Hellobee Boards

I stopped working 2 weeks prior to my due date (and ended up giving birth 1 week after my due date so off 3 weeks)

I liked having a little time to myself before the baby arrived and to prep the house for the arrival of baby... but everyone is different.

Since I'm on my feet all day at work, I'm pretty sure I'll be leaving earlier than average. I would prefer two weeks before due date, but it will probably be a month. Luckily in Canada I get up to a year, so it won't feel like I'm losing anything post-baby.

I'm thinking I will stop 1 week before my due date just to give myself a bit of time to decompress and relax. Of course, this all depends on how things go and how I'm feeling in the run-up to the big day.

@Tisty1982: I would take your relaxing time while you can! Personally, I think it's worth the money. You're life is about to be turned completely upside down. Just sit there in a quiet house, do nothing, and enjoy!

I actually worked the morning I was induced (still had 9 days to go), I called my doctor because I was feeling 'off' and she ordered blood work so off I went to L&D and ended up staying (I even drove myself to the hospital because I honestly thought I was being a bit of a hypochondriac and it would be nothing, boy was I wrong!)
My original goal was to work up until the end if I could.

I'd like to work until I deliver, but I'm also kinda scared about going into labor at work!

I wouldn't worry too much about going into labor at work... unless it's very far from where you are delivering. Most women start labor with really subtle signs, so there should be enough time for you to realize what's happening and prepare.

With my first, I stopped working at 38 weeks. Last day of work was Saturday... I went into labor on Sunday afternoon and had the baby on Monday! I actually think my last day of work pushed me into labor because it was a terribly busy shift (I was an ICU RN).

With my second, I stopped work at 38 weeks again. Baby came almost a week and a half later. I was grateful for the time off I had at home to prepare more for her and to rest a bit.

If money is a real issue, definitely try to work for as long as you can but without compromising your need to rest and prepare for baby.

Good luck!

I worked right up until the day I delivered. A HUGE motivator for me was that if I took off time prior to delivery it meant less time to spend with my LO once she was born. FMLA only allows for 12 weeks off, and I wanted to make sure I got to spend all 12 weeks with my daughter. I was super anxious about going into labor at work (particularly because I have a day full of seeing patients...children too...so I wasn't sure they would understand if I went into labor in session), but I ended up going for my biophysical profile the day before my due date finding out my LO was breech and they scheduled a c-section for my due date, therefore I never had to go into labor. So it worked out for me. I did have a coworker who's water broke at work, thankfully prior to the start of her day so there was no issues with patients.

I worked up till the day I delivered, luckily for me I was able to work from home a month before I delivered for my first, I really only got to enjoy a week of it since i went into Labor the first friday I was working from home. With my second I started to work from home 6 weeks before I was due.

I am an NICU RN, so I work right down the hall from labour and delivery, so I have considered working right until I go into labour, but my boss doesn't love that idea because it makes it harder to fill me position when I am gone (because she wouldn't have that much notice to fill the shifts). She is starting to ask me to consider choosing a date to go off, and if I really feel great, I can continue to pick up the odd last minute shift. I am thinking I might go off at 38 weeks, and then picking up shifts now and then when I feel good.

I stopped working a month before my due date. My water broke 2 weeks later, so I didn't have a very long break before the baby came, but I was thankful to have had the break.

The guidance at my former company was that you go out 2 months before the due date. I was due in December, which meant the guidance was I ended work at the end of September. I had to get my manager to waive the requirement and I stayed an extra month, because there was no way I could occupy myself with 10 weeks to go before the birth.

I didn't get maternity leave until I was in the hospital. I didn't even have the option to take leave before my son was born. If the time you take before your LO is born doesn't take away from the time you would have after the birth, I would say go for it. It would be nice to just have some time to yourself but you might go a little crazy waiting. : )

I plan on working right until the very end.

I started on the day I delivered. I needed to save up all my time for PTO and sick leave.

I think I would like to work until I deliver. I would like to save all of the time off to be with my baby. The one thing that would be really embarrassing would be my water breaking while at work.

Although, if I was being induced, I might take a couple days off to get some last minute stuff done before the baby.

I worked up to the very end - finished up my Friday, went into labor Sunday night, and had L on Monday! The last week at work was really hard, both mentally and physically, but I'm glad I stuck it through b/c that was more time I got to spend with L.

This is a big question mark in our pregnancy because my work wants to ensure that I have two weeks of overlap to train my temporary replacement. When I ask my doctor, she basically said if they want to guarantee that, they better hire someone now since a twin pregnancy is so volatile with how early I'll go into labor and if I'll have to be on bed rest. I have no idea what to do. Le sigh.

10 days before my due date! LO came on time =) It was fun to be able to relax and do a lot of nothing for the first two days but I got pretty antsy and stir crazy after that.

@Mrs. Blue: I'm just now 27 weeks. 10 weeks to full-term for twins! I'd say the past two weeks, I've noticed a definite increase in my discomfort. At my doctor's appointment last week, they said I'm measuring as if I were 34 weeks along.