Women who became mums in the late 70s early 80s

[Butterpuff]

Can you remember when you finished work and went on maternity leave?

I've asked my Mum (just curious) she thinks a couple of weeks before due date and that everyone worked right up to date.
MIL said that everyone stopped at 7 months and had a minimum of 8 weeks off before baby was due.

Wildly different views for two women who had their children within a 5 year space.

Just curious to find out from others what they did.

None of my peers worked during pregnancy. We were all SAHMs in those days.

All the women I know who had kids then definitely had 1 or 2 weeks in hospital post birth. This was normal to get over labour/used to baby. They also went in to hospital once their waters had broken.

My mum stopped work 2 months before my due date. I don't know that there was a specific culture/practice though.

I'm sure my Mum told me she stopped work at about 6/7 months pregnant and that was the norm. She didn't return to that job and I understand that wasn't an option.

My mum stopped work a month or two before both her babies were born - but she was a theatre nurse - she says her large bumps were getting in the way!

Yes, time in hospital post birth at least for first baby seems to be common between both Mum's.

I was told in my antenatal class at the weekend that if I have a strait forward vaginal birth (first child) then I can go home two hours later if I choose!

Finished work the end of August. DS due mid November.

My mum and MIL both stopped at 6 months and never went back. That was late 80's.
MIL was horrified when I was still at work last summer two weeks before due date!

First baby in 1986 and I stopped at 29 weeks. People who finished late did so at 32 weeks.

I wonder if my Mum was an unusual case, or has a faulty memory! Sounds like a lot of women did stop earlier rather than later.

Mum never went back to her original job, but went back to work when my brother and I were both at school. Not sure about MIL but I think she never went back to work at all.

My mum worked up until I was born at 38 weeks, family business so she had no choice. She went back to work early when I was 12 weeks because she was bored :) She's slightly mad/works herself to the bone.