Hi Ladies,

Forgive me if I have asked this already. I've been meaning to but not actually sure if I got round to it

Just wondering when you guys are (or have) started maternity leave? I am due April 12th and originally thought I'd leave at Feb half term when I am 33 weeks. I am now thinking how the heck do I even last this long? I am considering leaving at the 29 week mark when leave can kick in. I teach secondary English so lots of marking and, because its a school that's doing really well, there is lots of pressure (understandably) to achieve good progress and results. I'm just not sure I can deliver - finding it so tough and I am so early on yet!

So - when did you start? Am I just being a lightweight and do I need to toughen up a bit?

K 17+3

PS This is all aside from the issue of time off pre-birth vs time with the bambino

Im due in feb and am leaving at the christmas holidays. Ill be 32 weeks. I was going to keep workign for a few weeks after xmas untill i was 36 weeks but am also finding it really tough and dont think ill manage that late on!
Steph 25+4

Good thread hun. Initially I thought 38 weeks which would take me to Easter....now I am realising this is unlikely!! I am now thinking 36 weeks (11th March!) but I just don't know, I am fine at the moment but it is so difficult knowing how I will be when I am further on... I will be really interested to see what other teachers reply.

Kristen xxx
17+6

I am currently 32 weeks and go back tomorrow following half term. Have another 4 weeks after this so will be 36+ weeks when I leave. Hopin to keep going to then but must admit after the rest during half term am not looking forward to the next 4 weeks.

My story is slightly different but ill tell you anyway. I have just had twins (5th Oct). I finished school at the summer hols, although my maternity leave didnt start till after the hols, at 33 weeks. I wanted to go back, and probably could have done, but it was against the advice of the consultants and my head and I wouldnt have been able to keep up the workload.

However, I was 25 weeks when I finished for the summer and was bored stupid, and my boys were born at 36 weeks so if I had gone to 40 weeks, that would have been the equivalent of finishing at 29 weeks.

I would just think about trying to reduce workload a bit, as 11 weeks is a REALLY long time with nothing to do.

Thats just my opinion though and you need to do what is right for you and bubs.

Gemma, Ryan and Alfie (4 weeks 2 days)

I was wondering this too. I teach P.E. and am concerned that I'm not going to be able to teach my lessons properly once I get 30+ weeks but I know that I'll die of boredom if I start my maternity leave then!

Thanks guys. Gem - I think I am looking at it very black and white in that I'm either there and I do a good job or I'm not there. I started making tentative steps today about seeing if I could step down from some of the responsibility that I have so I am hoping that might make a difference. I think I'm just worried that the expectation will be that I do the job to my usual standard (and workload) until the day I leave and that's something I know I won't be able to do. I mis-spelled a really simple word on the board today (I won't even tell you what it was!). My brain is just ALL over the place.

Congrats again on Ryan and Alfie XXX

Blimey KitKat! PE! At least I've figured out how to do most of my teaching sitting on my backside!

I worked through til i was 37 weeks, whihc happily coincided with half term. Yes it was hard going in the last 2-3 weeks, but i would have gone nuts without the distraction of school. This week i am utterly knackered and glad i am off but am finding it hard to fill the time other than with sleep. I suggest you plan to go as long as possible and then you can always start earlier if you need to.

MJx
38+3

Hi KayeCee,

I am currently 32+3 weeks and after being ill this weekend, I wish I was finishing at 33 weeks! However I have just over 3 weeks to go and I finish at 36 weeks. I had been managing well with school generally up until this point so think you should probably be fine up until then and will probably be quite pleased to finish at that time as well. Also finishing by a holiday would be nice and it means you can have your paid week holiday then start your maternity leave - bonus!However I think 29 weeks may have been a bit early for me, plus, it means less time with the baby after they are born.
Curly Girly 32+3

I have just finished for my mat leave. I left at 30 weeks at the end of the half term, however I had to leave due to stress 2 weeks prior to this. I am one of those teachers who always gives 100% and when you have a bump and trying to juggle teaching in Foundation Stage and senior management it was hard. I just think it's about time I had a rest and put me and bump first for a change. I am due to go back on 1.08.2010 so will also have the summer tied on. What you need to ask yourself is will the kids be getting the best quality teaching from you teaching right up until the end, more than likely the answer is no. So why do it?

30+5 and very happy to be doing nothing for a change.

Replied on baby:

I finished at 33+6 PURELY because my waterbroke in a school Christmas play rehersal and my lo was born the next day at 34 weeks! I was going to work until 36 weeks and had been managing fine despite working in a SEN school with a lot of physical demands! I would have happily worked the other 2 weeks but my little man had other plans! I regret not having a bit of chill time before he arrived but was pleased I got my FULL mat leave after he had arrived!!!

Probably not much help but I agree with Gemmiebaby step off the gas and coast it! Don't be so black and white and stay longer!

yes i agree too. if it is too much under your current work load the first step should be risk assessment or speak to your line manager about delegating, not having to go early, unless of course you want to!

i am due 16th march and planning to go at feb half term, officially starting on the 21st feb but actually last day would be the 12th of feb, so i will be 35 weeks. i am currently working hard to get scheme of work up to date with target sheets, level assessments and medium term planning. unfortunately, nobody else in the dept thinks they should have to lift a finger!

Quote:

i admire your opinion number1 but can't say i agree... i have being putting other people's children first for the last 5 years...if i am not the best teacher in the world for the last few weeks before maternity leave then so be it - i would rather this and have more time with my baby once he or she arrives!!

Quote:

i admire your dedication number1 but can't say i agree... i have being putting other people's children first for the last 5 years...if i am not the best teacher in the world for the last few weeks before maternity leave then so be it - i would rather this and have more time with my baby once he or she arrives!! [/quote]

I left at 34 weeks, I was planning to leave at 32 but the lady they employed to cover my maternity leave went off on long-term sick and hasn't been seen since... I was planning to go to Oct half term, which whould've put me at 36 weeks, but I found that I just couldn't stay on my feet for the school day, then plan, mark, assess and leap through hoops until 8pm every night so I'm glad I went at 34. Personally I couldn't have gone at 29 weeks, I'd have gone mad, and although I'm rushing round to sort things out and get my home ready for a new baby i'm definitely glad I haven't been sat at home since the first week back after summer!

I'm not sure it's a case of not doing the nest job, I was exhausted and even the kids would grab me glasses of water or tell me to sit down by my final 2 weeks at work, but they always got 100% from me, it's just I perhaps didn't reinvent the wheel with my planning, or got TAs to do little jobs I'd ordinarily do myself. We've all dragged ourselves into work feeling less than perfect (certainly during those lovely days of morning sickness...) or even with our minds elsewhere. I'd rather drag myself in and have a not-so-great day than leave my classes to be taught by someone who's not used to taking them or even allowing them to be split and sent with worksheets to other classes, which is what would happen if I was off-sick! Sure, maternity leave is different, but it's a difficult one to call.

Em 37+2 x x x

Replied in baby already. I think it really depends how you feel. I agree with the comments about being bored if you go too early, but everyone is different and what you do needs to suit you. If I had been ill/got really tired etc I would have finished work earlier but for me it was fine to get to 38 weeks. Next time I may feel differently with a toddler in tow! xx

I've just changed my maternity leave dates today actually. I was originally going to work up to 37 weeks and was fine up until half term. But by lunchtime on the first day back, I knew I'd never make it through another four weeks and approached the head about changing my dates. I'm now leaving at the end of next week, which is 2 weeks earlier than originally planned and I'll be 35 weeks.
I really thought I'd work up to the end - I am very much one of the 'oh I'll be bored at home', 100% type teachers, but TBH I've changed completely over the last week or so and all I want to do now is sort out the house ready for baby and put my feet up!
You've got plenty of time to think about it and to see how it goes yet, and if need be you can always change your plans quite late on. I wouldn't worry about it too much yet - see how it goes.

mrs_ed 33+4

...also, keep an eye on your feet, mine swelled up like balloons every day until I stopped work!

Really interesting - thanks for the opinions. I guess I'll see what changes I can make to manage my workload and then make a decision just before xmas hols. Thanks all! x

I was 37/38 weeks last time round but in retrospect this was leaving it too late (for me). I was aching and tired and emotional and really could have done with having an afternoon kip and just getting a bit of peace and quiet.

Going to stop at 35 weeks this time.