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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How do people manage to work to the end????!

42 replies

Bigbadgeorge · 13/04/2015 11:05

I get that every pregnancy is different and some people fair better than others but though I had every intention of working til 39 weeks here I am at 36 weeks really struggling!!! Stopping at the end of this week now, phew!
I have SPD and reflux making me vomit regularly and a toddler who doesn't sleep through. I'm on my feet for my job, though managing to do more desk work. I'm done in!

Hats off to those that make it!

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MsMittens · 13/04/2015 11:07

I am 37 weeks and finishing next Tuesday and even with working 2 days a week from home, I have to admit that I am struggling!

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 13/04/2015 11:10

Me too! I was going to work until my due date but had the baby at 36+1, would've quite liked to have finished work, gone shopping for baby stuff and had a rest. I still get in a huff every time someone says "first babies are always late"

So I guess officially I did work until the end, but I wouldn't recommend it. I'd started feeling awful but was under pressure to stay on as they hadn't hired my cover (even though they had 5 months notice to do that)

Hope it goes well, enjoy your leave

TheOriginalWinkly · 13/04/2015 11:13

I 'worked' until 39 weeks but I was sitting on my arse in an air conditioned office, people brought me food and drinks, in a lot of ways it was easier than being in my roasting flat in the height of summer!

HoldenCaulfield80 · 13/04/2015 11:16

I worked to 39 and am a teacher. Light duties and kids to carry anything remotely heavy and run to my office to get Gaviscon for me and colleagues who we're AMAZING saw me through. I did nothing at home though - housework, cooking etc - so had a pretty charmed life

Joyfulldeathsquad · 13/04/2015 11:16

I had to leave at 34 weeks I am a swimming teacher and was given 'light duties' eg sitting on reception on a ridiculous chair from 32 weeks for elf and safety . They really wanted me to leave early so I could get back sooner.

Arseholes.

AlpacaMyBags · 13/04/2015 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OopTheShard · 13/04/2015 11:21

I managed until 36 weeks with DC1. I was full-time and my job involved standing for long periods, plus a commute through London on the tube. I was exhausted from about 30 weeks and was SO relieved when I finally went off on mat leave.

BUT...with DC2 I was a SAHM with a 3 yr old and by GOD that was harder than a day's work .

MsMittens · 13/04/2015 11:23

Ha *OopTheShard" DC1 is 2.3 and I could not agree more. Today has been a rest by comparison to toddler herding and entertainment over the weekend

Cirsium · 13/04/2015 11:25

I planned to work till due date. All going well until I got pre eclampsia and brought finish date back by a week. Then was kept in after a monitoring appointment on a Sunday at 38 weeks and induced so had to phone all my clients and tell them I wouldn't be in. But sad to have missed the chilling out and watching crap TV for a few weeks. But lovely DD is here safe and sound so never mind.

esiotrot2015 · 13/04/2015 11:26

I tried to go to 39 weeks but went at 37
I was exhausted & didn't want to feel exhausted while giving birth

Pootles2010 · 13/04/2015 11:27

I worked to the end, but as you have said in your own post, you have SPD and are on your feet for your job! You've done amazingly to get to the end.

I sit on my bottom all day and had no health issues, so wasn't really any different to sitting on my bottom at home!

CommanderShepard · 13/04/2015 11:28

I think it depends on a lot of factors like your job and how far away it is, as well as your own health. I went at 35 weeks with DD (used annual leave to pad it out) and I think I could have gone to 37/38 but I had a really short commute and a desk-based job.

This time I have a new job and a short commute again but I'm 32 vs 29 and I'm feeling it already at 18 weeks! I'm going to try to make it to 37 as that means I go off at the end of August and it's neat in terms of pay and admin but may have to go earlier.

StetsonsAreCool · 13/04/2015 11:33

First time I finished at 38 weeks, but then worked from home on spreadsheets up until my due date.

5 years later, planned to finish the same time and have two weeks of peace and quiet, but I was so tired I finished a week earlier. I was older and had another child to care for.

But both were straightforward pregnancies with no side effects. If I'd had Spd I'm sure I would have wanted to finish around 34 weeks!!

applecore0317 · 13/04/2015 11:33

I planned to finish at 36 weeks using two weeks holiday and mat leave starting at 38weeks, however I was signed off work at 32 weeks. Hasn't affected mat leave though fortunately, it the small print my work can only bring it forwards if signed off within four weeks of due date

Snappingcrayons · 13/04/2015 11:40

My friend has gone in to work today at 40+1. She works in a school, and didn't want her two weeks Easter holiday counted as part of her maternity leave so made the effort to go in.

HazleNutt · 13/04/2015 11:41

As you say, every pregnancy is different. I was lucky, feeling fine, so worked til the end - desk job, so not much difference if I sit at my desk or home on the sofa.
Am planning to do the same with this one (and not only because DC1 is 21 months and I now come to the office for a break )

MangoBiscuit · 13/04/2015 11:54

First time round I had SPD, stupidly big bump (lots of fluid), insomnia, and I felt exhausted all the time. I left at 36 weeks and had almost 6 weeks off before DD1 decided to show up.

With DD2 I felt MUCH better. I was still exercising, romping about with DD1 and getting stuck in soft play tunnels. I had a day of annual leave to spend with DD1 on the Friday, and started my ML on the Monday, on my due date, and went into labour at 4am.

If I'd had to look after DD1 whilst feeling as exhausted I did in my first pregnancy, staying till 36 weeks would have felt like a marathon, and she slept well.

5YearsTime · 13/04/2015 11:59

I went to 38 weeks and was glad I did. I was uncomfortable but at least I was distracted by work.

Was only a few days overdue but I'm a ridiculously impatient person and I enjoyed the first week of mat leave but hated the second.

Was so so bored and had insomnia so felt like stabbing any stupid fucker that told me to 'make the most of it' or 'get all the rest you can'. DD is a few weeks old now and I sleep much better than I did when I was pregnant!

HelenF350 · 13/04/2015 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Bigbadgeorge · 13/04/2015 13:49

Great replies! I'm glad I'm not the only one :-)

To those who said they only managed because they had it easy- I think you are not being generous enough with yourselves, I think you are made of sterner stuff than me!
AbbeyRoadCrossing- that happened to me with DD1! First morning of mat leave my waters broke

Alpacamybags- I don't know how you guys in the states manage, we are so lucky here!

Ooptheshard- totally agree! Weekends wipe me out chasing dd round

OP posts:

Littlepig8834 · 13/04/2015 15:06

I am planning to work until 37 weeks and take off three weeks annual leave before my mat leave starts. I think this is sensible for me, although a few of my friends wanted to work until the end but ended up finishing anywhere from 4 weeks to 2 months before their due dates, so who knows!?!

I want more time after the birth which is why I am using annual leave so my mat leave can start on my due date but if I am early, at least I will be on annual leave (unless I am more than three weeks early and then my waters will be breaking in the office)!

croon979 · 13/04/2015 17:01

I am finishing work on Friday and will be 33 weeks when I finish. This week, I am only doing half days. I am absolutely knackered and more than ready to go. Everyone is different but I have a very stressful job (am a partner in a law firm) and I am finding that the exhaustion is just all-consuming. I am lucky in that I have lots of holidays to take (6 weeks worth) before my maternity leave actually starts on 1st June. I think it totally depends on your job and your personal situation. Not sure if age has been a factor as this is my first, I am 35 years old and have had a very easy, healthy pregnancy. It is only just now that I am starting to struggle and feel uncomfortable/knackered.

Threesoundslikealot · 13/04/2015 17:24

I had appalling SPD with my first pregnancy and ended up going on maternity leave at 34 weeks. The baby was born at 42 weeks so I had 8 weeks of being essentially immobile and in pain, and it was all horrible.

Second time round I booked to stop at 36 weeks, but had no SPD or other problems at all, and was completely mobile still, so was rather cross with myself for wasting leave before the baby arrived, and he turned up pretty much dead on time too.

So this time round I'm working till 39 weeks, and only stopping then rather than a week later because I have to start on the Sunday of the week the baby is due and the due date is a Saturday. I only sit at a desk, and can work from home half the time, so it really doesn't feel like a big deal, and I'm mobile and sleeping well etc.

I think you're doing yourself down as SPD makes a MASSIVE difference, and if I'd had to stand at work, I'd have had to go by about 30 weeks the first time round.

Rebecca1608 · 13/04/2015 23:23

I really wanted to work a lot longer but thanks to my SPD & constantly standing at work I've had to finish at just over 28 weeks. I've got 3 weeks annual leave to take them my maternity will start. Only 7 weeks or so left until I get to meet my girls til then im waiting not so patiently for a physio appointment.lol.

Threesoundslikealot · 14/04/2015 00:02

Rebecca, can't you get yourself signed off? You wouldn't then have to start maternity leave till 36 weeks.

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