Maternity leave… when to take it?

Wondering when all other mums to be are planning to take their maternity leave? Or have taken it in the past! Our little boy is due 7th February and I’m not sure when to go on maternity leave. Im not returning after maternity leave so no need to keep extra weeks for when baby is born… so very tempted to finish after Christmas. Would love to hear other peoples plans for maternity leave!☺️.

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I’m in this exact predicament, due on 12th.. I think I’m going to take 3 weeks annual leave before I go and go off around 2nd week into January x

I’m also due 12th Feb and going to try and work until my due date as WFH. Maybe a few days A/L if needed! X

As late as possible! If I can! Only getting SMP so want it to last as long as possible

I'll go in maternity in December with 2 baby girls on the way. It will be a bit crazy to do anything at work for me.

I’m due 1st feb, so will be on annual leave from 2nd Jan and officially start my maternity leave on 20th Jan. just think it will be nice to have some time at home getting ready for baby x

Im due 13th Feb - all being well Im gonna finish end of Jan. I want to get my 32w growth scan done before I absolutely decide in case there is potential to be induced early. But either 3rd week in Jan or end of Jan I think. I want as much time with baby as poss - will add all my accrued holiday to the end of my mat leave and go back in November sometime depending how much leave I can use xx

I’m due 4th Feb and am starting maternity leave from the 17th Jan xxx

With my first; I took 9 months maternity and started 3 weeks before due date and tagged on annual leave at the end. I found having those three weeks to nest were great, I was very big and knackered and could have easily finished sooner!! I wasn’t ready (emotionally or physically) to go back after 9 months and it was a huge struggle- I regret it massively. This time; I’m taking a year off (with using annual leave too) and already putting money aside to fund the unpaid months - itll be a struggle but I’ll never regret it! Because im taking a year off, I’m working up until a week before my due date (if I can make it till then) Xx

So I was going to go to my DD (12/02) however I need my son in nursery for when I'm back to work. Found out for the funding either starts beginning of a term January or April and if I start him January when I'd need him to start I have to be working by end of Jan to qualify for funded hours... Otherwise I'd have to pay it all and wait until April. Hope that's not confusing. Found out recently So now starting mat leave end of January 2025 and returning to work end of January 2026.

I’m starting my mat leave from the 23rd of December seems so early however i want to spend the 23rd and Christmas Eve with my daughter and then spend the month off with her to have quality time with her little brother arrives! I also work in a nursery and I really doubt I’ll be working till I pop 😂😂xx

@Lucy how do you get funded hours?

@Ronit sorry, what do you mean by funded hours? X

@Ronit working parents can now claim funded hours form the government. Search funded hours childcare government on Google and lots of information on there.

@Lucy working parents can now claim funded hours from the government. Search funded hours childcare government on Google and lots of information on there. The government pay for hours for your child to go to nursery/childminder. Most people qualify

@Lucy oh yeah, we’re over the threshold so we don’t qualify for this. X