Finishing work at 39 week.. Is it do-able?

[Firstpregnancy2014]

I left a job 4 week ago, I was contracting but it came to an end
Luckily I have been offered a contracting job elsewhere and I start tomorrow. They asked me when id be willing to work upto... And I've said 39 weeks. I'm due the following Friday so will finish the week before.
Am I being ambitious ?
I have felt ok so far, first baby, my morning sickness is gone and yes I'm tired but I don't think I'd feel any better at home. It's just office work and it's a 15 minute drive from my house. I need to work as late as possible because I'm not entitled to much maternity wise.
Did anyone else feel like this at 24 weeks and then decide it was too much?

I was determined to work to 39 weeks but in the end decided to book to finish at 36 weeks and see how I felt (self employed dog groomer)

I was so glad when the day came, I was knackered, huge and hated every minute of the job I usually love.

I'm pregnant again and will do the same and am already dreading the 30+ week stages.

Have just finished work at 39 weeks exactly, was tiring and last two weeks I had at least a day off a week - using up annual leave. Doable with a short drive to work, would have been hideous with a train or tube commute. I say go for it but be prepared for feeling quite quite shattered and beware the early baby!! Good luck

I planned to work up to 38 weeks, but as time drew closer my boss was concerned as my work included office hours and working alongside youth, some who could be volatile. I had no issues with the youth, but by 36 weeks I was happy to reduce my hours. Hopefully your work will be flexible and let you work up til you are happy!

I was originally planning to work to 39 weeks but have now brought it forward to 37 as I feel like I need a couple of weeks of chill time before baby arrives. We haven't had a holiday this year as I'm saving my AL to go back PT once baby arrives so it's just all getting a bit much. Work also seems to be getting more stressful by the day, and the office is sweltering in this weather so I'm looking forward to finishing now, whereas earlier on in the pregnancy I was dreading it (as I normally love my job).

6 weeks to go!

If you feel fine then it will be OK.

Assume that your new employers know you will be having a baby in the near future so if you do go early ce la vie.

I felt great in late.pregnancy and worked up til 39.5ish. Finished on the Monday due date was Friday DD born just on Monday.

If you feel fine then it will be OK.

Assume that your new employers know you will be having a baby in the near future so if you do go early ce la vie.

I felt great in late.pregnancy and worked up til 39.5ish. Finished on the Monday due date was Friday DD born just on Monday.

I finished at 39 weeks and DS was born 2 days later. As someone else has said it is down to luck. Good luck

I'm planning to (primary school teacher, going back for 3 weeks after school summer holidays), but have a maternity cover teacher on standby from the beginning of term. He and I have a cross over week anyway as my last week, but it might be more.

I've also told my boss that if I feel in any way that I can't do my job properly, then I'll go off sick, which will kick in the start of mat leave.

I've also prepared to 'not go back' - most of my belongings are no longer at school for example, I've planned and prepared all paper work so it's in my classroom ready for someone to just pick up and start teaching with if they needed to.

I finished work with DS1 at 37 weeks. The very next day I was admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia (not identified before that day) and was induced days later.

With DS2 I finished work at 35 weeks, thinking I might have an early baby and/or problems again. DS2 was born at 40 + 1. You just never know!

I had my two dc (had a C-section for third) at 39+4 (but waters broke at 39+1) and 39+6 so you might be cutting it a bit fine, although I know plenty went over too. I worked as a teacher until 37 weeks with my first and 38 with my second so it is doable to work till quite late, but I was exhausted by then and very ready to go on maternity! Good luck with your pregnancy :)

I'm finishing at 39+4. People say I must be mad.... However, sitting at a desk all day in an air conditioned office with tea/coffee etc on demand vs being at home where I would undoubted find a million things to do... No contest really.

I know a few people who have worked until the 39+'s and have had their LO's a few days after finishing. Depends on your work environment I guess.

I run my own business and was still working at 41wks last time.....it was easier than looking after my 18mo ;-)

I'm self employed and worked up until 40+1 first time (DD was born at 40+5). It was a trouble free pregnancy and i had quite an active job but i didn't find it a problem.

Second time around i worked until 37½ weeks (more office based this time) and DS was born 10 days later. I found it more tiring as i has a toddler to cope with too.

Thankfully both of mine were winter babies and i didn't have to endure late pregnancy in this heat!

I'm going near the end of august at 39+2 although doing reduced days in that final week, it's a busy customer facing job were you arnt allowed to sit down but it makes sense financially and I don't like the idea of being sat at home alone for weeks before! I'm 35+2 now and still feel like this will be doable for me, keeping my fx I'm not wrong!

I finished at 39 weeks, same as you I had an easy pregnancy and did office work. However, my last week I just did half days, which was lovely - I just rocked up at 10 and popped off at 3, but still got the stuff done that needed me there to the end. I guess if you have your cover in place, you can always make sure you've made notes on what's what and done a kind of handover a few weeks before, so if you do go into labour early it won't be the end of the world.

As for going overdue... that's what I thought. I also watched friends who'd gone on leave at 36 weeks go two weeks over and feel like their leave was ticking away before the baby was even here, and felt smug that I'd probably get two or three weeks to myself before he came. He arrived on his due date, nobody was more shocked than me!