Would you have started your mat leave later if you worked from home?

[LondonJen]

I understand most people finish work a month before their due date.

I work from home so I don't need to contend with a commute or even getting dressed if I don't want to! But am I being naive to think I will therefore be able to work closer to my EDD?

Perhaps I will be tired and uncomfortable? What was your experience?

I could have gone another week or two from home, definitely. I finished at about 35w I think, but I did have the benefit of the Christmas holidays which extended it a bit.

There's a high chance you'll be fine, but you just want to make sure how quickly you can stop work if you start feeling rubbish. Also it really is nice to have a few weeks to yourself before the baby comes to just wallow on bed reading and watching TV.

I finished at 34 weeks (I'm taking 2 weeks annual leave before my mat leave kicks in) If I had worked from home then I could probably have worked for longer, but between running training and travelling to meetings work was definitely too much much.

I don't work from home, had at least 45 min commute and worked until my waters went at almost 38 weeks. I found it fine, but everyone is different and I do (slightly) begrudge not having a couple of weeks to myself!

I wfh and I'm really impatient to finish as in constantly reminded of all the house and garden things I've been putting off for 3 years and now 'have' to get done before dd appears. My back killed from about 36 weeks so also I don't think home or office location would have made a difference

I'm able to WFH with my job but still finished four weeks before my EDD mainly because I found it hard to give a flying fig about my job by that point... Just wanted to prepare for baby, do baby-related shopping etc.

I worked up to 38 weeks, with 2 days a week from home from about 34 weeks. My commute is via train and about an hour, it was fine for me but everyone is different.

I work for myself, mostly at home and worked till 38+4 and then went into labour at 39+1... it was tight but ok. I felt I went into labour when I was ready (finished work, submitted accounts, had a haircut and massage then immediately went into labour )

However, in the last couple of weeks I was very worried about possibly not finishing stuff for clients... my last paid work was at about 38 weeks and the last few days was issuing invoices, doing accounts, tidying up etc.

oh, and the reason i pushed it so far was i was convinced i'd go to at least 41 weeks and didn't want to be bored... oops!

I work from home and will stop at 38+4 weeks. I find it very uncomfortable sitting for long periods in front of the computer and also find it difficult to concentrate.

I worked until 39 wks with dc2 as I figured that doing a desk job is probably easier than looking after a toddler all day. Went into labour that night. Still slightly bitter that I didn't get my planned 'me' day.

I worked until two days before my due date. I had the option of working at home, but still some days I needed to be in the office, or giving a presentation somewhere. I felt pretty well though, and went 10 days overdue, so it worked fine for me. If I felt like this again, then I'd do it again. The time extra afterwards before going back was much better.

I'm planning on working up to my EDD and I don't work from home. I don't have a lengthly commute but do have to travel around a bit locally for work so hoping that's still going to be practical. I can only have 3 months off total so can't really use any of that before baby comes if at all possible.

I know everyone is different, and some of the poor ladies on my antenatal thread really struggling already, but I'm feeling pretty good, still managing to look after and ride my horse myself so work seems a doddle compared to that. Just keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way as I get bigger as it's early days yet.

Fingers crossed for you it all works out as you would like and you have a good rest of your pregnancy

With ds1 I stopped at 36wks, I had been planning to work till 38wks but was too exhausted.

With ds2 I stopped at 39+2 but work was less strenuous that a 2yo

Meant to say, you will know when you are ready to stop

Thanks Ladies! Really helpful.

I also WFH and would live to go as long as I can, thinking around 38weeks, we will see!!

My first am a primary school teacher so fairly active job and going until 37 weeks (3 weeks time) but in my head baby will be late. Will be a bit gutted if early as would love some rest before but what will be will be. If worked from home would consider going later depending on how stressful your work is/ how much of a problem would be if baby early and work was not finished..?

I work from home & currently 34 weeks pregnant. I requested my mat leave to start one week before my due date seeing as I'm at home anyway, thought I may as well be earning while sitting on my bum!
I have booked 2 weeks holiday to start immediately before my mat leave kicks in though which I'm looking forward to....more so the not having to think/ worry about work stuff than the physical work if that makes sense. Plus, looking forward to having some day time snoozes as I'm not sleeping well at night at all!
2 more weeks to go!