Baby Making

Apart from the odd ‘Superwoman' most women will take maternity leave starting any time from 12 weeks before the estimated delivery date and carrying on for, sometimes, up to a year after the baby is born.

Certain public services organizations like the National Health Service allow for up to one year of maternity leave. However, most of this is unpaid leave but service continues. Mostly women had to stop working at 28 weeks which was extremely frustrating for those who were willing and able to continue, and who wanted to ‘save' the time for after the birth of the baby. Now maternity leave can start at any time after 28 weeks until the day the baby is born. This allows individual women to decide what best suits them and their family's needs. However, unfortunately this in some cases led to a misperception that all women can or should work until they're practically in the delivery room.

The time to begin maternity leave is different for everyone depending on their work situation, their financial constraints, other children or responsibilities, and so forth. Nevertheless, allowing you some time to prepare practically and emotionally for the arrival of the baby should not be underestimated. This amount of time will vary from woman to woman depending on her needs.

Inevitably as you prepare to leave work, there is recognition that it will never be the same again. Even if you intend to return to work full-time as soon as possible, the situation will not be the same. Work is different when you have a baby in your home. Although women are now ‘free' to return to work, it is usually mothers who drop off and collect children from child- care. There can be a great sense of loss while preparing to finish at work.

What will it be like not having to get up and go to work? Although we may at times resent the routine of work, routines are in fact important for our psychological well-being. Work generally is protective against depression: working pregnant women are less likely to be depressed than the unemployed or homemakers. Work provides a social world and for some their social life. Even where there are conflicts at work, this may still give a person a sense of involvement in life. It can be frightening to see this disappearing, even if only for a few months.

Possibly also you may feel resentful of other work colleagues, especially if you feel they might overtake you while you are away. Often colleagues have mixed feelings when someone is leaving while your life is moving on and changing. Consequently your last weeks at work during pregnancy may be emotionally difficult.

Remember! To first think for you and your baby and then think about other issues as they are the real assets. Secondary importance should be given to the social life.