Your occ and when did you go on ML?

[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!

[Cassius2]

i was a PhD student and a monographs and journal editor at a publishing house.

took leave of the PhD at 30 weeks due to crazy stress and poor support networks for students in 'special circumstances'.

finished up my editorial position at 35 weeks.

glad i finished both when i did. got a chance to chill and kind of savour the moments of the pregnancy (and well, induldge in daytime tv and nanna naps). DD arrived at 38 weeks so didnt get as long as i thought...

[willow5]

I work in a public hospital - quite a physical job with lifting and high levels of stress/concentration required.

My job is physical and involves some lifting and on my feet the whole time...not so much of the stress and concentration though, which is good cos concentration is not my thing of late

I'm feeling pretty good now just trying to guesstimate when to stop is hard when you're doing ok, thanks again for all the responses...food for thought

[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

[Sweet Bliss]

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

I know! I have wondered the same thing actually, he would have been like 15pd!!! He was 59.5cm long too, all genetic I think, DH is really tall and lean, and I think DS is heading the same way. It is funny cos I actually lost my appetite while pregnant too, so imagine if I had eaten as I normally do....actually I don't want to think about it!! . (by the way I had a great birth with no pain relief so it was all okay! Don't want to scare you!)

[willow5]

I know! I have wondered the same thing actually, he would have been like 15pd!!! He was 59.5cm long too, all genetic I think, DH is really tall and lean, and I think DS is heading the same way. It is funny cos I actually lost my appetite while pregnant too, so imagine if I had eaten as I normally do....actually I don't want to think about it!! . (by the way I had a great birth with no pain relief so it was all okay! Don't want to scare you!)

That's one big baby! I'm sure going off your food was your body's way of regulating bubs growth

[volcomkitty]

I'm slave labour...aka Car Detailer (& supervisor to the 3 other women that I worked with). I finished up at 37 weeks, then sat around for the 3 and 1/2 weeks. It wasn't until I finished that the blood pressure was always up and the cankles started. My contractions never started until the Friday evening the day before DD was born, and honestly I felt like I probably could have worked right up to then...

[~Hestia~]

I'm a nurse in a high level care facility. Due to the 7am starts, heavy patient load, spending 8.5 hours on my feet & physical demands of the job I started ML at 30 weeks though I could've easily started at 24 weeks!! The first 6 weeks I took as annual leave.
I loved having all that time at home before my son arrived & felt sooo much more relaxed in the last trimester.

[chickenlittle]

Wow... lots of teachers and health care workers here!

I do voice overs for a living, very fortunate to have flexible hours as it's freelance but I work through an agent so I just let them know how much work I am willing to accept and when.

I have worked right up to delivery for first 2 preg, again will do so this time, albeit in a reduced capacity, and with someone driving me around for a bit in the last week or two as I just get too tired.

I don't have maternity leave as I'm self employed.

I go back to work after about 3 weeks at home; at first it's only an hour or two on say two days a week, and I increase the volume of work by a couple of hours each week. Still I don't work as hard as usual as I breastfeed and make time to come home or only work a short while between feeds.

My hubby is the kids' main carer and will have 2 years off on paternity leave.

[willow5]

Really interesting to hear all the different occupations!

Like chickenlittle said quite a few teachers and health care workers...only one voice over lady though, pretty cool we've probly heard your voice!