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Early...I was done work by 26 weeks (I'm a teacher and it was summer). I was 36 weeks when school started up again but I didn't go back - that's when my mat leave technically started. I really enjoyed those last few quiet few weeks.

I had a year off though. Had I only had a few weeks of mat leave I would have worked as long as I could have.

I got put on bed rest at 38 weeks. I started getting pretty sick around 37 weeks. They kept checking out the baby, but since he was fine and I didn't quite have pre-e, they didn't induce until 39w (but I had GD).

If you want a natural birth and you are not favorable for induction, you should absolutely skip it (at 40w, I mean). A doctor can not force you to do any medical procedure. They'll try to make it sound like you don't have a choice, but you actually do.

My disability provides 4 weeks before birth off, but it's based on the actual date the baby is born and not due date, so I left at 38 weeks because it was the end of the month and I figured I wouldn't go over 2 weeks late. Unfortunately my water broke spontaneously at 38w5d so I only got like 4 days off! My water broke but I had zero contractions after 24 hours so we began induction. It wasn't successful in the end and I had a C-section after 36 hours but it was because my son was parked sideways and my pelvis was shaped in such a way where he got all snuggled up in there. I sat at 8.5cm dilated forever. Anyways I share this because at each step DH and I felt totally informed and empowered to take the next step (or not) and we were given pros and cons and evidence and just did not feel pressured at all. When it came time to suggest the C-section they literally brought in both my midwives, my 2 nurses, the head midwife, and the OBGYN and they each they would always do everything to avoid an unnecessary section but they honestly and earnestly said they believed it was the right time for a c-section because my son's heartrate had been going through decels through my contractions for the last hour. DS was born with his cord around his neck and the doctor was like your pelvis is really deep and he got really tucked up in there! So no regrets about my section at all about it and I've never felt unempowered about my birth experience!

My doctor wouldn't set an FMLA start date until 40 weeks unless medically necessary. In the end, I was really glad for that policy because it kept me busy, and I had all the baby prep stuff done anyway. I could have worked up until when the baby when the baby came, but it was really important for me mentally to have a clear finish date so that my lesson plans could be organized for my substitute.

The week between 40 and 41 weeks, when I wasn't working, felt like an eternity. Every hour just dragged on. Honestly I cried every day just because I wanted to meet and hold my baby so badly. Pregnancy hormones....

With both of my kids I stopped right around my due date (within a day or 2). I was feeling physically done at that point.
First was only 4 days late, my second was 12 dates late.

I'm sorry - but I think it is ridiculous that they want you induced before 40 weeks for no medical reason. I can see scheduling an induction at the 39 week appointment for 41+ weeks, but to actually have the induction before you due date. That doesn't make sense.

Originally I was going to go out 2 weeks before my due date but my OB pulled me out 4 weeks early because of my blood pressure. I ended up having him just over a week after he pulled me out.

I went off around 38.5, but wished I put in another week because baby didn't come until an induction at 42 weeks. Was finally born via c section at 42 +1. If I didn't get a year off I would have works longer, but I could sit down if I needed to (worked at a school). The commute kind of sucked though. I can't imagine my job involving driving.

I was due on a Monday, worked the Friday before, and called out the Saturday before, due to possible leaking fluid. Baby was born the Thursday after my due date. I wanted to work as long as possible, but was pretty miserable towards the end due to massive swelling in my feet and ankles.

I stopped work at 38w. I made the choice to stop ahead. Taking public transit to and from work was becoming obnoxious and really I was just done. I had bp issues and DH and I decided it wasn't worth be continuing on.

I ended up surprisingly getting induced 3 days later because of my bp issues.

For DS ivworked up until a few hours before I delivered but with #2 I am planning on making my last day right at 38 weeks and taking a few extra weeks of unpaid leave on either end. i have an hour commute now and I won't be allowed to wfh at all this time (my old boss let me last time) which is why I want to just schedule a last day.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I didn't have a 40 week appointment scheduled either, but they wouldn't have induced me til 41 weeks at least. I remember asking at my 39 week appointment and they were just sort of like we'll make you an appointment next week if you don't have baby by 40 weeks. So it doesn't necessarily mean they'll induce you then.

LO1: I stopped working at 40 weeks because I was really uncomfortable. He was born at 40+5.
LO2: I worked up to the day she was born, which was 40+1.

I also question the early induction if there is no medical necessity.

@birdofafeather: Glad you said that about California! I'm trying to confirm that because I think it sounds incredible.

I'm planning to go out at 36 weeks because the state will pay me a little disability. If I wasn't getting paid, I would work up to due date. I'm super loyal to my company, and I'm going to feel bad about leaving them in a bind, but work is distracting to me and permeates my daily non-work life so I'm really hoping to clear my mind before baby comes.

@birdofafeather: Thanks for the link! Some girls I talk to that work for bigger companies seem confused and think that the 4 weeks before is actually something that can take away from the 6 weeks after. Umm.. they are wrong. But it still makes me doubt! And yes, I figured that I can get by with the reduced income and I'm like "I'll take it!" And that's so great of your company to honor CA disability and FMLA. Will they honor the additional 6 weeks you can get through paid family leave?

@agold: i did this for DD1 when i had a day job, but now work for myself, so with DD2, i photographed a wedding 2 weeks before she was born.

before delivery is use it or lose it. then 6 weeks PP SDI and then i did the 6 weeks immediately after that for PFL. and then i took two more weeks paid in part by the rest of my PTO. DD1 was timed perfectly for this! i couldn't have made it work for any other time of year for this particular office.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: no snark at all!! I totally agree that a longer labor with a mom/baby who are coping well needs to intervention to speed it up. I pushed for 4 hours with my first and didn't get an intervention (vacuum) until the end when I was so tired I couldn't push well. During hour 2 or 3 they gave me a dose of fentanyl to take the edge off and some oxygen. I was so glad they let me work through labor on my body's own terms (well, except for the pitocin I had, which they turned down/off around 7cm). I mentioned the book because I felt comforted to know specifically which situations could really necessitate interventions and I thought the alternatives were empowering too. Its great that your midwife clarified the induction protocol. I hope you have a really positive birth experience (which it seems like you will, since you seem open-minded and informed!)

I think I stopped work around 35 weeks for both. Early, but I work 12-hour shifts (days and nights) and it was getting too much for me. I used sick time though and technically I didn't start my maternity leave until both my babies were born.

My company allows 2 weeks before due date. I decided to take that plus a few extra days so I went out at 37+2 (it was a Friday and made more sense!) Even though I had a desk job, I was incredibly uncomfortable and swollen. Now I know why....I ended up going into labor the following Monday at 37+5 little man didn't want to miss out on any of my super fun maternity leave!