When did you finish work?

[beansprout]

I work in an office, in a very preg friendly workplace and my boss is great too. That said, my maternity leave is still a precious commodity and I want to, like many of us, save as much of it until after db is born. Also, although I want a rest before db arrives, I wouldn't be good with 4/5/6 weeks at home, waiting for the event.

So.... am thinking of working to 37 weeks. Am 25 now and so far am having a straightforward preg. Dp happens to work next door so getting to and from work is easy as most days I can get a lift.

Does this sound realistic? What did you do and what would you advise? Many thanks

Ah, that's 25 weeks, btw, I'm actually 34 (and not trying to kid anyone I am still in my 20s!!).

Sounds realistic to me, although I fifnished at 35 wks with DD, and she was born 3 days later!!! This time I have finished at 34 wks, just in case!!!!

You may find that you feel differently in the next month or so.

I have been lucky with an uneventful pregnancy and thought I could work (almost) right up to my due date! In the end I decided to leave at 36 weeks having saved up some annual leave (last day at work is tomorrow - hooray!). I am now so glad I've done it this way as I feel very differently now to how I did even a few weeks ago! I am so looking forward to the rest and the not having to travel to work every day. Think very carefully about it and perhaps give yourself a week or so more before the birth than you THINK you will need as I think you will be glad to leave work when the time comes around...

hmm, i stopped at 34wks last time for a variety of reasons to do more with conditions at my workplace than how i was feeling. it seemed like too long to take off in advance with the benefit of hindsight. this time decided to work to 36wks - BUT i feel much worse this time and 34wks would have been more appropriate this time! it's difficult to get right.

Hi! With ds1 I worked up until 37 wks (in office just 5 mins walk from home) then moved house at 38 wks . I certainly didn't have chance to get fed up with the waiting!

It was the right choice for me, but I was young(ish) and pretty fit, and my job was a real pleasure, not a source of stress. It wouldn't suit everyone.

38 weeks both time, felt fine but a bit more tired during 2nd pregnancy. as I went to 42 weeks both times, it was worth it

Not that I would recommend this approach but... with ds I got home from work at 6.30 and went into labour at 8.30 (40 weeks exactly) and with dd I went straight from work to the hospital to have my pre-meds (also 40 weeks). I wasn't young and have no excuse

My theory is you tell them you want to work as late as possible and then you can always stop early, but you can't do it the other way round. I want to work till I am 38 weeks, but I am cheeting as I will have had 8 weeks summer holidays (I am a teacher!)

I officially stoppe at 16 weeks but was off for 2 weeks over Xmas before that. I was definitely ready by that stage!

OK 36 weeks!

I worked up till 38 weeks with ds, and 39 weeks with dd (though part time with her). Littlerach, are you really that close to having your baby? I was thinking you must be about 20 weeks! Hope it goes well for you.

With dd I worked up until 38 1/2 weeks. I had planned to work till week 40 but got so knackered and fed up that I took a week and a half's annual leave (which I had been planning to keep until after the birth) and left earlier. To be honest, it was more the travelling to work that was the killer than actually being there - commuting by train just ain't any fun when you're heavily pregnant although I do have quite a physically demanding job and also have three other children.
In saying that when I had my 1st I went on maternity leave when I was 28 weeks and was absolutely bored s*@tless especially as the baby was 2 weeks late.
I would agree with cazzybabs, tell them you want to work as late as poss then you can always change your mind depending on how you feel.

Intended to work until 35 weeks but stopped at 34 due to high blood pressure. And DS arrived at 38 weeks so probably a good thing I didn't decide to work until ny due date!

With ds1 I finished work on the Friday and had him on the Tuesday. with ds2 I was off for about four weeks before because my waters broke and I was supposed to rest.

Finished on the Friday, had ds on the Tuesday (induced so knew it was coming!!) 38+3 weeks. Had intended to finish on that Friday anyway as I was pretty convinced wouldn't go full term.
My company were happy for me to go whenever...I was actually supposed to be going back in on the Tuesday for a training day! Phoned up and said only if they could arrange creche facilities!!

I am planning to finish at 38 weeks, although initially told boss I'd work up until end, but changed my mind as I got bigger. When I interviewed for current job I didn't know I was pregnant or even planning to be, but by the time I started I was 13 weeks and meant to be taking on the role of a colleague who's just gone on maternity leave - they weren't over the moon about my news, but have been very good about it since and think 38 weeks is sensible. Colleague (who is due today btw) went off at 36 weeks and has been bored senseless!

I worked until 35 weeks, took mat leave at 36 weeks (first week was school half term). By that time I was getting tired being stood up all day.

I stopped at 34 weeks (which coincided with xmas - lovely!) But I had a very physical nanny job. I figured this was the only time in my life I would not have either a child or a job to go to so I was going to make the most of it. I wouldnt have worked past 36 weeks though , incase the baby came early - I wouldnt have a rest!

I only worked until 30 weeks but that was because I had a very physical job. I was working as a staff nurse and a lot of the patients were bedbound. My colleagues were very good about not letting me lift, but even so the whole thing left me so knackered I just felt I wasn't doing my job properly (I'm of the camp that believes you either do a job properly or not at all). So I packed it in!

gosh you make me feel like a lazy cow, you lot!!!

I stopped I think around 31-32 weeks I can't remember exactly but no later than that. I did not have a physycally demanding job (though I had to commute on the train), but I just felt I wanted to enjoy my first pregnancy as much as possible and have a good rest before the baby came. At the time you could only ahve 18 weeks from the birth anyway, regardless of how many you took beforhand, so I took advantage of it!!!

Beansprout - I worked up to 38 weeks with ds1 which was fine as he was two weeks late so I had a month off to rest. Not sure how I would have been if he had come early though. With ds2, I stopped at 36 weeks but this time am planning to officially start at 38 weeks but take 6 weeks leave first as I feel I need to build up my reserves of energy before the baby arrives.

But as somebody has suggested it is easy to bring a date forward but not back, so could you bank some annual leave and then if you need to use it pre your official date leave earlier, and if not save it until afterwards? Then you could see how you feel in those final weeks.

With DS I worked until 38 weeks, and he arrived at 42 weeks, so I was bored for four weeks, and could see my maternity leave diminishing (it was 18 weeks at that time). So I worked until 40 weeks with DD, finished on the Friday and went in to be induced on the following Tuesday.

With dd worked up until 36 weeks ( summer schol holidays so no more work after that - dd born August) This time worked until 17 weeks but only cause we emigrated... Of course now 21 weeks - no one will hire me to work over here at this stage - rather enjoying being at home with dd. had I stayed probably would have worked until 36 or so weeks again - autumn mid term holidays.

36 weeks and I regret it; should have left at least one week before. Was during the heatwave last summer; I was exhausted and my head just stopped working. Had final 1-1s scheduled one day with all my staff and was late for absolutely every one, just going mad. Actually had to ask a colleague I was at lunch with what to do when I realised we were going to be late back; I really couldn't think. Bless her, she very calmly said 'phone your office and tell them you are running late' as if I'd asked a sensible question!

Should add, ds was born at 41+1. I was lucky in my NCT group, we all met up at least once a week so I wasn't going mad on my own.