Working up until 38 weeks?

[nataliekristin]

Hi

When is everyone starting their maternity leave from work? I was planning to work up to 38 weeks but thinking this is possibly too close and wouldn't want to go into labour soon after or worse still, when I'm still at work!

[OliviaRinHerts]

I was planning to work right up to the end but work from home 2 to 3 days a week for the last two weeks. I was almost ready to leave work two weeks before my due date which was a good job as the baby arrived two weeks early.

For my next one, I would probably take more time off before my due date as I would have another child at home. I do regret not having more time at home this time but at least I wasn't at home bored :-)

Good luck!

[TheTravellingLemon]

I worked until 38 weeks and it was largely fine for me. It depends on the nature of your job and your commute I think. DS was born on his due date

[babyblabber]

I'm in Ireland & everyone works til 38 weeks here.

[September60b]

I'm working up until 38 weeks. Everyone told me I wouldn't be up to it, but luckily I've felt fine and the commute hasn't bothered me too much yet (36 weeks now). I think it really depends on the nature of your job and how you're feeling. My manager has been very good and has agreed that I can finish sooner if needed.

My waters breaking at work does worry me slightly but it hasn't happened yet!

[smogsville]

I did somewhere between 37 and 38 with DD. Commute minimal.

This time I reckon I'm going to stop at 35. This is partly due to convenience and having some holiday left over and also we've moved and the commute is now quite long. I'm hoping there might be time to fill the freezer with loads of delish things and also lie down a bit with my kindle while DD at nursery (who am I kidding...).

[Maxis1]

I intend to work until the very last minute legally allowed with is exactly 2 weeks before the latest due date I have been given during on a my scans.

Cant you just get a sick note if you need to before than if you are too tired exhausted? I know I wont waste a day of my precious 26 weeks paid by going on official maternity leave earlier than 38 weeks.

[harrowgreen]

38wks is fine.

Some friends in the USA worked until they actually went into labor (literally - they have such rubbish maternity allowance).

The chance of your waters breaking as the first sign of labour is actually pretty small, despite what movies might have you believe. Not really worth worrying about.

Remember that you could go 2 weeks over. If you've been off since 36wks you could be pretty bored by then...

[fortywinx]

I'm planning on working until 38 weeks. Very short commute and a desk job though, so nothing too taxing hopefully. If I get signed off earlier then that's that but hopefully I can manage up to 38 weeks. Don't want to waste too much of my maternity pay before the baby arrives!

[Meirasa]

Maxis1 After 36 weeks if you get signed of your company can automatically start your maternity leave which is fair enough.

[purplemurple1]

I worked until a couple of hours after my waters went at 38+6 , luckily I was working from home that day though.
I wasn't having contractions so finished what I was working on and headed to hospital.

Planning the same this time, I hope., I'm 34 weeks now.

[Rockchick1984]

Maxis you can work up to your due date, not 2 weeks before (assuming you're in the UK). As Meirasa said though if you're off sick after 36 weeks then your work can start your mat leave from then.

[DoYouWannaBuildaSnowman]

I'm working til 37 weeks. 33 weeks at the moment, and work for a church, so December is only going to get busier! But I get a week and a half off over Christmas, and then just go back for 3 days to handover.

The only thing is, I have a low lying placenta which hasn't moved out of the way enough, so could be looking at a planned c-section. Really hoping I get some time on maternity before that happens if it means delivering early!

[Mammanat222]

I will finish on the day I hit 38w.

In hindsight I wish I'd gone off a bit earlier (I do have a 2 year old at home and I work FT)

I worked to 37w with my first and could have easily managed another week, applied that logic this time round and I was wrong.

Luckily my last few weeks fall over the festive period so I have a few short weeks and early finishes.

[Mammanat222]

• just to add I do a desk job, short commute (although it's only walkable so I am having to walk 45-50 minutes a day) and healthy pregnancy.
  
  34w now and feeling it though!