When did you/are you finishing work?

[ImpatiencePersonified]

I'm 31+2 and I'm shattered... as in totally shattered. I'm struggling to sleep at night, my pelvis is killing and I've got pretty bad acid reflux.
I'm off to the docs at 10.40 to see if they can give me something like omiprezole for the acid because it just seems to be laughin in Gaviscon's face at the moment but I know there's nowt they can really do about the insomnia and pelvic pain.
I was planning on working up until the end of August, so 4 weeks on Friday until I should technically finish but I'm struggling to see how I'll function for another 4 weeks like this.
So my question to you ladies is this, do I just need to take a spoonful of concrete and harden the fuck up or do I succumb to my feeble inner me and think about finishing work earlier than I planned?
What stage were you when you decided enough was enough?

You're right Gillian, I will..... this is the most extreme form of multitasking I've done in a while; creating a whole new person, while whining, working AND being ill !

Im finishing at the end of this week but baby brain checked out a couple of weeks ago tbh. I would go with what your body is telling you, if you need to finish early just do it, you want to be as rested as poss when little one arrives x

First time my maternity leave kicked in automatically as I had DS at 36+1 and was in hospital at 35+6. I found going from desk to being a first time mum (with nothing ready, was going to do it on mat leave) quite difficult to get my head around. Nearly lost my holiday too as we have a use it or lose it policy but luckily argued my case and it was OK, otherwise that'd been a month's pay gone.
This time I'm going at 30 weeks. Not risking it after last time. I'll probably have until week 42 now hopefully!!

Go when you feel like OP. Some people get bored, others don't, depends on your personality and how much you've got to get done at home. Hope you feel better soon

With dd I was supposed to go on maternity leave at 39 weeks but she arrived at 38 weeks 1 days. With dc I plan on going on maternity leave at 39 weeks.

I finished work on the 17th (primary school teacher) at 35 weeks pregnant...I was really struggling towards the end so I'm loving being able to just relax on my fat arse eating biscuits for a bit before baby comes.

Glad to hear your doctor has given you the prescriptions. Hope the medicines help you feel better.

I'm due to work up until the baby's due (I finish on the Friday and he's due on the Sunday). I planned this as I thought first babies are usually late and I'll be impatient if I am sitting at home without work to distract me. Also my work is quite flexible: have flexitime, can work from home use holiday to have days or half days off at short notice, so I think most people there do the same. Plus there's a good hospital nearby if anything happens at work.

A few weeks ago the over forties police seem to have caught up with me. I turned forty just after my first pregnancy appointment but I think they have only just noticed and they will call me in at 39 weeks to discuss inducing me so I might end up leaving sooner than planned.

Currently 35+2, not planning to stop working anytime soon!!
I'm taking a week's annual leave starting tomorrow and when I get back there's a bunch of loose ends to tie up. I guess once that's done I'll officially go on ML but until then... There's lots of work to be done!!

I'm jealous of all those starting their leaves so early. Doesn't seem to be an option for me...

My maternity leave officially starts the day before my due date(!), although I'm taking two weeks' leave before that, so I'll be finishing at 37+3. Have to hope a) that the baby doesn't arrive before then and b) that I'll be well enough to last that long, as at my place, you have to give 8 weeks' notice if you want to change your maternity leave dates (so I'll only be 31 weeks when that deadline comes around). Don't know what happens if I decide at 32 weeks that I can't work any longer....think I'll just have to tough it out! Really hope the baby is on time (or a day or two late) so I have time to relax beforehand, although I'm nervous as my dad told me that me & my brothers all arrived early....

This Friday!! WOOHOO!!! It cannot come soon enough. I'll be 36 weeks.

cazza are you in the UK? It's 28 days notice to change dates if you are and I dont think your employer can go against that.

The start date that is. If you want to change your return to work date, after your leave it is 8 weeks.

Starting a 39 weeks. Dd was 2 weeks late and i went off at 37 and was very bored. And almost too rested, the change in sleeping in, napping and having 'me time' to life with a new born was a complete shocker!

Reading this with interest. My first DC. Currently 19+4 and been talking withy bosses about when I will go on ML. We've just said no later than mid nov when I'll be 35/36 weeks. I work in and outdoors teaching animal and equine studies and as a riding instructor.

I'm also self employed so could really do with working as long as possible. I worry too that I'll be easily bored with too much time off.

But reading this I wonder if I will even make it to 35 weeks!

I'm a teacher so with DD I finished at 39 weeks and she came 3 days later, with DS I timed it brilliantly and technically finished on Sept 1(38 weeks) but had the prior 6 weeks summer holidays off on full pay, likewise I technically returned last weekend from maternity so back on full pay but won't be back in the building until 7th Sept! I'd always rather finish later and have longer off on pay

AbbeyRoadCrossing, yep you're right....8 weeks was in my head, but I've checked my policy and that's the notice period for coming back to work. It's 28 days to change the mat leave start date, as you said. Reckon I should know by that deadline whether I can stick it out to the end!

2 weeks today, will be 34 weeks. Taking 3 weeks leave so officially start mat leave at 37 weeks. Worked to 38 weeks last time but hip pain is getting too much this time round.