Your occ and when did you go on ML?

[butterfly_warrior]

High school teacher. Finished up at 35 weeks, at the end of the school year.

In hindsight, it was far too long as I spent most of the day on my feet and was severely anemic for the majority of the pregnancy. Fortunately my department carried me through and I managed to make it to the end (which then meant I got 7 weeks of paid holidays before my 14 weeks of paid ML started). Didn't have time to get bored, didn't have time to prepare or rest before Sam arrived at 36 weeks. I'm pretty sure I'll stop much earlier if there's a next baby.

BW

[fionas]

Communications manager - finished up at 38 weeks but prob should have finished sooner as i was an absolute zombie until about 11am most days. Not being pregnant now, I'm only a zombie until 10.30am so a vast improvement

[willow5]

Communications manager - finished up at 38 weeks but prob should have finished sooner as i was an absolute zombie until about 11am most days. Not being pregnant now, I'm only a zombie until 10.30am so a vast improvement

I completely understand, I'm a well known morning zombie...a cranky one at that!

[sloane]

i was a marketing manager. i finished at 32.5 weeks & took a couple of weeks of leave before my official mat leave started. i've taken 12 months but i'm hoping i don't have to go back if i need to work again for financial reasons then i'm planning to look for something closer to home (it was an hour drive each way) & preferably part time.

[Olive]

i was a dental nurse, i was due to finish up at 36 weeks but finished at 34 instead on dr's advise, still nursed up til around 32 weeks which wasnt that easy!

[~Kaz~]

I am a State Govt public servant but had direct contact with clients in my work. There was a lot of sitting down, walking between A and B and sitting down again so not too physical.

I worked right up until 40 weeks. Crazy I know but I felt ok and wanted to get a project as close to finished as possible before I left. If there had been any problems, I could have left a lot sooner. DS was late so I had 10 days at home before he was born and we werent' aware of the problems until a couple of days before he was born.

I'd never work that long again. I was motivated by the thought of having longer off after DS arrived and knew I would go completely berko sitting at home for weeks on end

[Mak]

I work in a public hospital - quite a physical job with lifting and high levels of stress/concentration required. #1 I worked until 36 weeks - #2 I worked until 32 weeks. Both times I had quite a bit of sick leave after 30 weeks. Good luck!

[julie_ann_jules]

Disability Development and Support Officer (nice way of saying I'm a personal carer for adults who have an intellectual disability in supported accomodation ) for Department of Human Services. I worked untill 37 weeks (but needed a Dr's clearance after 34 weeks).

[Sweet Bliss]

I am a self employed Hairdresser, and I was working 2-3 days a week (including one 12 hour day and one 10 hour day, without a break.....only myself to blame!) as well as working 20 hours a week in a call centre and being a Mum to DD5. I worked in the call centre until about 35 weeks, and continued at the salon until about 37 weeks ..in the 45 degree heat!! and DS turned out to be 11pd 2oz by the end I was standing about a metre behind the chair to allow for my bump, and kind of had to stand on my tippy toes to reach my client! And shampooing at the basin was interesting! While my client was lying back relaxing with their eyes closed, I would slump against the basin and try and rest while I washed their hair! And sometimes kick off my shoes when they were not looking!
In all seriousness, I wouldn't push myself so hard again, I honestly don't know how I actually got through some of those days at the end. I was literally wiped out at the end of the day.

The call centre was easy and lovely and cool in the summer, the hairdressing was super hard work, and I now have no idea how I worked so long or so hard....things we do!

I am now back hairdressing 2 days a week, and I am loving it, because in comparison to my schedule before it is a breeze! (although I still do one 12 hour day a week!).

[willow5]

Disability Development and Support Officer (nice way of saying I'm a personal carer for adults who have an intellectual disability in supported accomodation ) for Department of Human Services. I worked untill 37 weeks (but needed a Dr's clearance after 34 weeks).

Jules you're awsome! I admire you that would be physically and emotionally challenging.

I am a self employed Hairdresser, and I was working 2-3 days a week (including one 12 hour day and one 10 hour day, without a break.....only myself to blame!) as well as working 20 hours a week in a call centre and being a Mum to DD5. I worked in the call centre until about 35 weeks, and continued at the salon until about 37 weeks ..in the 45 degree heat!! and DS turned out to be 11pd 2oz by the end I was standing about a metre behind the chair to allow for my bump, and kind of had to stand on my tippy toes to reach my client! In all serious, I wouldn't push myself so hard again, I honestly don't know how I actually got through some of those days at the end. I was literally wiped out at the end of the day.

OMG! I'd need to take on extra work to compete with that!!...imagine how big DS might have been if you dropped hours and stopped work earlier