Leave cannot start before the birth and the start date must be one of the following:
1. The actual date of birth of the child.
2. A number of days after the birth agreed with the employer.
3. An agreed number of days after the expected week of childbirth agreed with the employer.
Leave must finish within 56 days of the birth (or due date if the baby is early). The start and end dates are different if the employee is adopting.