Maternity Leave Planning:
How to Prepare for Your Time Away from Work
Planning your maternity leave can feel like a lot to get your head around. There's your pregnancy to think about, work to organise, money to plan for and a whole new chapter of life to prepare for. And somewhere in amongst all of that, you're expected to know what to do, when to do it and who you need to speak to.
It's not surprising that so many women feel overwhelmed by it all.
One of the things I hear time and time again is that there's plenty of information available about maternity leave, but it's not always easy to work out what applies to you or what you actually need to do next. That's where having a plan makes such a difference.
You don't need to have everything organised from day one, and you certainly don't need to spend your pregnancy worrying about work. But understanding what's involved and giving yourself time to work through the different parts can make the whole experience much easier
Whether this is your first baby or you're doing it all again, let's look at what you need to think about when planning your maternity leave.
When should you start planning your maternity leave?
You might be surprised by just how early some maternity leave decisions need to be made. But that doesn't mean you need to have everything sorted as soon as you find out you're pregnant. I'd suggest starting to get familiar with your employer's maternity policy fairly early on. It will give you an idea of what you're entitled to, how much notice you need to give and whether your employer offers anything above the statutory minimum.
It's also worth starting to think about when you'd like to finish work and how long you might want to take off. You may have a rough idea already, or you might not have given it much thought yet. Both are fine.
Your plans might change as your pregnancy progresses, particularly as you get a better idea of how you're feeling and what you need. The important thing is to give yourself enough time to consider your options rather than leaving everything until the last few weeks.
Understanding your maternity leave options
One of the first things you'll probably want to work out is how much maternity leave you can take and when you want it to start. If you're an employee in the UK, you're usually entitled to up to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave, regardless of how long you've worked for your employer. This is made up of 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave. You don't have to take the full year, but there are rules around the minimum amount of leave you must take after giving birth.
The decision about when to start your maternity leave is a little more personal. Some women prefer to work as close to their due date as possible so they have more time with their baby afterwards. Others would rather finish a few weeks earlier, giving themselves time to slow down, get things ready and have a bit of breathing space before the baby arrives. There's no right or wrong answer. It will depend on your pregnancy, the type of work you do, how you're feeling and what works financially. It's also worth considering whether you have annual leave you could use before your maternity leave starts. This might allow you to finish work earlier without using up your maternity leave entitlement.
Just remember that your due date is an estimate, and there are circumstances where maternity leave can start automatically, including if your baby arrives early or if you're off work with a pregnancy-related illness during the final four weeks before your due date. Take some time to look at the different options before confirming your dates with your employer.
Getting to grips with your maternity pay
Let's be honest, one of the biggest things you'll want to know is how much money you'll receive while you're off work. For some women, this is fairly straightforward. For others, particularly if their employer offers enhanced maternity pay or they have variable earnings, it can take a little more working out. Your maternity leave and maternity pay are two separate things. You may be entitled to take maternity leave but not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. If that's the case, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead.
If your employer offers enhanced maternity pay, it's important to understand exactly how their scheme works. You might receive full pay for a period, followed by a reduced amount and then statutory pay. Some employers also have conditions attached to their enhanced schemes, so make sure you understand these before making decisions.
I'd encourage you to look at your income across the whole of your maternity leave, rather than just focusing on what you'll receive in the first few weeks. Knowing when your pay is likely to change gives you a much better idea of what to expect and helps you plan ahead. You'll also want to think about your regular outgoings, any savings you might use and how your finances could change when you return to work, particularly if you'll have childcare costs to consider.
I've covered this in much more detail in our Maternity Pay & Finances guide, including eligibility, payment rates, enhanced maternity pay and the other financial things that are easy to overlook.
Talking to your employer about maternity leave
Once you've told your employer you're pregnant, you'll usually start having conversations about your maternity arrangements. You might have a brilliant manager who knows exactly what needs to happen. Or you might find yourself having to ask questions because nobody has really explained the process. Either way, don't feel you need to know everything before you have that first conversation.
Your employer should provide information about your maternity arrangements, including your leave dates and pay entitlement. It's also a good opportunity to ask for a copy of the maternity policy and understand how things work within your organisation. Some employers have a dedicated HR team who can guide you through everything. In smaller organisations, you might be dealing directly with your manager or a business owner. If you're unsure who to speak to, just ask.
I'd also recommend keeping a record of important conversations and confirming anything you've agreed in writing. It doesn't need to be formal or complicated. A simple follow-up email can help make sure everyone has the same understanding.
If you're not sure what you're entitled to, or you feel you're not getting the support you need, it's worth understanding your employment rights. I've covered the main protections and what your employer should be doing in our Maternity Rights & Employment guide.
Preparing to leave work and handing over your responsibilities
As your maternity leave gets closer, your attention will probably start turning towards finishing work and getting everything ready for your absence. Depending on your role, this could be quite a big job. You might have projects in progress, regular responsibilities, deadlines to manage and colleagues who will need to pick things up while you're away.
I'd recommend starting to think about your handover earlier than you think you need to. It's much easier to keep a note of things as you go along than try to remember everything in your final week. Think about the work you do regularly, the projects you're involved in, important contacts and anything that someone covering your role might need to know. You may also want to talk to your manager about what realistically needs to be completed before you leave and what can be handed over.
It's worth remembering that you don't need to finish every project or tie up every loose end. Some things will need to carry on without you, and that's what the handover is there for. If someone is covering your role, try to arrange some time to talk through the important parts of your work. A document is useful, but having the opportunity to ask questions can make a big difference too.
And please don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself to make everything perfect before you go. Your maternity leave is time away from work. A good handover helps everyone know what's happening while you're away, but you shouldn't feel that you have to make yourself available to keep things running.
Don't forget about annual leave and your other work benefits
This is one of those areas that can easily get overlooked when you're thinking about maternity pay and your last day at work. You continue to build up your normal annual leave entitlement while you're on maternity leave, including during any period when you're not receiving maternity pay.
Depending on your employer's arrangements, you might decide to use some of this holiday before your maternity leave starts or add it to the end of your leave. For example, you could take your accrued annual leave immediately after maternity leave finishes, giving yourself a little longer at home before returning to work. It's worth speaking to HR about how much holiday you'll build up, how bank holidays are treated and whether there are any restrictions on carrying leave into the next holiday year.
You should also check what happens to your pension contributions and any other benefits you receive through work. These arrangements can be affected by maternity leave and the amount of pay you're receiving, so it's better to understand what will happen before you finish work. These might seem like small details, but they can make a difference to your finances and the amount of time you have away from work.
Keeping in touch with work while you're on maternity leave
Once your maternity leave starts, you might be more than ready to switch off from work and concentrate on your new arrival. Or you might find that you still want to know what's happening with your team and what's going on in the organisation. There's no right way to approach this. Some women like an occasional email or phone call from their manager. Others prefer to have very little contact until they're ready to think about returning. It's worth having a conversation with your manager before you leave about how you'd like to keep in touch. You can agree who your main contact will be and how you'd prefer to hear about important news or changes at work.
You might also hear about Keeping in Touch (KIT) days. These allow you to work for up to 10 days during maternity leave without bringing your maternity leave or Statutory Maternity Pay to an end. They could be used for training, a team meeting or simply spending some time getting familiar with what's happening at work. KIT days are optional and need to be agreed between you and your employer. You don't have to use them, and you shouldn't feel pressured into doing so. The most important thing is that any contact with work feels right for you. You have a new baby and a lot to adjust to. You don't need to spend your maternity leave worrying about what's happening in the office. For more guidance on KIT days, read this article KIT Days, everything you nee to know.
Thinking about your return to work before you go
I know this might be the last thing you want to think about when you're preparing to have a baby, but giving your return to work a little thought before you leave can be really helpful. You don't need to know exactly what you want your working life to look like. In fact, your priorities may change once your baby arrives and you get used to life as a parent. But it's worth starting to think about the practicalities.
Will you need childcare?
What will that cost?
Will your current working hours still suit you?
Would working different days or having more flexibility make life easier?
You might also want to think about how you'll feel about returning. Some women are excited to get back to work and have a bit of their old routine again. Others find the thought of leaving their baby incredibly difficult. And for plenty of women, it's a mixture of both.
You also have the option of making a flexible working request if you want to change your hours, working pattern or location. You don't have to wait until you've returned to work to start exploring this.
I've dedicated a separate guide to Returning to Work, because there's a lot more to consider than simply agreeing a date with your manager.
Remember, maternity leave is a big life change
It's easy to get caught up in the practical side of maternity leave planning. There's so much to organise that you can end up treating it like another work project, with deadlines to meet and things to tick off. But this is a big change in your life, and it's important to think about how you're feeling too.
You might be excited, nervous, worried about stepping away from your career or unsure how you'll manage everything when the baby arrives. You might even feel a little guilty about leaving work, particularly if you're used to being someone who takes on a lot of responsibility.
Whatever you're feeling, you don't need to have it all figured out. Try to give yourself some breathing space. You don't have to spend every day preparing for the baby, organising the house or worrying about work. It's okay to slow down, ask for help and take things as they come.
Maternity leave isn't just time away from your job. It's a transition into a completely different stage of life, and you deserve support with that too.
Bringing your maternity leave plan together
By now, you can probably see that there's quite a bit more to maternity leave planning than choosing when to finish work. It's about understanding your options, knowing what you'll be paid, having the right conversations with your employer and making sure you've thought about the things that could affect you while you're away and when you return. You don't need to tackle everything in one go. Start with the things that need your attention first, and work through the rest as you go.
If you're looking for somewhere to bring all of this together, that's exactly why I created The Maternity Blueprint.
It's a practical maternity leave planning portal that helps you organise the whole journey in one place. You can work through your maternity pay and finances, keep track of important dates, plan your annual leave, prepare for conversations with your employer and access workplace letters and templates when you need them. Rather than having information scattered across different websites, spreadsheets and notes, you have one place to work through your own maternity leave plan. I've combined my own experience of maternity leave with my professional background in learning and development, people management and neurodiversity to create something that helps you prepare for the whole journey, not just your last day at work.
Your maternity leave should feel calm, not chaotic. You don't need more noise. You need a plan.
Discover The Maternity Blueprint
This guide provides general information for working mums in the UK. Your rights and entitlements may depend on your employment status and individual circumstances. For detailed information about your legal rights, visit GOV.UK or Acas.
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