honeydew / 7303 posts
I worked until I was put on bed rest at 38w5days. She was born at 39 and 2!
kiwi / 640 posts
I worked until 2 days before scheduled c-sec. It was perfect - I had a little bit of time to do some last minute errands, but still the lion's share of time after baby was here. If I hadn't been having a c-sec, I would have worked right up til labor.
apricot / 491 posts
I work in a school as a 10 month secretary, and my baby was born in the beginning of September, so I was out at around 32 weeks, but I didn't really have a choice. I did work a week in the summer, but that was it. I didn't have a choice in being done then, but it was so nice to relax and finish up some things around the house.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
I worked Friday, and went in and got induced the next Monday. Next time, I plan on starting my maternity leave a few days efore my scheduled C-section so I can get my house in order, ect.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
I worked up until I gave birth (literally). I was on bed rest starting Week 35 so I worked from home, but I'm glad I didn't use my maternity leave until after birth so I could spend more time with DS since I only had 12 weeks.
coconut / 8472 posts
I worked up until 37 weeks, when I had to go on bed rest until my induction at 39w.
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
I worked a full day the day I gave birth. It was worth it to me to keep going so that I could spend every day of my maternity leave with my baby.
watermelon / 14467 posts
I worked until 39 weeks. I wanted to start my leave at the beginning of a pay period and I used accrued comp time that week so I got paid. I also had two weeks of vacation and one week of sick time, so I spaced it out over my maternity leave so that there was only one month where I didn't receive any pay.
grapefruit / 4066 posts
My due date was on Monday, and my last day was the previous Friday. I only had 12 weeks so I wanted all of my time to be when the baby was here. I ended up going into labor on Saturday and had her on Monday, so it worked out perfectly!
nectarine / 2280 posts
I worked until about 35 weeks. No regrets. I was able to get focused and relax. Plus I was getting uncomfortable. It was nice having that downtime before the newborn stage. I'm a homebody so I wasn't bored.
grapefruit / 4235 posts
I worked up until the Friday before I gave birth. My work is closer than home to the hospital anyway.
I think i would have gone stir-crazy at home - my plan had always been to work up until I had the baby.
pear / 1510 posts
I started working from home on a Tuesday and was induced a week later. Being able to work from home was really great.
clementine / 828 posts
I worked until I went into labor. I worked on Friday 39 weeks, and did a half day from home Saturday 39+1. I went into labor the middle of the night 39+2. I work at a stressful desk job with a short commute by car. No regrets. Some rest would have been nice, but the extra money was nice in light of my unpaid maternity leave. I don't think I would take time before unless I had to medically.
nectarine / 2079 posts
I stopped working on the Friday of my 38th week and had my LO on that following Monday. Worked out perfectly. I would have been so antsy without something to distract me.
cantaloupe / 6800 posts
I left work on my lunch break to go to the hospital. My maternity leave was unpaid, so I wasn't going to take any time off just because!
pineapple / 12053 posts
I worked until 36+3 as CA disability kicks in at 36w. This was right before Christmas when our office closed for a week and then the new year was always very slow. So I made more being on disability than going into work. It was perfect for me because of the holidays!
pomegranate / 3438 posts
I had planned on working until 38 weeks but my doctor pulled me out at 36+1 because of my blood pressure. I was too stressed out at work. I'm really glad he did because I ended up having DS at 37+5 so I had a little over a week to relax and get a few things ready. The next time I'm pregnant I plan on taking 3-4 weeks off before my due date. I didn't know this at the time of my last pregnancy but since I am in California I can get up to 4 weeks paid before my baby is born. Will take advantage of that!
pomegranate / 3580 posts
Originally I'd planned to work until I delivered but I handed off all my projects early wand was getting bored so I stopped at 39 weeks. It was great to have a week to prep and be lazy. I think anymore and I would have been bored!
papaya / 10560 posts
I worked until the day (went into labor on my own) with both kids. I didn't see a reason to take off beforehand.
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
I stopped at 35 weeks, which was one week before I was going to be induced or sectioned. For me, it was really wonderful because I was in sooo much pain by then and I could just go to the gym and float in the pool all morning which felt so great. I think in a regular pregnancy I would have kept working until the end just to save on maternity leave.
nectarine / 2466 posts
I only worked until I was 30 weeks. It's different here though. I went on a medical leave at 30 weeks as it was getting difficult with my job ( long days, often no breaks, and on my feet all day. ) I was on medical leave from week 30 until I gave birth ( 37.6 ) and then I started my maternity leave for the full year after that. We're really lucky how it works here. I loved it as I went off in the summer, had lots of time to settle in, relax, get ready. I fully contribute that to having a good pregnancy after the leave and a good delivery. I will probably work until about 34 weeks this time. I need to work a little longer to get maternity leave as I'll be pushing it to get the minimum hours needed.
kiwi / 524 posts
I was really struggling by 34 weeks, so I went to a three-day week at that point. I started my maternity leave at 38 weeks and LO was born at 41, so I was home for three weeks before the birth.
I am so glad I stopped when I did. I was able to get our apartment ready for the baby, do some frozen meals, and just relax before the craziness of having a newborn. I ended up not going back to work, so I didn't lose that time with the baby.
pomegranate / 3604 posts
First time I worked until 36 weeks and "wasted" 4 weeks of my mat leave, unfortunately.
This time I went off at 33 weeks on (paid) stress leave and then will start my mat leave (a full year) once baby is here.
Both times I had a pretty physically demanding job and was doing my last trimester in the summer.
apricot / 444 posts
I worked up to about 37.5 weeks. I'd planned to take 2 weeks of vacation to get me to my due date/maternity leave (my situation was a little different than most and I needed to burn my vac time before my leave started). Turns out I delivered at 38 weeks and change, so I had a week off before. Knowing that I wish I'd gone out earlier, but it's not a big deal.
pomegranate / 3595 posts
I worked until 39+4 and was induced at 40+2. My last day was the day before thanksgiving so it made sense to stop then. In retrospect, though, my leave started that monday so i should have just been induced then, or stuck it out. I thought that if I took PTO my leave would not begin until I delivered but that was not the way it worked out. If you only have 12 weeks of leave, I would try to save them for post-baby. It is so hard to leave them when they are that little!
pomegranate / 3845 posts
I worked the Friday before he was born (on a Sunday).
He was supposed to be a scheduled c-section and I was planning to take a few days off before then (like Monday & Tuesday, scheduled c section on Wednesday) but alas, he had other plans!
pomegranate / 3411 posts
I worked until 40 + 2 and it was awful. I was sick in my last week though and it hurt to cough and blow my nose. Next time I plan to start at least 2-3 weeks before my due date
nectarine / 2177 posts
37 weeks and LO was born at 41w2d, so I had a full month off--I had finished school and a temporary job I'd been working, so I couldn't have worked longer even if I'd wanted to.
I was SOOOOO bored by the time baby came! In hindsight I would have worked until 39 weeks.
pomegranate / 3225 posts
I worked until 40 weeks. After that I worked from home just because I didn't like everyone's constant questions about where the baby was, how did I feel, etc. Honestly to me I would rather work until the last minute because it's something to keep you occupied and make the time go by faster... Which I needed as my LO was 9 days late!
pomelo / 5258 posts
I worked until 39 weeks. I could have gone until my due date but my objective at work was a smooth transition. I really wanted everything wrapped up before I left.
bananas / 9899 posts
I'm stopping work at around 34-35 weeks pregnant. I'm not really going on leave (I'm becoming a SAHM) and I own my company so I have a lot of flexibility for when I leave. I think this is the best call for me, as I have some time to relax and finish "nesting" before baby gets here. Working is already starting to get harder to do at 32 weeks.
pomegranate / 3895 posts
I am working until the day I go into labor in order to maximize my 8 week leave time with baby. I do echo @pui: that at 33 weeks, work is pretty miserable... and I work a desk job.
clementine / 948 posts
I worked until 40+1, a Friday. I went into labor the following Monday. I needed to save all 12 weeks off for post partum/baby time
papaya / 10343 posts
I worked through my 40th week. Planned (and did) work up until I went into labor. It was the right decision for me because I had limited maternity leave and I didn't want to waste any before I had the baby. And my job was not at all physically demanding.
Member | Posts |
---|---|
winter_wonder | 2 |
DesertDreams88 | 1 |
Mrs. Pajamas | 1 |
Today | Monthly Record | |
---|---|---|
Topics | 0 | 1 |
Posts | 1 | 1 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies