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I had planned on working until 38 weeks. If it hadn't been our quarter end at work I would have wanted to try and work until the end. But I didn't even make it to 38 weeks, my doctor pulled me out of work at 36 weeks due to high blood pressure and I ended up going into labor at 37 weeks.

I was checked out of work at 35 weeks anyway. The contractor filling in for me had already started and I was so uncomfortable I was going home early whenever I could.

I stopped a month before my.due date. I wasn't working from home yet and the 3 hours of driving was too much for me!

I know it sucks to burn maternity leave without a baby being here yet, but take the time off! It is worth it- I wish I had stopped a couple weeks earlier.

I told my boss that I was done working that Friday since driving was getting really uncomfortable (39 weeks), but my water broke the next day, so then I really officially stopped working.

I was actually sitting on the couch with my laptop working on one of my last work projects when I dropped my pen, leaned over to pick it up, and my water broke...POP!

Contractions didn't start yet, so I finished my project, e-mailed my boss, then finished packing our bags before heading to the hospital. My doc wanted me in sooner just to get checked, but I talked him into letting me wait until the basketball game was over (he is an Ohio State fan too), since I didn't think they would let me go back home after getting checked. My husband also took down the Christmas tree and put the ornaments away during that time, since he just got started when my water broke. Probably our most productive day ever!

I left 6 weeks prior to my due date. I was originally scheduled to go out 10 weeks prior according to company policy, but I was able to get approval to work an additional 4 weeks and add the month to the time after my son was born.

I'm due in early October and planning to start my leave in early September

I planned to work until I delivered, but then was on bedrest from 30-37 weeks. I did return to work part time at 37 weeks - I was soooo uncomfortable and having contractions so worked a reduced schedule. The day I went into labor (38+3) I stayed home from work because I had a feeling the day would end with a hospital visit.

I'm a physical therapist so my job is pretty physical. I stopped working 1 month before my due date. Next time I may work another week or two because I got really bored and stir crazy by the end, but working was also difficult and very tiring. It was nice to have time to finish last minute projects, rest, and just enjoy my last days of quiet "me" time.

I was unemployed with my last pregnancy and I always said that I'd be fired if I actually did have a job because I'd be calling in sick so often!! Up until about 7 months I did walk dogs and I stopped around 8 months so that my boss could get a replacement and I could train them on walking my route. Plus I was getting big and topheavy and didn't want to risk falling while walking some of the bigger dogs.

I was pretty uncomfortable but I left on a Friday and was induced on a Tuesday. Little one wasn't born until Thursday and we got home on Saturday. It did kinda stink that that week (some days before she was born and the other days at the hospital) counted towards my 12 weeks off.

I originally thought I would work up until d-day, but the more I think about it the more I think I may finish working a week or so before my due date. I hate to burn the maternity leave, but my job is about an hour from my hospital, and it's an 8-block walk, a 30-minute train ride, and then a 5-minute drive to the hospital. I feel like that would be REALLY uncomfortable if my water broke at work! My EDD is Jan 10, so I'm actually even considering just going out for Christmas and staying out. But like I said, I hate the idea of burning my maternity leave.

I worked right up until I was in labor with my DDs. With this baby I plan on doing the same, but at some point I think I will have to cut back to 8 hour shifts (I work 12 hour nights)

I worked all the way up to and past my due date, I even worked the day I was induced. I just wanted to save all my time off for after the baby arrived

@mediagirl: I would stop working if I were you. I stopped 3 weeks before my due date. Because they let me! was pretty unmotivated to work and just wanted to lounge around in my underwear all day!

For my first, I had planned to work until I went into labor and sort of did that. LO settled onto my sciatic nerve one week before my due date at my OB appt that Monday my doc put me out on maternity leave; however I was able to work some from home the 3 days before I was induced so I officially didn't have to start my maternity leave until the day I delivered.

For this one, I plan to work up until labor unless it gets too much (I have a 1hr commute) or medical reasons put me on bed rest in which case I'll probably work from home until delivery.

I am now 38w 1d, and I had planned to work until 10 days before my due date so that I wouldn't be sitting around for too long if the baby arrives late. So, my last day was supposed to be this coming Fri. Over the weekend, I decided that my last day was this past Fri. instead! I was getting really uncomfortable and also started worrying that the baby would come early and that I wouldn't have any time off between work and baby's arrival. So far, it's been a great decision. I know that everything is in good hands at work, so now I can relax and do some more errands on my own time and feel more prepared for the baby.

Good luck with your decision!

With both of my kids, I went into labor at work. It wasn't an issue for me, since I worked a desk job and had a temp/replacement to share the workload with at the end, so it wasn't so bad.

@mediagirl: I've been out of work since 24 weeks due to back and pelvic pain (and the "high risk" twin pregnancy to begin with). I've been using temporary disability (yay NJ!) but don't plan to go back to work so I have no worries of cutting into maternity leave since mine is indefinite lol

I was waking up to get ready for work when my water broke. I planned to work up until the day I went into labor, but it was hard towards the end. I wanted to get as much time at home with the baby as possible, but if I was able to take more maternity leave, I would have considered taking the last week or two off.

My water broke at 2:30 on my last day of work before maternity leave! I was taking the 2 weeks prior off though I was 2 weeks early.