When to finish up work??

[soulful]

Hi all

Just debating as to when will be a good time to finish up work? At the moment I'm thinking 4 weeks prior to the due date. Is this sufficient?

Would appreciate any thoughts/recommendations.

TIA

[Taurean]

When do I finish work? Not soon enough!! I'm finishing in just under 5 weeks, at the end of my 33rd week. I'll have 6 weeks if bubs arrives around it's EDD. I think 4 - 6 weeks before your EDD is a nice time frame

[kawazuki]

im plannig on 4 but i work 5 min from home and in a good office style job, with drs around me so feel safe if anything happened.

[Tiff+2]

It really comes down to personal choice and how you are feeling. I finished up work 3 weeks prior to having DD, had quite a demanding job and i was so tired, but I did have to keep jobs for myself to do to prepared for out new addition for me time off so as the time didn't drag more than it was already going to!!! I think 4 weeks is a good amount of time to finish anything you need to and most importantly rest as much as possible! It will also be good for you to take the extra time just incase your bundle decides they'd like to meet you a little early!

Hope all goes well. Enjoy the second half of your pg, its such a beautiful time in your life!

[ss_storm]

I finished up at 36 weeks. Although I had a pretty cruisy job, nice work colleagues, short drive to work, and I was doing general admin duties, I don't think I could have lasted any longer. I couldn't wait to finish up when I did!! And by my last week I was so exhausted by the end of the working day...in my last few weeks at work I took two half-days as flexi time and had a couple of sick days as well...I just wanted it to be over! The time at home has been lovely too, have had plenty of time to relax and do nothing, as well as enough time to sort out things around the house.

[NaeNae]

I plan on finishing up at 34 weeks (so 6 weeks before EDD) I would have loved to have finished earlier though.

[~Hestia~]

I think it all depends on what kind of work you do & how you feel.
I finished up at 30 weeks but I could've easily left earlier!! My job is quite physically demanding so I was well & truly over it, used up all my sick leave leading up to it too.
I'm 34 weeks now & I know I couldn't still be working - I'm stuffed!!
I found it interesting how some people said I was leaving too early, yet others told me I was mad for staying as long as I was!!

[Netty]

6 weeks is the 'norm' I found out last week that to work longer than that, you ar meant to have a note from your Dr stating permission. With DD I had had enough by 6 weeks prior and finished a bit earlier than I thought I would. This time, only working part time and having a nice easy pregnancy, I am going to work right up until I have baby (if I can). I enjoy my work and its not physically stressful so we'll see how we go. Good luck and enjoy the time you do take to relax, get your house in order, nest, read etc.. you wont ever have that sort of time to yourself again..not for a long time anyway

[grub17]

I plan on finishing up at 34 weeks (so 6 weeks before EDD) I would have loved to have finished earlier though.

me too!

plus my work needs doc certficates if i wanna work past 34weeks... i just put that in the too hard basket. Am sssooo looking forward to finishing.

personally, i am finding working full time extremely tiring and i would love to finish now. don't even care about the money. but can't leave them in the lurch like that!

ox

[Miss E]

I finished up at 36 weeks. I've found it has given me a really good amount of time. If bubs had of decided to come a couple of weeks early (which unfortunately they haven't ) I would've been ready. Mind you now that we're a few days over I am growing impatient!

[CherishS2]

I'm trying to work this out too (currently 27wks). I work full-time in retail on my feet for at least 40hrs/week in a pretty physical job. So far i am getting a bit tired (esp working fast-paced weekends) but not too big or uncomfortable yet. I'm thinking about finishing up 4 1/2 weeks before due date but not sure if i am going to get too tired by then. I have to give notice of when i am finishing in about 3 weeks time so i am just trying to hold off making a decision as long as possible. As long as i can manage it, i would like to keep working as long as possible to keep earning money (no paid mat-leave!) and so i don't get bored waiting around at home! lol

[Fleur]

I finished up at 38 weeks 3 days.... really I should have finished much earlier but I was in that same situation, no paid maternity leave & didn't want to go nuts at home. I was just doing admin, so nothing physically demanding although it was stressful.
I think I would have been better off finishing at about 34 - 36 weeks.
Having said all that...I am still working from home atm! with the proviso that of course I reserve the right to have this baby at any time, and leave work unfinished
But I am so reluctant to pass up the money while I can still get a bit.

CherishS2, if your job is in retail on your feet all day, you might want to finish up a bit earlier... those last few weeks get very tiring & hard on you before you realise it. When I gave my dates as 38.5 weeks I didn't know at the time how much it would take it out of me just sitting at a desk good luck

[bellabub]

I finished up at 36+1 wks with DD and she surprised everyone by arriving at 38wks - so I had about 12 days off which definitely was NOT long enough! I had barely finished washing baby clothes and thank goodness I packed my hospital bag at 37+4 wks as I was off to the labour ward at 37+6!

I think it is totally up to you and I was in a fairly demanding corporate job...I would say 34 weeks is a good time.

As for this pregnancy, I have just had my leave approved (I know only work 3 days /week) and I will be dropping to 1 day per week from 30 weeks and finishing up completely at 33wks.

Even if you think you have loads of time, you can always take the final opportunity to get yourself a massage, pedicure etc and enjoy a little pampering before bub arrives