When did you leave work

[sepa]

Just wondering when people finished work (including any holidays taken before mat leave)
I am thinking 38/39 weeks. I work in an office job and have an assistant for bits of I need. Is this a realistic time (assuming DC doesn't come before 40 weeks) or do you think that i should look at leaving earlier? I'm 18 weeks so have 7 weeks to get this decided for work.

I went off at 36 weeks, office job too but really stressful one with long hours. After 34 weeks I was just so tired - however I have Dc1 who is 4.6 so wasn't able to really rest when I got home. I rest now when she's at school, until baby comes anyway!

I finish next Thursday when I will be 35+5 and I cannot wait. I have had spd since about week 19 and our office is so hot & stuffy I am swollen and in pain by lunchtime. I have to keep getting up and moving around to not totally seize up.

I already have several antenatal appointments booked in for the following week (midwife, health visitor etc) and, what with all the cleaning, cooking, baby shopping and hospital bag-packing that I haven't even started yet, I can't see myself getting too bored until due date time (and beyond).

As others have said your finish date can be moved. I totally envisaged being fully active and fit right up until I popped, now I just want to crawl into bed at the earliest opportunity!

I'm 37 weeks and finishing off up on Friday. I had to keep going as work is so busy and I want to make sure I leave things organised for my replacement who started yesterday. I am now at the stage that I am counting the hours as I am being induced on Tuesday. Had what I thought was start of labour last night, lots of twinges but when I woke this morning things had settled down. Just spent the day in hoping my waters don't go in front of the entire office !!

DS arrived before I finished work He was 10 days early.
I finished 7 days before DS2 was born. He arrived on his expected due date.

With dc2 I went at 33 weeks (annual leave before starting mat leave at about 36). It was bliss! I wasn't bored at all. Got baby stuff ready, did a yoga class, nct coffee mornings, swimming/gym, aqua natal classes, met up with antenatal class friends and got jobs done around the house. 'Twas fabulous!

I was up a ladder painting and decorating the nursery on my mat leave. Then I made a huge 3D name sign of my Son's name out of paper mâché and was still decorating it when I went into labour at 40+2

I've put down to start maternity leave at 39 weeks so that can have more time with baby afterwards, unless of course he comes early! Then they will start maternity leave when I give birth. I'm leaving work at 35+2 though as I tons of leave left to take. I'm currently 31 weeks and starting to struggle with certain tasks and tiredness, so I'm counting down the days!

I left at 33 weeks, using some A/L. It was about right, because that was the point I stopped sleeping well, and could no longer stand for long periods of time. As a surgeon, both of those things are quite important. Add in a 1.3 hour commute each way and I was ready to finish. I also hadnt got anything ready, so there was plenty to keep me busy.

I finished at 36+5 weeks (had planned to finisha t 39 weeks) as ds1 needed to be delivered early, and had to finish at 38+3 (again had planned to finish at 39 weeks) due to slow labour with ds2.

This time (currently 26+5) I was planning to finish at 36 weeks, but have got pgp that is getting rapidly wrse, and even though my role is office based and I can work from home regularly I can't see myself lasting that long. I will get signed off though if I need to finish earlier due to the pgp.

I have no worries about getting bored before baby arrives as I am not sleeping and in pain so will welcome the rest in front of multiple box sets! I am fortunate though as with my two sons I had to have short maternity leaves due to Finances, whereas this time (and ten years later) I am able to take longer, which again makes finishing earlier easier.

I was planning on leaving 2 weeks before little one is due on the 24th December but as I'm not coping well now, I'm 27 weeks, so I'm moving it to a month before I'm due

I think that I will just tell them 39 weeks then and then just leave before if I need

I left at 36 weeks but was ready to go a couple of weeks earlier, if I'm honest. Had DD at 37+5 due to preeclampsia - which may explain why I felt so rubbish towards the end.

This time around I'm finishing for mat leave at 37 weeks, but because of the holiday policy I'm having to take a whole year's worth of holiday before my maternity leave starts - so I'm actually finishing at 30 weeks and taking 7 weeks annual leave.

I'm 33+1 now and I'm finished. I just can't do it anymore. My job involves being on my feet all day and my back is in bits. Iron is low too, so I'm weak and dizzy and can't stomach the meds. I have a 2 year old ds and this pregnancy is a lot harder than the first one. My doctor has signed me off. Due to the nature of my job, I can't use annual leave. Maternity leave due to start around my due date. I'm hoping I don't go over.

I take my hat off to those of you who work until the end. I couldn't do it. I'm not one bit bored either. Lots to do before the new arrival joins us!