I'm 36 weeks tomorrow. My doctor's office schedules inductions at 39 weeks.
It's getting harder to do my job (involves alot of driving), but I could do it from home as a temporary workplace accommodation. I would like to work as close to my due date only because that would leave more PTO (I have 6 weeks left) to use during the unpaid FML portion and for once I return.
When did you stop working altogether and start your leave?
124 votes
cantaloupe / 6397 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Your doctor schedules inductions at 39 weeks for what reason?
ETA: Oops. Forgot to answer the question. I'm stopping around 38 weeks. I did so with my first pregnancy too. But I am in Canada and get a year,so that definitely makes a difference. If I only had a short maternity leave I honestly think I'd try to work up until I went into labor. With DD I went off at 38 weeks and she didn't come until 41+5. That would be a waste of 4 weeks of leave!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I have a desk job, so I worked until I went into labor both times.
nectarine / 2797 posts
With my first I worked to 40w6d and then went into labor that night. I wanted to save all my FMLA leave for after baby arrived, and since I was able to WFH the last few weeks it made it possible to do it without it being too much of a burden on me physically.
I'm 37w3d now and also plan to work as long as I can this time. However, I'm more open to an induction this time if things are favorable since it will logistically make things easier with my daughter, and if that is scheduled, I'll likely stop working a day or so before the induction just to feel like I have a little time to wrap up loose ends at home.
nectarine / 2951 posts
My first baby was due at the end of Aug, so as a teacher I didn't work all summer. The baby came a few days before school started again.
This baby is due in June and I was planning to work until I delivered, but instead I'm on modified bedrest.
If you are getting uncomfortable, I'm sure your doctor can write you a note.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@Alba4: what does modified bed rest mean?
I could get a doctor's note to go on leave early, but that just starts the 12 week FML clock sooner. If I go out early (no real timeframe since I don't know exactly when will baby will come) I would use PTO in order to have a full 12 weeks with baby once he's here.
@sslm: they don't want women going past 40 weeks. So if you're still pregnant at the 39 week check up they make an appointment for your induction. There are natural induction methods I would employ on my own, but that's the kind of pressure I'm under. That all came up when we reviewed my birth plan and I said FTM usually birth at 41+3.
nectarine / 2667 posts
I worked until my EDD with my first, but then was induced at 41 weeks. I felt like that week off was a bit of a waste, although it was good for me mentally. With my second I went into labor, worked a few hours, then went home & had her in the early afternoon. She came a few days early, at 39weeks, 5 days.
I'm also curious why your OB schedules inductions at 39 weeks. Most first time moms go past 40 weeks with no issues. ETA: oh, I see your reply. That would make me really uncomfortable. 
pear / 1703 posts
Another Canadian, lo1 I started at 36 weeks and it's looking the same for this babe. I really need that time and headspace to feel prepared.
Sorry you are faced with a kind of forced early induction
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
My company's policy was to start at 38 weeks, but that didn't eat into you 6 or 8 weeks after the birth. It was really nice having an end date and having a couple weeks home before baby, but if it had been a choice between that at two weeks at the end, I would rather have the two weeks with the baby.
cantaloupe / 6397 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Sorry for the bluntness of this, but that's insane. Without a medical reason, I would not be at all comfortable with that. This sounds probably also insane, but I would seriously consider switching OBs if I heard that...
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@JoyfulKiwi: @Autumnmama79: I'm meeting with the midwife at my practice and will get her take on the 39 week induction thing. I've been preparing for a natural birth for awhile and one concern they have always had is my size. Baby measures average though.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Company policy was that I was to go out 2 months before the due date, but I got an exception to stay until 6 weeks before.
pomegranate / 3895 posts
I came into the office the morning of my c-section to wrap a few things up.
@sslm: 100% agree. Especially in light of OP's desire for a natural birth - pitocin is no joke!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I had planned on working right up to my EDD but ended up leaving early at 39 weeks because of early labor contractions. I had the baby 2 days later.
With DD2 I was only at a temp job and it ended right around 37 or 38 weeks? Can't remember now.
I'm pretty surprised your oB will schedule an induction at 39 weeks especially for the first.
papaya / 10570 posts
Last time, I finished work at 36 weeks and I was induced at 38+4 (GD). This time I decided I needed longer before the birth to relax so I finished at 34 weeks, but now they're saying they need to induce at 37! Oh well, it's an extra 3 days
pear / 1586 posts
My last day in the office was at 40w3d (the Friday before Labor Day weekend). I was induced/delivered the Wednesday after Labor Day at 41w1d but I just worked at home that Tuesday to avoid having to commute.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
I had my lunch and gym packed packed for work the next day when my water broke. I wasn't wasting my time at home with no baby.
pear / 1718 posts
I stopped working at 38 weeks, but only because I was induced. I left work for my regular OB appointment, and was sent downstairs to be induced within 2ish hours of arriving for my appointment.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@sslm: I don't like it either. This is the second office I've gone to and I'm just plain tired of meeting new doctors. On my due date thread I said I could always skip the induction. I'm serious I will totally do that. At my hospital birth class last night they showed a video of a women who stalled at 5 cm. She requested an epidural. Didn't progress. The doctor broke her water. Didn't progress. Doctor gave her pitocin. After the video was over the nurse said all the interventions was to move labor along. I kept asking why? If baby isn't stressed what's the need to speed up labor? The nurse finally said patients can decline the interventions.
persimmon / 1458 posts
Both times I worked until baby was born. I would rather have the time afterwards and this time I will do the same.
I am also surprised that they would consider induction that early. My OB will let me go until 2 full weeks after due date. He is not a fan of inducing unless necessary because he feels the body should do the process on its own if possible.
honeydew / 7463 posts
I guess this isn't exactly the same, but I wasn't going to get any paid maternity leave (contractor) so I decided to leave 2 months before my due date to just really prepare and relax. An extra 2 months of pay wasn't worth it to me if I was going to have to go unpaid or quit anyway. And the relaxing was really important to me because I had a lot of anxiety around the lifestyle change of becoming a mom.
I'm glad I did it because I ended up having to be induced at 37 weeks, so I really only got a month to relax when I was expecting 2. If I had gone till due date or even a month before I would have been totally unprepared.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
@sslm: agreed! I'm actually really shocked that a practice would have a blanket policy that all women are induced by 40 weeks without medical reason. Definitely not following evidence based practice there.
As for the original question, I worked until D day. Luckily she came early at 38 weeks because it was getting tough. I have a desk job though that I can do from home which makes it easier. I just know I would regret taking the time before instead of using it after baby arrived.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
I worked until the day before my planned C-section at 39 weeks. My maternity leave was completely unpaid (minus the paid sick leave I had accrued that I HAD to use first), and I didn't want to use it until I absolutely had to.
papaya / 10570 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: What does your doula/hypnobirth person make of it? I would certainly be minded to decline at 39 weeks unless there was a good, medical reason to proceed.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@Cherrybee: the hypnobirth instructor says she has witnessed beautiful births even when the mother was induced, so for her it's not ideal but doable. My doula was pretty shocked after I first told her about the induction policy, but she has a bunch of natural induction methods for me to employ. The methods arent so much to speed up the process for the doctors, but for my comfort. I really want the baby to arrive on his own time. It's so weird that my doctor's office has a reputation for being natural-birth friendly, but yet they set a clock on the babies.
papaya / 10570 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: When does your doula advise you start trying these natural induction methods, if you will be induced at 39 weeks? And yes, your birth will be wonderful and beautiful however it is started and in whichever direction it progresses in 
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
One, i worked until after my due date. The other, I worked until my due date.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@Cherrybee: oops, let me clarify the hypnobirth instructor said women can still employ the hypnobirth relaxation techniques with the inductuon. I'm 100% with you that the birth will be wonderful even if I end up taking all the drugs or have a C-section.
I meet with my doula tomorrow, so we'll figure out a plan. I read not to start natural methods until 37 weeks though. I went back to drinking my raspberry leaf tea to strengthen my uterus.
papaya / 10570 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I'm enjoying a cup now! 
My induced delivery was [this part has been censored to protects LemonLime's positive birth juju] but those hypnobirth techniques and DH's guidance were invaluable, the only thing that got me through when it progressed too fast for me to have allllll the drugs!
watermelon / 14467 posts
I went out at 39 weeks and had the baby at 40+3. I hope you have more success with the midwife. It's ridiculous that they would force you to induce at 40 weeks without medical need.
clementine / 756 posts
I worked right up until I delivered. Went into labor on a Sunday night and had to text work that I wouldn't be at work on Monday morning. I was a bit uncomfortable, but just made a point to get up from my desk often and walk around, which really helped.
Also, I would totally push back on the induction at 40 weeks. That's not recommended or evidence based. I went into labor naturally at 39+4, but my OB would have let me go to 42 weeks. We wouldn't even talk about possible induction options until after 41 weeks. I had thought about trying a membrane sweep at, like, 41+4 to try to avoid pit.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Good luck! I had inductions and went out like on a Friday and was induced the following Wednesday. Baby didn't arrive until the following Friday. I really felt like I wasted a week of my leave!
ETA - Ive had 2 wonderful indications both prior to 40 weeks.
kiwi / 635 posts
I intended to work from home beginning at 38 weeks and to keep working until the birth, but my kids were both early. So much for making plans! With my second, there was a chance I would have stopped 1-2 weeks before the due date as I was having some carpal tunnel issues making it a challenge to type or write.
pear / 1586 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: just wanted to say good luck! I had a really, really positive induction process - and this is coming from someone who was straight up terrified of giving birth. (although as I mentioned earlier, I was induced at 41+1.)
persimmon / 1483 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I went on leave at 39 + 5 with LO1. She was born 2 days later. I planned to do the same with LO2 but she had other plans and came 6 weeks early.
At 39 weeks, my OB would schedule the induction, but that was only to make sure you were on the hospital calendar before 42 weeks. So the actual induction would be between 41 and 42 weeks. I think it's crazy they don't want you to go past 40 weeks. I mean, they can't force you - what would happen if you just said no?
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
I didn't want to use up my precious PTO sitting home pregnant. I worked on Friday and went into labor on Sunday.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I was induced on 39 weeks due to GD so I worked till the day before.
pineapple / 12793 posts
With my first my office was closed for the holidays two weeks before my due date for the holidays. It opened three days before my due date and I stayed out. Those two weeks felt long, boring, and lonely.
With my second I worked until four days before my scheduled c-section. Those days were Christmas, boxing day, Saturday, and Sunday... So I worked as long as I could. I wish I had taken a few extra days but that meant not getting my holiday pay.
With my third I went on leave the same day I left for my second because she was born six days after I was due back in the office from my second mat leave. Haha.
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