How long did you stay at work before giving birth?

I am thinking of staying at work up until 2 weeks or a week & a half before my due date. Has anyone else done this and if so, how did you find it?

I stayed at work until 38 weeks exactly.
My employer allows us to work until our due date, but a lot of employers will have a restriction, and a maximum no. weeks gestation that you can work up until. 34 and 36 weeks are quite common.

I had a very non-eventful pg though (no m/s, etc), and a desk job.
My work had a first aid room with a bed (stretcher type - like a massage table) though, so I would go in at lunchtime most days in the later stages and rest with my feet up for a half hour.

My son was 10 days overdue, and I did find it drove me insane being at home on my own for so long as he was my first bub, so I am not sure what I would have done if I had finished any earlier.

Hi rayray,

I have had a pretty uneventful pregnancy to date, and know I wouldn't cope sitting at home. I have briefly spoken with my OM & she seems to think that if I'm still ok & happy to work then that should be fine, but we haven't really discussed actual dates yet.

Did your OB put a limit on how late you could stay at work? Maybe I should discuss it with him at our next appt to see if he has any limits on working......

Mine didn't. I had shared care with my GP though, not sure if that would make a difference.

He said becuase of the pg I'd had I could stay at work as long as I liked..I think it helped though that I don't have a labour intensive job etc, and I could rest at work if i needed to.

I worked up until 37 weeks. I had two weeks off, and then she was born at just before 39 weeks. If i had any longer between finishing work and birth, i think I would have gone insane lol. I had a pretty uneventful pregnancy and an easy sit-down job. I had to get a medical certificte to say I was able to work later than 34 weeks.

I stayed at work unti 38 weeks (I think) and then worked from home until the day I was due..........it could have been the cause of going overdue and being induced maybe...

This time I'm stopping a month before and maybe even still sending my daughter into childcare a few days a week so that I can veg on the sofa, watch somwe DVD's and get myself ready for the birth.

hi
I worked on a Friday, and my waters broke on the following sunday, and i gave birth on the tuesday.
on that friday i felt like finishing up work, and having a week off to rest - but never got that rest!!
i'd say work for as long as you feel good, and providing your boss will let you take it easy when you need to. i was really active in my preg - gentle gym workouts and swimmimg, so i felt ok to keep working.
hope you enjoy the rest of your pregancy,:)

From about 34 weeks I went to a 4 day week & had every Wednesday day off. From 38 weeks I was on maternity leave, but doing work from home (& still am LOL)!

I am still working three days a week at 38 weeks 6 days - and am stuffed! But I would rather stil work now while I can so I can spend time with bubba after as I don't receive any paid leave...and will be working from home a few hours a week with bubba too....just do what feels right for you, thats the main thing.

I finished up at 36 wks ... I did get a bit bored at home, but I was absolutely stuffed going in to work each day, so I am glad that I didn't stay any longer. There was a girl at my work who worked up until a few days before her due date ... she seemed to cope OK (must have had more energy than I did lol).

I went off at 34 weeks, but I could hardly walk, and my desk job really wasn't a desk job IYKWIM. I was lucky enough to have enough sick leave to have that long off though.

at the moment i am planning to work to about 38 wks. i have a desk job though and i am able to work from home as much as i like so that helps. i have spokenwith work and said i will just see how i feel closer to the time. may drop to 4 days a week or something.

I worked til 35wks with Indah & then she was a week overdue, I was SO bored, but my job involves climbing around & inspecting trucks/ deliveries, samplig stock etc, I get very exhausted, so I am working til 36wks this time... I will have a 2yr old at home & she is very tiring & entertaining!!!!

With Alex, I didn't "finish" work as I was hospitalised at 29 weeks.

With Ned, I finished work at 16 weeks on doctor's orders.

I'm finishing work at 36wks. I was planning to work right up to just a week or so before birth because I have just got a desk job. But I am so over my work and I just need the 'break' before the baby comes.

I worked up until 35 weeks, was supposed to be till 36 weeks but I just couldn't do it anymore. I have a desk job too but have to travel to the city on the train (an hour each way) and the travel and the heat buggered me. I was due on Christmas day and went over 10 days - didn't get bored at all!

I look back on that time now, at home nesting and waiting for my baby, and I am sooooo glad I did it. It was wonderful.

I worked too 36 weeks at a desk job, but I travelled on the train as well and found that I was exhausted. I ended up taking a day a week off as sick leave just too have a break in the middle of the week.

i have a desk job, in a not very stressful environment, and i am finishing at 34 weeks. Can not wait. Have my replacement already there, (having a day off today) and might even start using up my sick pay if my boss isnt going to pay it out.

Thank you everyone for letting me know what you are doing or have done.

I am going to start taking every wednesday off a week from about 32 weeks, up until I leave (38 or 39 wks). I have a desk job, so think I will stay as long as possible, and having the wednesday's off will make it easier plus give me time to start organising myself.

I finish work in 2 weeks at 34 weeks. I have had a lot going on in my personal life and feel I really need time before first baby arrives to rest and prepare mentally and practically as much as I can. Ive had insomnia for over 2 months and I really need to wind down and try to get more rest so Im leaving early.

I'm planning on working for as long as I can, mostly because I doubt I'll be entitled to any maternity pay at all, and it will be a struggle for us to survive on only DH's pay. I'm a casual teacher, and therefore no sick pay, holiday pay or maternity leave. The flexibility of the job is great, but now I want stability and entitlements! This is actually my biggest worry about my pregnancy. DH and I have worked out we should be able to save enough between now and the first so I sould stay off work for 4 months before I have to go back. Luckiyl when I do go back, one day a week will tide us over for the essentials and bills. I plan to breastfeed, and while I know my mother will be happy to mind our little star while I'm at work, I'm worried about how my breasts will cope with 7 hours without expressing or feeding!

I know this is a bit O/T but if anyone has any advice on entitlements for casual teachers, or if breasts can cope with about 7 hours, I'd be amazingly grateful!

Lisa xx

I was going for 38 but ended up leaving at 37 - buggered and in need of some R&R and a mental break before bub arrives.

I'd just say try to arrange things so you leave some options open - ie, negotiate to do a few less days per week if you can, or have an arrangement where you can leave earlier if you find you need to. Your body/mind tells you what's right for you I think.

I finished at 32 weeks, because I could, and because my job isn't really easy in the third tri, most girls seem to finish at around 32 weeks.

I'm so glad I did cos I went into labour at 35 weeks (to the day!). I would have felt really ripped off if I'd had no maternity leave at all! I always had a feeling I'd go early though.

i was going to finish at 36 weeks but was told bub was on the small side and that i needed to rest more so finished at 34 weks and took the next 2 weeks as sick leave

With #1 i worked until 38 weeks but had wednesdays off from about 34 weeks as i was getting so overtired and coming down with bugs. I worked to 36 weeks with #2 as he was due at 38 wks by elective c/s. The last week both times was completely crap and i felt like i'd pushed it abit too far and was just about desk-bound. Good luck whatever you do - just enjoy the peace and quiet and being able to do what you want when you want it!

I was planning to work to 38-39 weeks but my job is pretty full-on and no-one in my office seemed to gett he hint that I was going on leave so the worked kept piling up. I ended up finishing at 35-36 weeks but I had a cold that wouldn't go away (it was the middle of winter), we were renovating and the house was totally disorganised (we didn't buy a cot till 39 weeks!) and I was very worried and stressed about preparations for bub. Somehow, though, I suspect I will stick around a bit longer with Little One, because the weather will be better, I will be stricter with telling people "NO MORE WORK THANKS" and I think I will be less worried about preparing for bub. I know of second bubs who have slept in cardboard boxes because mum is so casual about everything - I am hoping to channel a bit of that "relaxed" behaviour myself this time LOL!!!

With my daughter I left work at about 36 weeks due to the conditions at my work and the swelling of my ankles (I had high blood pressure too). With the next one I'm going to work all the way through until the Friday and Ill have a c-section on the Monday. From the beginning of August however Im going to be having 1 day off a week and Sept Ill be having 2 days off so Im cutting down a lot. Having the Wednesday off is really good though cos it gives u that rest in the middle of the week when u need it.

I'm going to finish at 34 weeks

I'm finishing at the end of 36 wks, on a Friday. My midwives appts are always on a friday in the afternoon, so I'll be leaving even earlier! Saturdays are the start of a new week so my first day of maternity leave will be 37wks. I feel kinda guilty that there'll be 3-4 wks with no income and I'll be at home and bored stiff; but lately I've been feeling really ill and dizzy and feel like I have constant cold with no energy. My replacement seems to have the hang of everything and I can sit and supervise her until my last day! Betcha it wont work like that (I'm at work right now, trying to put off doing anything coz I just don't have the energy or concentration needed :( ) Excluding today 14 work days to go til maternity leave!

I started part-time work from about 22 weeks. I was going to work right up to my due date, but went into labour at 35 1/2 weeks, so I finished work on the Monday and gave birth on the Tuesday. It was quite unreal.

I worked until the 37 weeks, was having half days by then and coming home and sleeping. Was looking forward to a couple of week of rest. Finished work on the Friday water broke on Sunday morning and had baby Sunday afternoon. With nothing prepared for at home, thank god for family.

I had a job with lots of lifting etc when I was pg with Kat. I left at 26wks I think as I just couldn't lift as much and ppl were covering for me and I felt bad about that. We didn't really NEED my income, I had early signs of PE and was getting kicked every time I dared lift someone into bed. Not ideal (esp as the people I was lifting were heavy oldies who were unable to help at all, but certainly could fight u if they decided). It simply became too risky for me to keep lifting heavy loads and doing so much. I also had to drive for an Hr to get to work and my shifts were evening and DH would worry about me driving tired after work....
Trust ur body and what it tells u..... It knows best....

i worked to 36+2 and had ashley at 39+2.
so 3 weeks which i think was plenty!

I am leaving work in 2 days, thank heavens. I was supposed to leave at 34 weeks, but got a certificate to say I could work to 36 weeks. This is because my leave starts from the day I go, and I have to come back in 1 year, so I wanted the maximum time with my baby.

But golly gosh, am I exhausted. And are my feet swollen! Desk job or no desk job (in my case, it's half and half), these babies look like puffer fish with toes.
Kirsten

worked till saturday and had a planned c sect the following thurs... so 4 days before he was due ... he was born at 40 wks

I remember a girl I worked with who was pregnant with twin girls. She'd planned to leave work at 36 weeks pregnant but struggled so much getting up the hill etc, she ended up leaving on a Wednesday at around 34 weeks pregnant. She went into labour two days later and had her girls on the Saturday IIRC. *L*

Meanwhile, I had a single pregnancy and despite my plans to work until 36 weeks (which would have been good as I was due at Christmas and my daughter ended up being 10 days overdue), I was so sick I had to leave at 16 weeks pregnant! *L*

An update to last post here.. With the way things are going here, I was thinking I might try and get in another week so I could get paid for a full months work (darn monthly pay!), and then I'd know my replacement had it all down pat. Unfortunately, my dh (bless him) wont let me. Put his foot down and has no intention of backing off! Lucky me. Still, that count down is on (and it still seems forever til bub is here!)!

I have twins and worked up to 30 weeks. My OB said she usually advises women to stop at 28 weeks with twins but as I was healthy said 30 weeks would be fine.I was a retail manager and on my feet all the time.I remember my last day of work I came home from work and burst into tears I emotionally and physically could not have done another day.

I had the girls at 36 weeks and 4 days.Most of that 6 and a half weeks was spent sleeping and confined to the lounge.LOL

Originally I had planned to finish at 38 weeks but now I'm thinking 36 weeks and take Wednesdays off from now (currently 29 weeks). They have just advertised for my replacement so it kinda depends on when they can start, hoping it will be sooner rather than later. No Maternity Leave here as a contractor :(

With my DD I worked til 35 weeks, but really should have stopped at 34 as I fell over that week, I was just feeling tired and heavy etc etc. This time I wil be finishing at the end of 3rd term so at 28 weeks. Partly because I am on an end dated contract and only get paid maternity leave untill the end of it so I want to make the most of the 14 weeks paid as possible. Also it will be easier to find a replacement at the beginning of a term rather than halfway through. Plus it gives me some time to spend with DD before #2 comes along.