When should I start maternity leave to prepare for delivery?

The final trimester of pregnancy is often seen as the most stressful and eagerly awaited period. The reason is, you have to prepare physically and mentally as optimally as possible so that you can go through the labor process smoothly. However, it's a different story for pregnant women who are still actively working in the office. Of course, you should immediately take maternity leave until a certain amount of time. So, when is the ideal time?

When is the right time to start taking maternity leave?

According to the Manpower Act No. 13 of 2003, pregnant women are entitled to maternity leave for 1.5 months or about 6 weeks before the delivery process arrives. If you follow these rules, then you can start maternity leave from 36 weeks of gestation.

However, this depends on each mother's condition. In certain conditions, your doctor may advise you to promote maternity leave a few weeks in advance by taking into account the health conditions of the mother and the fetus in the womb.

The length of time on maternity leave is not without reason. This maternity leave aims to prevent mothers from getting tired easily, as well as to provide time for mothers to rest comfortably and calmly before birth. Dense activities during work can make you tired, lack of rest, decreased stamina, so that you get sick easily.

In fact, entering the third trimester of pregnancy you are advised to be extra careful in maintaining the health of the body, and ensure that the baby in the womb remains healthy until the time of delivery.

Because, it is possible that various pregnancy complications will arise in the final trimester. Whether it's bleeding, preeclampsia, anemia, and so on. So, make sure you don't stall for time to take maternity leave right away, huh!

Source: Baby and Child

Don't forget, prepare for the birth carefully!

In addition to preparing physically and mentally before giving birth, the best benefits of your maternity leave are for the following:

1. Set aside time for yourself

Too busy working while pregnant, may make you rarely take care of yourself. Now there is nothing wrong with more "fun" yourself by doing " me time "Which is useful, such as beautifying yourself to the salon, taking prenatal classes, to doing pregnancy exercises.

This method can help relax the body and mind as well as prevent stress before childbirth.

2. Understand the labor process

If this is your second, third, or more pregnancy, you probably understand quite well the intricacies of childbirth. However, what if this is the first time you become pregnant and give birth later?

Don't worry, make sure you find out in advance about the picture during childbirth. Whether it's asking an experienced friend, consulting further with a doctor, or looking for reliable sources on the internet.