when did you finish work before baby?

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

Hi all. I am now 30 weeks and just wondering when it is recommended that you finish work? And when you did?

Ta x

[plonko]

I'm finishing at new year when I will be 32 weeks. I work in a shop so on my feet all day and am contractually signed out of the working time directive with a 1 hr commute each way, and I just don't want to put up with it for longer than I have to. My hours have been reduced to "just" 40 hours a week and I'm already struggling! Also my decision is due in part to not wanting to work next Christmas if I can possibly avoid it .

I think in general you're advised to work as long as its right for you. If I worked in a different role I'd be happy to work until about 37 weeks.

[paperclips]

It depends a lot on the type of work you do.


I am a nurse and I couldn't have done it after about 34 weeks. On your feet most of the day, difficult hours, moving and handling (although rest of team helped me a lot, not letting me do turns/ moving patients and they took me off night shifts after about 28 weeks)

If I did a desk job I would have stayed much longer. I feel sorry for people who have to work to their due date, I think you need a bit of time to yourself to rest and prepare before the baby comes.

[EthelredOnAGoodDay]

I am predominantly office based, so will fingers crossed work until just after 37 weeks, same as with DD. depends really on your job, any commuting etc and how you think you are coping.

[YDdraigGoch]

With DD1, until about 3 weeks before she was born. With DD2, I was supposed to leave 3 weeks before birth, but she was early, so was born a week after I left work.
But I was temping, and it was in the mid 90s, so I didn't get paid or get any SMP when I stopped work, so had to work as long as I could.
I worked with a load of blokes, who were terrified I would give birth in the office :)

[ivanapoo]

I am 39 weeks now and worked to 38 but used holiday to make my last 6 weeks part time. I have a demanding job but desk based so not physically strenuous. I found the last week especially tough - I think with hindsight I might have finished a bit earlier.

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

I wont be paid by the company - i'll be paid maternity allowance by the government. I am on my feet for 25 hrs a week and rush round like a headless chicken. It really hurts and if it was up to me I would like to finish asap - but am I being lazy? A wimp? My partner thinks I should keep going for much longer. What do you think?

[BuntysFestiveCollocks]

37 weeks this Friday, and finishing next Friday. Finished at 36 and a bit last time, but that's just because it was Christmas, and there was no point in going back to work for a week or so after the Christmas break.

Ended up being bored shitless, as DS came at 42 weeks.

[SecretSantaMN065]

I finished at 31 weeks but only because I took 4 weeks holiday first (it was August and my work makes you take at least 3 in August).

Then I had 6 weeks maternity leave before the due date (which is 41 weeks in this country).

Gave birth at 38+5.

I felt so much better once I'd stopped work - something which I didn't twig until some time afterwards! I just thought that the end of my pregnancy was easier than the start.

I did use the time wisely though - found our new flat and sold our old one.

As DS was early I never did get to lie around doing nothing (which I regret a bit now!)

[plonko]

iamwhaticallpregnant I am leaving early for the reasons you've stated. After 3 or 4 days running around like a blue arsed fly at work I invariably come home in tears from backache and exhaustion. My job involves quite a bit of stress which i dont handle too well these days. I wanted to leave at the end of January but ended up getting signed off work by my gp for fatigue, at which point dp convinced me to go early.

Perhaps he's struggling to comprehend how you feel? Moneys not the be all and end all- your health and baby's well being are more important

[ivanapoo]

iam your employer has a legal duty to ensure the tasks you are given are suitable and you have adequate rest periods. Can you speak to an HR person or a sympathetic boss so at least your hours there are less hectic/strenuous?

I would also think carefully about your financial position and how you would spend your leave before making a decision. I.e. would going off now mean you only got a few months once baby arrived? Would you be able to amuse yourself during leave or would you get bored/impatient? Why does your DP want you to stay on - just because, or for practical reasons?

[nananaps]

Was planning on finishing at 34 weeks, but have been told that i am not allowed to take any annual leave over Christmas and new year.

I had planned taking some of the 45 hours they owe me, and 2 weeks annual leave prior to mat leave.

So now its going to be 37 weeks.

[AlphaBeta82]

I'm planning to go to 38 weeks. Finished at 36 weeks with DC1. Though I have an equally demanding job now I don't travel nearly as much as I did and work an hour closer to home so hoping to last that long!

[wanderingalbatross]

I have a desk job with an easy commute, so with pg #1 I worked till 36.5 weeks then was induced at 38 weeks. Now am pg with #2 and will probably try and work to 38 weeks (when I may well be induced again) as actually being at work is easier than being home with a toddler! It was nice having a week or so off the first time, but I think I'd have got bored if I'd have had to wait much longer at home.

[AlphaBeta82]

P.S. I am using my holiday to take prior to mat starting at 40 weeks

[TooManyQualityStreet]

1st baby - 3 days after due date
2nd baby - 5 days before baby was born (over Christmas period)

The joys of being self employed!

[BraveLilBear]

I hadn't ralised that mat leave starts before the birth if you leave early, so will have to try and hang on as long as possible in order to maximise mat leave after the birth. Am hoping that 38 weeks is bearable - I have a deskjob which can be stressful but not overly demanding and live within two miles of the office.

I currently walk in, but when latter months roll in, OH has suggested creating a deal with a taxi firm so I don't have to walk.

[stargirl1701]

I was 30 weeks when the summer holidays started. Went back to school after the summer at 36 weeks for one week. Mat leave started then. Baby born at 40 weeks.

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

Thanks all. To answer your Qs.

Well - The employer doesn't seem to notice that I am 30 weeks pregnant and thinks nothing of me working 5 hours on my feet every day and running around up and down stairs multiple times for customers. It's just a part time job (not my usual career) which I took on for the Christmas period. I thought it would be fine but I come home most nights and sit and weep over the stress/back ache and exhaustion.
So when I leave I will be unemployed which is fine as partner works and I will go back to my proper career as soon as baby is old enough to be left with grandma and nursery. So I wont have a specific amount of maternity leave. I get something like 39 weeks paid from Government.
Partner thinks that I should work well into January - I am not sure why. I think it's hard for a man (or any of my young colleagues) to understand why I find it hard.

Don't really know what to do!

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

BraveLilBear I get a taxi every day to and from work. Feel terrible about that too but don't drive and the thought of getting on the overcrowded bus (which takes an hour) is unbearable. By the time I have done my 5 and a half hours (break isnt really a break) I just want to roll into a taxi and get through the door. I have SPD and everything hurts.

[weeblueberry]

I'd been planning on working until 39 weeks actually. I work in an office where I'm sat on my bum all day so not exactly strenuous. Obviously it depends how I feel closer to the time but it's definitely the plan. My boss is pretty flexible though. DP has said I'm so obsessed with work that I'll be on the phone to clients mid labour.

[Pootles2010]

Actually I worked up until 1 week before due date, but I sit on my bottom all day in office job, and had no physical problems. Wish i'd worked up until due date as bored silly.

However, all my friends who are on their feet all day stopped quite early - i'd say thats your best bet, especially with your spd.

[BuntysFestiveCollocks]

iam you get SMP or MA from (I believe) 16 weeks before your due date, so you could go off and get it now. It only pays out for 9 months, though.

[Frontpaw]

I went into labour two days before I was due to finish work.

[CharlieMumma]

I finished at 33 and half weeks as it was Christmas time so I took two weeks hifay over Christmas and then as I was nearly 37 weeks in the jan I decided not to go back just for a few weeks as I was due early feb. the awful snow in late 2010/2011 helped we want to stay at home!

[GoldPlatedNineDoors]

Two weeks - one of which was holiday and the other maternity. Had dd two days after due date.

I have a sit down (85% of the time) job but awful hours (often finishing 11pm and needing to be back at my desk at 7.30am)