Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Did you work until you popped?

17 replies

SeriousStuff · 30/08/2013 11:02

Just looking for others' experiences really. I work for myself so can only claim maternity allowance once I stop working. We need the money as I'm the main bread winner and need to be sure we have enough to supplement DH's salary while I'm on leave (only taking 3 months off completely as it is and will be taking on a day of work here and there afterwards...even doing one day of work a week will work out better than the allowance).

Anyway, just wondered if anyone else worked right up to the wire? I'm 34 weeks today and really feeling tired, head is all over the place, I can't sleep and I'm worried about the quality of my work. Help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Wildwaterfalls · 30/08/2013 11:11

Is your job very physical? Mine is an office job and I was fine. Had planned to work until 38 weeks and that would not have caused any issues, but DD arrived at 37 weeks.

I think it all depends on the physical nature and/or stress levels at your work. And on your pregnancy of course.

Original poster

SeriousStuff · 30/08/2013 11:29

Yes, office based. Currently sat on the sofa in my pyjamas with my laptop!

OP posts:

Tea1Sugar · 30/08/2013 11:40

I'm a teacher and going to try and work until 37 weeks as this is when the term ends

Theas18 · 30/08/2013 11:51

Yes, literally the 3rd time and I felt so guilty lol . I was just 38 weeks, took the kids to school and nursery, then didn't make it to work as I felt" very odd" ( how daft I felt calling in that I want font to be in but couldn'twork out why!

dd3 arrived before mid day!

nipersvest · 30/08/2013 11:54

worked until 38 weeks with both, both were a week early so in the end i only had a week off before a baby arrived. i had a long commute to work and gave up once i was struggling to fit behind the steering wheel and still be able to reach the pedals, big tum - short legs!

3peasinapod · 30/08/2013 11:54

I was office based on DC 1&2 worked till 38wks on both. finished work and I'm a SAHM now. DD3 was as stressful because I was dealing with 2 toddlers. This time round I work one day a week plan on keeping that going till 37 wks. I also do office work for DH and run the house with three DC oh and building a new house and plan to be moved in soon..

In that, time is flying but I know ill hit the 30wk mark and ill be struggling. Sleeping will be hard, hip pains, can't get comfie.. It all takes its toll.

If you feel wrecked its for a reason and your body is telling you to slow down. Can you take on a lesser work load or even start to finish up work??

workingtitle · 30/08/2013 12:16

Are you able to drop a day or reduce your hours a bit, SeriousStuff? I'm working to 37 weeks, but I'm not being very productive at the moment (32 weeks). This means I won't get everything done that I need to, so will continue working after 37 weeks--probably about 14 hours a week. I think it's OK to go on as long as that's balanced with some decent down time. I'd feel pretty resentful otherwise...

NatashaBee · 30/08/2013 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vkinski · 30/08/2013 12:45

I finished up on the Friday (37 weeks) and went into labour the following Wednesday, with DD arriving on the Thursday. So only really got 2 days mat leave to myself before DD made her grand entrance!

It would have been nice to have a wee bit more time to myself but it hasn't put me off that much as I am planning to work until 36 weeks again with this one. I am office based and so far have been coping ok with things (I'll be 30 weeks on Sunday) and would rather have time with the baby than taking lots of time off before he/she arrives. Although I realise not everyone has that luxury and the nature of the work some people do might mean it is better to finish up earlier.

I think the best advice is to listen to your body, if you are physically exhausted then it might be better to give yourself a bit of a rest?

gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn · 30/08/2013 12:49

I worked until the Friday when i was due on the Tuesday (Bank holiday monday). It was the commute which was my biggest problem, driving 35miles with no where to stop for a wee!

I would say my mind wasnt really on the job from about 36/37wks. I was back to work 10 weeks later when DD was 8weeks old.

dexterpat · 30/08/2013 12:57

Ill be 39 +3 when I finish work! But both of my babies have been born past the 42wk mark (42+2 and 42) - my last one ds2 was 'due'on (ie 42weeks I add 2 on to stop the stupid have you has your baby yet messages) 11/01 and I stopped work on 21/12 - I'm the wage earner to and only have 3 months off its doable but hard x

ginmakesitallok · 30/08/2013 13:06

With dd1 I left work at 38 weeks on the Friday, she arrived on the Tuesday. With dd2 I left work at 37 weeks, intending to take next week as annual leave and dd2 arrived on the Monday.

BlueChampagne · 30/08/2013 13:07

Office job and worked till last minute, but then had no-hassle pregnancies.

DS1 last day Friday, due date following Monday, born Wednesday
DS2 last day Friday, due date following Thursday, arrived Sunday!

flipchart · 30/08/2013 13:09

DS1 I worked until the Friday and he was born 7 days later

With DS2 He was born on the Monday when I was due in work. I was due to finish later that week and he was due the following week.

blueshoes · 30/08/2013 13:11

I have the easiest pregnancies in the world. Cannot say the same about my babies though!

I worked till 39 weeks in an office-based job. I could have continued up to the wire but the last week was to finalise the hospital bag, house and baby stuff.

badguider · 30/08/2013 13:14

I'm in the same situation as you - freelance, 3mo off, planning to use my ten KIT days alongside MA for a couple of months after the 3 off completely then going back at 5.5mo.

I worked till 38+1. (a week ago). The reason I stopped then was I was becoming very concerned about going into labour with outstanding tasks/deadlines. I just didn't feel I could in all honesty say I would complete another piece of work...

There is strong evidence that adrenaline suppresses labour so if you don't stop and relax then you will hold the labour off which doesn't really help anybody.

On the finance side of things - you do know you can do ten KITs while still claiming don't you? This makes a HUGE difference as like you my day rate is higher than the weekly MA.
Also, if you are a sole-trader paying income tax to HMRC via self assessment you can write to them with your change in circumstances this year as opposed to last and have them reduce what they bill you in January 'on account' for this current year. (Normally they'd assume you'll earn the same in 2013/14 as you did in 2012/13 but we clearly wont).

PunkyPod · 30/08/2013 16:58

I worked til 38+5 and DD came on her due date. I have to commute 1 hour into central London and over the final few weeks I did work from home a fair bit. It wasn't the work which was a problem, just the commute was a killer. Although I got more time with DD I do kind of wish I'd gone a week earlier because I didn't give myself much time to just rest.

Flip