Maternity leave

Looking forward to seeing the replies as I’m so stuck with this. I 100% work from home, so haven’t taken any time before my due date. My thinking is I’m at home anyway, not having to commute etc, my workload will be less due to having everything ready to handover a few weeks before so tbh I know I can get away with doing barely anything. Our bills (mortgage) at the minute is so high and I only get SMP so the longer I can work the better - we both earn a similar amount. I would love to have a week or two off beforehand to prepare myself but realistically it doesn’t make sense in my position, I would also love to take the full year off work but realistically will have to see how we cope money wise! Xx

I’m going on mat leave at 36 weeks, baby is coming via schedule section at 39 weeks. I am fortunate that I get a good enhanced maternity package from work so will be taking 12 months off. I would work as long as you feel able so you can save and take as much time off the other side. Do you get any enhanced maternity pay? If so, you could see if your employer can split it over the 12 months? x

I'm taking annual leave from 37 weeks up until my due date on the 19th of Dec, when I'll start my mat leave. We're planning for me to take the full 12 months off but we'll see how we get on once we get into the last 3 months of mat leave with me getting no money 😅 x

i have two weeks of annual leave from last holiday year that i carried over and can’t keep until the end of mat leave, so i’m taking two weeks before my due date to relax and prepare. i also work from home so was leaving it as long as possible, im then taking the full year because i get an enhanced package through work and have been saving before we tried for a baby. i work for a university that closes at christmas so not going back to work until january 2026 :)

Just given my MATB1 form to work so now have this sorted. Due 26th December, taking mat leave from the 16th December but also using annual leave so I actually finish work on the 3rd December. Can only really afford to take the 9 paid months of mat leave so again with some annual leave thinking I'll probably be back in work October 2025.

I am going off on October 23rd and my baby is due December 13th, I work as a care worker and have been advised to go off even earlier than I am. Don’t push yourself you know ur own body there is no wrong or right time to go off if you need anything pop me a message x

I'm due 3rd Jan, with mat leave starting then. However, I'll take some annual leave before breaking up from work for the holidays so I'll be off from mid-Dec x

I’m due 31st December right now I’d like to work until 36/37 weeks as I only get SMP I’m looking around the week 25th November

5 weeks before due date on 1st nov is when I'm going off but first 2 weeks of that is annual leave. I was 3 weeks early with my first so I'm gambling to be early again

No Matter when you are going off, check the funding rules. So if baby is 9 m prior to the 1st sept you can apply for funding for the September turn. If 9m after September then you have to wait till Jan, you have to apply prioR to the term starting. also you have to return to work prior to the 30 September that can be holiday, and I'm still trying to work out if kit days count. Wonce I work that out I should be able to plan my return. Bare in mind you get all you holiday from when you are off including bank holidays. Hope this helps I'm waiting till baby is born so I know dates so I can plan. Due 20th December mat leave starts 6th Dec but I was 5 weeks early with my first so who knows . 😂

@Jenni KIT leaves are taken when your on maternity leave, so the way to get around this would be to be “back at work” on annual leave before 30 September that’s the way it’s been explained to me xx

Due 27th December starting leave 5th December returning 5th January 2026. Work offer enhanced maternity leave (10 weeks full pay & 29 weeks half pay + enhanced holiday entitlement)

@Amy I know I'm just not wanting to go back in September or even as holiday and I have my daughters childminder available in September. It's tricky but I have time to think about it x