how to make DP let me stay at work longer?

[tattoo_mama]

hi girls,

im 30 weeks pg on sunday and work in a retail clothing store part time (20 hrs a week over 4 days). i enjoy my job (alothough it can be stressful) and love being busy, sometimes too much (been told off by manager for still lifting things/running round like mad), and go abit crazy on my days off cause of boredom!!
DP wants me to finish up work at 35 weeks, but i want to work up until about 38 weeks, i have been told by my manager to only hang clothes and work the till, and i get a chair to sit in while at the till, so its not strenuous, but DP wants me to 'relax' for the last 4 or weeks (or longer if she comes after her EDD)....
babys room is totally set up, all her little clothes washed and reasy, and our house is top to toe perfectly clean (due to a combination of being a clean freak and nesting!) so i know have 4 or 5 weeks off is going to drive me mad!!

can you girls give me any ideas on how to encourage DP to let me stay a week or 2 longer to save my sanity, or if not, some ideas of what i can do to stop me going bored!! (ive worked out in those weeks off ill only have 2 or 3 days of being busy, i cant sit at home for the other 4!!!!)

[AnyDream]

Wait until you are 35 weeks and make (& justify) your decision on how you're feeling then! You'll know for sure if you've got three more weeks of work in you or not.

[ss_storm]

Could you work part time up until you are ready to leave? Although just going back over your post (sorry I didn't read it properly the first time! Lol) you only work 20 hours a week anyway, so there's not a whole lot to cut back on... if you are really keen to keep on working, remind your DP how useful the extra money will be once you have your baby...I would love to keep working up until then, I don't love my job that much, but the money would sure be handy! I just don't think I would cope... maybe stress to your DP how important it is to you that you keep yourself occupied and that being home for those few weeks could drive you mad, if you are sure that you won't need some "chill" time before the birth?

If you do end up leaving work though, do you have any hobbies, such as sewing or scrapbooking etc you can work on? Or if you don't, maybe you could start? I have a whole list of stuff I would love to get done, but working full time never get the chance to do...I can send you my to-do list! LOL

[Lulu]

Start thinking out loud about using his power tools for a project you can do now you will have SO much time off......

[tattoo_mama]

Start thinking out loud about using his power tools for a project you can do now you will have SO much time off......

LMAO power tools i wish i could get him into that stuff...too attached to his guitar and computer!
he knows i come home stressed a fair bit, most of the girls i work with are 15-17 yr olds and do nothing and being an ex-retail manager it is verrrry hard to sit there and watch them do nothing without doing it myself!!
he keeps saying 'whats more important this baby or ur job"....like derrr of course the baby!!!
cause im part time and not planning on going back for atleast a yr (been there less than a yr so no mat. leave but they said theyd take me back whenever i want to return), i have to give 2 weeks notice, was thinking of handing it in AT 35 weeks and saying to him, "no, i told you id QUIT at 35 weeks, they need 2 weeks notice" LOL

i really want to learn how to sew and mum has given me her old sweing maching but all the classes i can find are evening classes and it clashes with when DP finishes work, we only have one car so either i have the car and pick him up or he takes the car and im stuck at hm)

[satya]

Just tell him I worked a 40 hour week right up to 37 weeks & was 42 years old at the time. That should fix him up.

I must say though I wish I'd finished up at 36 weeks as I had to walk around the office in barefeet that last week due to too much fluid plus I was just generally uncomfortable. I did manage to do it though so you might just be able to to.

I found it really boring at home for the 7 what would have been workdays that I had off before the bub was born cos I had prepared everything in advance. I spent those days stressing about going overdue and it was not a good thing at all (and it didn't happen).

If he keeps insisting on it the only advice I can give you is to find a site where they have a good chat room where you can chat any time of the day. I only found one after I'd given birth and wished I'd found it to use in those last few days where all I wanted to do was sit & chat.

[LimeSlice]

You could show him the photo of me in the Gallery mowing the lawn in 40 degree heat on my EDD as proof of what insanity you could get up if you are made to stay home being bored! lol

[mrsmac]

I would wait until you get closer to 35 weeks and see how you feel then. I had great plans of working until 38 weeks with DD2 but lasted until 36 barely (admittedly that was FT in the wet season in Darwin)

[MamaPan]

can you ask your care provider for their opinion? that may help sway him - if all is going well etc etc they wont have a prob with it...
i think it is v important to do what suits you at the time, depending on how you feel. i worked up to 38 wks (DS was born at 39 wks) and this was right for me, i am not the type to be at home and i would have been working myself up with all the 'what ifs' if i had time on my hands.. others feel differently. that said, i think i will finish a bit earlier this time around...

[Jo-O]

I second MRSMAC.
I had full plans of staying at work until 36-37 weeks,(I get really bored at home!!), but I only just made it to 34 weeks, due to fatigue and SPD.
Mind you I felt great right up until then, it just all hit me suddenly at 34 weeks.

Really in the end you need to do what is right for you.
Explain to DP that you know your body and abilities best, and that he needs to understand that. Failing that you could threaten to take up bunjy jumping! LOL

Good luck