Happy New Year!
I have been on a long hiatus from work, blogging and social media. For those wondering, I am alive and well, and a mother of one. I took the time off to focus on my mental wellbeing and motherhood. As I've come to learn, adulting is a game of shifting goal posts. One day you have it together and by the next, things fall apart. Your center cannot hold. The good news is, we have the strength within to cope.
The whole of 2024 I was on maternity leave. It was both a good year and a trying one. I have learnt that adequately preparing for it will ensure that you have a more fulfilling time. Here are some of the things you and your partner can consider while preparing for maternity leave.
Determine the Duration you Require
In the UK, employees are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave as follows:
Statutory Maternity Leave: Eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. This is divided into two parts:
Ordinary Maternity Leave: The first 26 weeks.
Additional Maternity Leave: The following 26 weeks.
Start of Leave: Maternity leave can start up to 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. The employee can choose when to start their leave, but it must start by the time the baby is born.
For you to be eligible for paid maternioty leave, you must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth. Also, you must provide proper notice and documentation, such as a MATB1 certificate (provided by your midwife), to your employer.
Although the above is the general guideline, different organisations have different policies around maternity leave. You must be privy to your organziation's policy before making plans. We decided to take the full 52 weeks to allow us enough time to bond with the baby. Being a first time mother, I did not know what to expect and thought it wise to have as much time as possible
On top of maternity leave, you are still entitled to the regular annual leave. A good trick that I have seen people use is to take the nine months paid maternity leave, followed by a month and half of your annual leave. This means you have almost 11 months off with more pay, which is close to a year. Because I took the full 52 weeks, I had a year and three months off including my annual leave hours.
Plan your Finances
Maternity leave pay is not equal to your regular monthly salary.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP): Eligible employees may receive SMP for up to 39 weeks.
For the first 6 weeks, employees receive 90% of their average weekly earnings (before tax).
For the next 33 weeks, employees receive either £172.48 per week or 90% of their average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).
Eligibility for SMP: To qualify, employees must have been employed for at least 26 weeks up to the qualifying week and earn at least £123 per week (as of 2023).
Other Pay Options: Some employers offer enhanced maternity pay, which may provide more generous terms than SMP.
To put it grossly, you will be paid for nine months of your maternity leave, not your full salary though. If you opt for the year long leave, then you have three months of no pay. However, in those three months you are allowed to do bank work. You can also choose to have your maternity pay distributed across the 12 months, leaving you with some pay each month, albeit reduced. Once your maternity leave is approved, you can contact payroll and request for your expected earnings. They will post this to you in a letter, outlining what you will earn each month. This can help you plan accordingly.
For us salaried people, more often than not, our lifestyles are planned around our regular income. Having reduced pay over several months may be a source of financial headache if you don't make hay while the sun shines. Saving enough money to cover your regular expenses during this time seems logical. Openly discussing this with your partner and planning your finances together also goes a long way. When they say babies are expensive, believe them.
Enjoy Family Time and Ask for Help
One thing everyone told me when I was heavily pregnant was that "it goes quick". As I write this now, I don't know where the time has gone. My son was kicking me in the belly not too long ago. Now , he is walking around and kicking whatever is in his way. Maternity leave can be overwhelming, especially when you were used to going to work and having social engagements. Although you can still go out socially, its not the same when you have a tiny human being whose survival depends on you.
In the midst of all the hormones, bodily changes, adjustments, new family dynamics and so on, it is paramount that you find small pockets of fun. Enjoy the little milestones, smell your babies forehead, takes lots of pictures and videos. If nothing gives you joy and you find yourself in a constant low mood, ask for help. Speak to your home visitor, GP or friends and family about what you are feeling. PostPartum Depression is a reality. During my leave, what I enjoyed most was cooking and attending baby playing groups and nursery rhymes session at our local library.
Keep in Touch with Work
I’d be lying if I said I kept in touch with work. In fact, I only checked my work email once in a while. However, towards the end of my leave, I found myself thinking about work a lot, pending trainings, new updates, work life balance and so on. In my organization, and most NHS trusts, Keep In Touch (KIT) days are paid days that you can go to work and keep up with the ongoings. I believe it is wise to use these days. This way, when you resume work you will not feel left behind. It is also more income for you, a win win.
A final consideration is planning for child care. Even though you are off work getting extra help with child care will allow you to rest enough, enabling you to enjoy parenthood as well as your other relationships.
Parenting is a special task. Maternity leave is a special time. Prepare well, and get the most out of it.
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