How do I calculate my maternity leave dates?

Start from your due date. Your leave start date is the due date minus however many weeks you stop working early, and your return date is the leave start plus your total leave length. This calculator maps all three dates.

What happens if my baby comes early?

If your baby arrives before your planned leave start, leave usually begins automatically the day after the birth. In the UK, a pregnancy-related illness in the last 4 weeks can also trigger leave early, and your return date shifts accordingly.

When do I have to tell my employer?

In the UK, by the 15th week before your due date. In the US, FMLA generally asks for 30 days' notice when leave is foreseeable, such as a birth. Early written notice is always wise.

Is maternity leave paid?

It depends. US FMLA leave is unpaid federally, though some states and employers pay. The UK pays Statutory Maternity Pay for up to 39 weeks. Use a maternity pay calculator to estimate your own pay.

Should I use my leave before or after the birth?

That is personal. Working until the due date saves more time for recovery and bonding afterwards, while starting earlier gives rest and preparation time. The sliders let you test different splits.

Is my job protected during maternity leave?

Often yes. FMLA protects eligible US employees' jobs for up to 12 weeks, and UK employees have the right to return. Protection depends on eligibility and service length, so confirm with HR.

Maternal Health · Dexocalc

Maternity Leave Timeline Calculator

Plan your maternity leave around your due date — see your last day of work, when your leave starts, and your return-to-work date, mapped out on a clear visual timeline with the key deadlines you shouldn’t miss.

Reviewed by Charlotte Rose, RN Reviewed: July 2026 · Rules per US DOL (FMLA) & GOV.UK

This planner maps your dates so you can picture your leave and talk to your employer with confidence. Leave laws and workplace policies vary, so always confirm the details with your HR team or a government source before making firm plans.

Which rules apply to you?

FMLA gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave. We’ve set 12 weeks as your default — adjust the sliders to match your plan.

Your baby’s due date

Start leave 1 week before the due date

At due date6 wks before12 wks before

Total leave length: 12 weeks

2 wks26 wks52 wks

Enter your due date and choose your leave plan to see your full maternity leave timeline.

How the maternity leave timeline calculator works

Working out maternity leave dates in your head is surprisingly fiddly — you’re juggling a due date, how early you want to stop working, how long you’ll be off, and a return date that has to land on the right day. This calculator does all of that from a single starting point: your due date. Tell it how many weeks before the due date you’d like to begin leave and how long you’ll take in total, and it maps out your last day at work, your leave start date, and your return-to-work date on a clear visual timeline.

Pick a region preset to load sensible defaults — the US FMLA 12-week model or the UK’s up-to-52-week entitlement — or choose Custom to match any employer policy. Since your leave is anchored to your due date, it pairs naturally with our Reverse Due Date Calculator if you need to double-check that date first.

Quick answer

Your maternity leave start date is your due date minus the number of weeks you choose to stop working early, and your return date is your leave start date plus your total leave length. In the US, FMLA offers eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave; in the UK, eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks, with leave startable from 11 weeks before the due date.

When should you start maternity leave?

There’s no single right answer — it depends on your health, your energy, how physical your job is, and how you’d rather split your time between before and after the birth. Many people work right up until the due date to save every possible day for after the baby arrives; others stop 1 to 4 weeks early to rest and prepare. In the US, FMLA leave typically begins at the birth (or a little before if your provider advises it); in the UK, leave can start any time from 11 weeks before the due date, and it kicks in automatically if you’re off with a pregnancy-related illness in the last 4 weeks, or the day after the baby is born if that comes first.

Maternity leave by country: a quick comparison

Country	Leave length	Pay	Job protected?
United States	Up to 12 weeks (FMLA)	Unpaid federally; some states & employers pay	Yes, if FMLA-eligible
United Kingdom	Up to 52 weeks	39 weeks paid (SMP): 6 at 90%, then statutory rate	Yes
Canada	Up to 15 weeks maternity + parental	~55% of earnings via EI	Yes
Australia	Up to 18 weeks paid parental leave	National minimum wage	Yes

Figures are general guides and change over time — always check the current rules for your location. To estimate what you’ll actually be paid during leave, use our Maternity Pay Calculator.

Notice periods and deadlines you shouldn’t miss

The dates that trip people up are the notice deadlines. In the UK, you must tell your employer you’re pregnant, your expected week of childbirth, and your intended leave start date by the 15th week before the due date — and give 8 weeks’ notice if you later want to change your return date. In the US, FMLA generally asks for 30 days’ notice where the leave is foreseeable, such as a birth. Your calculated timeline flags these deadlines for you so nothing sneaks up. Whatever your region, giving your employer early, written notice makes the whole process smoother.

A worked example

Say your due date is 6 December and you’re planning US FMLA leave. You decide to stop working one week before, so your last day at work is around 28 November, your leave starts 29 November, and with 12 weeks total you’d return around 21 February. Prefer to work right up to the due date instead? Your 12 weeks would then run from early December into late February, giving you more recovery time after the birth. The sliders let you test both in seconds.

Related maternal health calculators

This tool is part of the Maternal Health Calculators hub. These companion tools cover pay, dating, and pregnancy planning — each answers a different question, so choose whichever fits where you are.

Frequently asked questions

Start from your due date. Your leave start date is the due date minus however many weeks you choose to stop working early, and your return date is the leave start plus your total leave length. This calculator maps all three dates for you.

In the UK, the earliest is usually 11 weeks before your due date. In the US under FMLA, leave typically begins at the birth or shortly before if medically advised. Your own employer’s policy may allow different timing.

It varies widely by country. The US offers up to 12 weeks of job-protected FMLA leave, the UK up to 52 weeks, Canada around 15 weeks of maternity benefit plus parental leave, and Australia up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Employer policies can add more.

If your baby arrives before your planned leave start, your leave usually begins automatically on the day after the birth. In the UK, being off with a pregnancy-related illness in the last 4 weeks can also trigger leave early. Your return date then shifts accordingly.

In the UK, by the 15th week before your due date. In the US, FMLA generally asks for 30 days’ notice when the leave is foreseeable, such as a birth. Giving early written notice is always wise, whatever your region.

It depends. US FMLA leave is unpaid at the federal level, though some states and employers offer paid leave. The UK pays Statutory Maternity Pay for up to 39 weeks. To estimate your own pay, try our Maternity Pay Calculator.

That’s personal. Working until the due date saves more time for bonding and recovery afterwards, while starting earlier gives you rest and space to prepare. The sliders let you test different splits and see how each affects your return date.

In many places, yes. FMLA protects your job for eligible US employees for up to 12 weeks, and UK employees have the right to return to their role. Protection depends on eligibility and length of service, so confirm your situation with HR.

The date maths is exact for the inputs you give. But real entitlements depend on your country, state, employer, and service length, and your baby’s actual arrival date will shift everything. Treat it as a planning guide and confirm specifics with HR.

Methodology

This calculator builds your leave timeline from your due date. The leave start date is the due date minus your chosen number of pre-birth weeks; your last day at work is the day before that; and your return-to-work date is the leave start date plus your total leave length in weeks. Region presets load common defaults — the US FMLA maximum of 12 weeks of job-protected leave, and the UK entitlement of up to 52 weeks with leave available from 11 weeks before the due date — while Custom mode lets you enter any employer policy. Milestone reminders reflect widely published rules, including the UK’s notice deadline at the 15th week before the due date and its automatic-start triggers, and the US FMLA guidance of 30 days’ notice for foreseeable leave. These are general, educational estimates. Actual eligibility, pay, notice requirements, and job protection depend on your jurisdiction, employer, and circumstances, and this tool is not legal, financial, or HR advice.

Reviewer

Charlotte Rose, RN A professional nurse turned SEO strategist and web designer with 10+ years of experience in the online health field. Charlotte reviewed this planner’s date logic and educational content for accuracy and clarity.

References & trusted sources

Last reviewed & updated: July 2026.