When did you start maternity leave?

[Olive]

i was due to finish as 36 weeks but was advised to stop ealier due to bubs been small, finished at 34 weeks had sophie at 38+4

[Serendypyty]

I stopped work at 35 weeks, but I was going to work up until I was 38-39 weeks. I was told I have pre-eclampsia and I'm on BP meds now, and the doctors advised me against going back to work. This actually made me upset because we have quite a big mortgage and I was totally stressing about money, which is why I was going to work so close to my due date. My DH said that we would find a way around the money issue and he has been really supportive about me being at home.

In hindsight I think it's much better to finish a little earlier if you can, because if I had kept working closer to my due date, I wonder what sort of harm I may have done to bub. Also, I had been so busy at work that I don't think I realised how exhausted I was!!

[satya]

I started mine today. Yay!!!!!!

I'm 37 weeks today (by LMP) or 38 weeks on Sunday (per the early scans). I was probably ready to finish up a week ago but as I had committed to finishing yesterday and my OB could see no reason for me to finish early (despite having huge sore feet) I worked right through as planned. Not bad for a 42 yo who got told by the first OB that I'd be almost certainly off work from 30 weeks due to age factors.

[Mum2twoBoys]

Hi,

Thought I would reignite this thread. I am currently only just over 5 weeks pg, but trying to get an idea of when people went on maternity leave or plan to. I am currently a fulltime nurse in a busy surgical ward and work night shifts, which are 10.5 hours long. Let me just say I dont have much time to sit around and not sure how others will be able to help my load much more as said earlier it is a very busy ward. And a lot of the time our 6-7 patients are heavy enough without having to help a pg person.

So some ideas from others would be great

[Babyluv]

Bskilner your job is very demanding, I think you just work for as long as you can or want to and don't feel guilty about taking leave when you feel you can't do it anymore.
10 hr shifts, I wouldn't cope, I've had a few of those lately and ended up in tears to my hubby saying how exhausted I was.
I am taking leave in 4 weeks woohoo, it couldn't come soon enough to be honest as i'm exhausted.

[Wonky]

I was on my feet all day during my pregnancies, I left work 4 weeks before my due date each time (an my planned due date for 2nd bub). But i would have left earlier if it was becomming too much. 10.5 hour shifts with lots of heavy lifting sounds pretty full on to me. Even if u can start reducing the hours you work or they can find u a less strenuous roll as your pregnancy progresses?

[Porsche]

Hi Ladies

I hopefully plan on working till 36 - 37 weeks. I work in an office in air con all day so I don't see a problem with working later if I feel ok to do so. My work also like you to finish up at 6 weeks to go and require a medical certificte if you want to work longer.