Yes well I added 2 weeks of my annual leave onto the start of my maternity leave (here in UK) otherwsie I would have been working up until D-Day as it were. That would have been fun, might have given birth under myt desk or behind a filing cabinet! 
It's funny you should say that. My company in the US didn't pay for maternity leave until you had the baby, unless you had to stop working for medical reasons. (Being 40 weeks pregnant didn't count). I didn't have any spare vacation and couldn't afford to take unpaid time off, so I continued to work. My due day was on a Wednesday, when I showed up to work on Thursday people were suprised. Friday was a holiday, so when I showed up to work the following Monday (now 5 days over due) everyone was visibily uncomfortable. Luckly I was set up to work from home (the day doesn't end a 5), so they let me work from home for the next 2 weeks. I wish I could have just relaxed, instead of sitting at the computer at home.
The funniest part is that at 2 weeks over due, I had to go into the office to check a print out. I felt fine and the baby was fine, but the look of horror on the men's faces at the office.
Half were following me arround like I was going to go into labor at any moment, and the other half were hiding. Looking back, I have to laugh about the day my supervisor came up to me and asked what to do if I go into labor. He was so sweet and absolutly teriffied that I
was going to have the baby under my desk.
I calmly told him that if I went into labor in the office, he wouldn't know, I'd just tell him I wasn't feeling well and go home. That didn't make him feel any better, but the last thing I was going to need was a bunch of 50 something men freeking out while I was in labor.
I did take my full 6 weeks off paid, and could have taken off an additional 6 weeks unpaid (like I could afford that). But to my companie's credit, they were a bit more progressive. I work in the office in the morning and from home in the afternoon. There aren't to many women there and most have grown kids, but the few of us with small kids, they are quite good to. And seeing as we all gave birth in a 6 month span of eachother, they didn't have much of a choice. I chalk it upto the fact that it's a Norwegian company, and while they aren't going to give their US employees Norwegian benefits (18 months full pay anyone), they're flexable.
I guess a real perk about the UK is that you get a tax credit (for having more dependents) and money each week from the government. And another perk about the UK is the NHS. Now before you get all upset, my health insurance will only cover $500 per year for well visits. At $175 a visit, if you claim it on the insurance. It's half if you pay cash. And the immunizations were going to be hundreds of dollars as well, but I went to a state clinic where they are $10 a shot. You get all that covered and someone to come by your house to check on you.
After all of the money we shelled out for having a baby and keeping him healthy, as well as not getting as much back from the government, I can see how many people see the UK as better. But I am happy with the US and it's quirky system. My husband is still getting used to it, but at least he doesn't compare everything to the UK anymore. I guess the better system is the system you know and have learned to adapt to.
