Starting your maternity leave

You can start your maternity leave any day from 11 weeks before their due date.

Your maternity leave will start earlier than the date you pick if:

• your baby comes early, or
• you're off work with an illness related to your pregnancy, and this happens in the 4 weeks before the week of your due date

Before you start your maternity leave

Shortly before your maternity leave begins, your line manager should discuss a handover and arrangements for keeping in touch during maternity leave.

You and your manager are encouraged to maintain reasonable contact during maternity leave to make the return to work easier. It is recommended that the frequency and method of contact during maternity leave be discussed in advance of maternity leave starting.