:57am
i finished at 36wks and it was perfect amount of time. i needed afternoon naps by then and was nice to get jack's bedroom all cleaned, clothes sorted etc  ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 11:35am
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I finished study at 32 weeks (had no choice, that's when my degree ended lol) but would have finished at 36 weeks otherwise. I kept working my part-time job until 39 weeks, and only took the time off there because it was Xmas (and went back a few weeks after Jack was born)
It was great having time to myself, being able to nap whenever, do stuff we'd put off, go shopping, visiting etc. Trust me you want that time off! Life will never be like that again! |
Posted By: tropics
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:01pm
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Ive cut down to part time since a few weeks ago as I got sick and was just so fatigued all the time so half days are working well, I was thinking of finishing at 36-37 weeks but the way I feel at the moment (fatigue and brain function wise!!!) I am thinking of finishing at 34 1/2 weeks as i am ready to finish now (aside from the bordom and finanical side of things)...all the best with your decision ------------- http://lilypie.com">    [/url]
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Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:10pm
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I finished a week before I was due (and Zaara was born on her due date). I also had a desk job and didnt have run around too much. However we had renovation at work and the only toilet availble was on the ground floor while we were on the 1st.....that was hard, simply becuase I had to keep going up and down the stairs every 20 min. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:22pm
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I'm finishing at 36 weeks, and cutting down to 4 days from next week. However, like other people, I've had really bad back pain, so even getting to 36 weeks at work (where I am sitting most of the day) is going to be a huge mission!
I think it depends on your financial situation, and also how bored you tend to get....If I had the choice again, I would be finishing up earlier than I am, or I would have cut back to 3-4 days earlier. I figure there's no such thing as too much rest before the baby comes! 
ETA: my brain has already pretty much switched off, and I'm finding I just don't care about work anymore (which of course is not a good thing!)  -------------  
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:33pm
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I cut down to 4 days at 28 weeks, and next week (34) will do 3 days. I will finish at 37 weeks, but my last 2 weeks will be 2 days/week. Am not 100% sure I'll make it to then (am supervisor in a healthcare service, mostly sitting down) cos of back pain and brain fog, but will give it a go! I didn't want to finish earlier b/c of $ and getting bored, but now I can't wait to not have to go to work! (Still worried about the $ though) ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 12:47pm
I finished up at 36 weeks and while Miss M was 11 days late and I was a little bored I also loved having the time to laze around and do little things that had to be done.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 6:49pm
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Thanks SO much for all the opinions guys!!
I am going to go with 36 weeks. I figure if there is a genuine medical reason I can always finish earlier but I don't want to be getting too bored. I actually can't wait. I love work, but already am wondering if I am giving 100%... |
Posted By: scarecrowfarm
Date Posted: 15 May 2008 at 1:15pm
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I finished at 38 weeks and had no hassles working up to that date. I would have worked longer except Lucy was due early January and our offices shut down over Christmas. ------------- Robyn www.scarecrowfarm.co.nz |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 15 May 2008 at 2:45pm
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I worked till 28 weeks with Maya as I had severe SPD and my job involved a lot of sitting and they weren't flexible with working around me not being able to sit for hours on end.
Worked to 34 weeks with the gremlins which horrified my OB but there was no one to take over my job till then. To be honest by the end my brain wasn't really with it and I was just muddling thru which is tough for me coz I love my job and I hate not being able to give 100%. Am finishing at 36 weeks this time round (five weeks to go tomorrow!) and while I still love my job and would be happy to work till closer to my EDD, I'm looking forward to having a few weeks to spend hanging out with the gremlins before baby arrives. Assuming my midwife is wrong and baby doesn't come early that is ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: grrrgrrrr
Date Posted: 15 May 2008 at 2:51pm
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I'm working up to week 38 and having a ceasar at week 39. Will have one week to relax before bubba arrives. My partner is in Europe for a wee while so wanted to stay around people for as long as possible ------------- Mattias 2yo Henrik almost 1 |
Posted By: aussiegirl
Date Posted: 15 May 2008 at 6:31pm
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I am finishing tomorrow at 35 weeks. Having a week of annual leave then going on PPL.
To be honest I feel really good, I really thought I'd be completely knackered by now. I am looking forward to relaxing and having me time before bub's arrival though. I am a kindergarten teacher and have lots of standing and sitting time, which is good! ------------- Mum to Hayley **30.6.08
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: gypsynita
Date Posted: 15 May 2008 at 9:15pm
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I cut down to four days a week about a month ago and am planning on finishing up at 34 weeks - mostly cause that ties in with my company's end of financial year so just makes it all easier for everyone concerned.
I had to cut back my hours cause I was finding work waaay too stressful and was pretty much on the verge... can't beleive the difference it made and really made me re-evaluate! I don't feel guilty at all leaving early now ------------- Anita Mum to Cian (Aug 08), Josh (Jun 10) http://lilypie.com"> 
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