Hellobee Boards

I don't really have a choice as my position is a FT position. If I need to modify my schedule I would have to use PTO shorten my weeks. I'm hoping to work up until my due date to maximize my PTO after mat leave is over and baby is here.

I worked until about a week before my due date, when I put on bed rest. This time I'm planning on working from home the last couple weeks to hopefully prevent myself from over doing it. I was a mess last time, blood pressure kept getting high, spilling protein, problems standing and walking, out of breath all the time.

The only people that ever really asked about working though were at my OBs office. I always thought it was weird when they'd ask "Are you still working?" Um yes, my salary is quite useful in keeping us home and fed, thank you.

Yes. I had my lunch packed for work the next day when my water broke. I was working from home 2 days a week for two weeks per my doctor. I had some swelling and being able to prop my feet up helped those days.

LO1 - yes, water started leaking as I was in the office. I had planned to work til my due date but she was 2 weeks early.

LO2 - yes, had my 38w appt that morning and planned to go into work that afternoon but went into labor instead. Headed straight to the hospital from my appt and delivered a few hours later. Planned to work til my due date, though.

LO3 - this time I am scheduled to start maternity leave 2 weeks before my due date! Though I think that will pretty much be like working til I deliver, with my track record.

FWIW-- my office is pretty low-stress and my coworkers/boss are supportive either way. But, it is at least 1 hour from the hospital so that's been more of a factor with this pregnancy since I take it I will have a pretty quick labor/delivery.

I was in school while pregnant with #1, but I worked full time up until the bitter end with #2 and #3. I am a nurse and worked 12 hour shifts with #2. I had moved into management by the time I was pregnant with #3, so was working 8 hour shifts.

Yes, I did with my second baby. (My first one my doc pulled me at 38 weeks because of my blood pressure.)

This time, I worked until 8 pm Monday night. My water broke at 8:45 after I had been home about 10 minutes. Baby was born at 8 the next morning, about 1 hour after when DH texted my boss to say I was not coming in that day LOL.

ETA: I'm on my feet a lot at work and the last month or two sucked! So glad baby came at 39w exactly and not 40+5 like her big sister.

@blackbird: in some states, (like NJ!), there is a state law that you can go out 4 weeks before your due date on disability leave. I've never taken it though, since I'm a teacher and have had summer babies.

Hell yeah I did. I wasn't about to use up sick time just for the heck of it! My doc put me on work rest at 34 weeks, because a) she wanted to keep the babies in as long as possible and thought that I would go into labor early because b) I'm a teacher too, and on my feet a lot. I was having trouble waddling after my students and it was causing a lot of BH contractions. I didn't deliver until 38w4d though, and had to be induced, so I guess I probably could have stayed on a little longer. I got so bored, I should have!

Sure did! I started having strong contractions at work the day before my due date, and ended up being induced the next morning. I work in juvenile corrections, so I was on my feet on and off throughout the day, and I loved staying busy.

I did - worked full time at a desk job until 37 weeks. With a total of 4 hour commute by bus and all! it wasn't that bad, but the commuting in the hot weather got to me towards the end and i called it quits at 37 weeks. i planned on going all the way up to 40 weeks.

I was put on part-time bed rest at 34 weeks, but still worked FT (albeit in the afternoons at home) until my scheduled c-section. My boss even joked about me coming in on the morning of my c-section since it wasn't until noon!

I did have a client who met with me the day before I delivered who was super confused when the announcement went out. Somehow he had missed that I was pregnant??

@Anagram: ahhhhhh that sounds like a nice option! Except the less pay part

I'm a teacher too and due Jan 19th, 2 weeks after xmas break. I originally really wanted my maternity leave to start after xmas break, at 38 weeks, but my doctor resisted and said I should save all my FMLA/sick time for baby.... he said that every month, new moms are calling him and begging him to extend their maternity leave but he legally can't.

Now that I'm 38 weeks pregnant, I'm actually glad to be at school. I rested a TON over break and got all my "baby checklist" done. I was soooo bored and antsy the last two days of break, so going back to work has kept me occupied! Sure I am uncomfortable (I'm HUGE) but, beats being at home cranky about waiting and using up paid time. I designed all my lesson plans for this week and next week to be sub-friendly and allow a lot of sitting

My maternity leave is scheduled to start January 19th, whether or not baby is here. Because of MLK Jr. Day and the weekend, technically I'm starting leave at 39.5 weeks.

With DD1, I was at an office job and went off 3 weeks before my due date because of the slow holiday season and in CA, we can get disability up to 4 weeks prior to due date which is use it or lose it. With DD2, I was now full time photography and I shot a wedding 3.5 hours away from home less than 2 weeks before she was born. It was fine!

ETA: but I was stressed about missing that wedding my whole pregnancy. It was booked before I found out I was pregnant so given the choice, I would have had more time before my due date for a wedding but those things can't be changed!

@Anagram: wow 2 hours! That's impressive My supervisor was famous because her water broke while she was on the record in court - and she was determined to not get a continuance so she kept going even though the judge was like, umm...counsel?...

My first one, I literally worked the Friday before giving birth on Monday. my second, I took off Wednesday and had RCS on Friday. I used that 2 days to get house in order and ready and spend a last full day date with my daughter before her world got rocked! I only had 12 weeks non-paid, I wanted to spend my days with my newborn! I do work a desk job though and have a very understanding boss. I would head down to our cushy pumping room and use the recliner to put my feet up and work from my laptop to relax if I needed it.

Yes, worked until 2 days overdue with DS. This time, I'm due in one week and am still working (but now work part time, only 3 days per week)
I'm a NP and actually spend most of my time sitting - those exam chairs are clutch. I don't do procedures, so it's all good.

@Anagram: yes this is what I did. Sometimes NJ gets some things right, like paid family leave insurance.

I told my boss I would be at work until 40+5 unless I had the baby first. I delivered LO at 39+5, and worked the day before (also a teacher, and I was on my feet, up and down the stairs, and sitting on the floor with the kids right up until the end).

with my first i worked until 2 days past my due date. i have a job where i sit down all day too, it just got hard at the end because i had to focus on writing reports and i was seriously sleep deprived. and i was sick.

with my current (second), i am starting my leave 3.5 weeks before my due date and i can't wait! i am finding it more difficult maybe because i am more busy at work and i have toddler at home. and we moved a few months ago and i still have tons i want to get done before the baby comes, so those 3.5 weeks actually seem short to me! I have also been sick for a month. i also want time to netflix and chill and to have days for my toddler and me to spend together (he is in preschool full time now, so i can keep him there when i am getting stuff done and pull him out for "mommy and LO" days. so i guess that's why 3.5 weeks seems like not enough for everything i want to do.