When's a good time to finish work?

[jenny7722]

Hi all :)

How many weeks before your due date did you finish work? I work in an office so it's nothing strenuous, however I do want a little break for myself before little one arrives.

Any tips?

How far gone are you? When do you have to decide? I finished very early due to complications (about 32 weeks!!) and was told by so many people that I'd be bored but actually I loved it! Banked a lot of sleep, got the house in order, organised everything for baby, batch cooked and managed to do some lovely things like cinema trips, coffee dates. I have really lovely memories of that time, and it was very important for my mental health given the pregnancy complications and the way I was treated at work. People always talk about maximising time with baby butane extra weeks rest before baby arrives is going to matter more than an extra weeks leave at the end of 6/9/12 months IMO.

If I manage to get pregnant again and it's a healthy normal pregnancy, I'd look to finish about 36 weeks. There are so many variables though so maybe tell us a bit more and we can give more specific advice?

I'm finishing at 38.5 weeks - I'm having a section too so that's helped me make the decision. To be honest, if it wasn't for my Christmas break I'd be wanting to finish earlier.

I did work until 38 weeks with my first and he was 6 days late so was a nice break.

It's up to you of course but guess it depends on how you feel? I was / am glad I worked up until that point because of how my holidays etc fall and what it means for my mat leave x

It’s entirely up to when you feel ready. I finished at 39 weeks with DD however I’ve been off sick since 27 weeks with this one, my official mat leave is due to begin when I’m 32 weeks. I work in an office and have severe SPD, sitting at a chair for anything over an hour cripples me so I’ve had no choice in the matter (originally was going on leave at 37 weeks). I’m quite lonely not working however my physical and mental health are improving due to not being in constant pain. Hi

I finished last Friday at 33 weeks, 4 days. Purely because i have lots of annual leave left and will loose it if i don't take it however, I had started to get tired in the evening (7am wake up and an hour commute each way).

Plan on just spending alot of time chilling and preparing!

I finished with 2 weeks till my due date then he was a week early!!!

Up to you. I was leaving my job anyway when I got accidently pregnant so I quit as planned at 25 weeks as I didn’t feel very well for weeks anyway.

I’m 35 weeks now and bored lol for weeks but I knew I would be but better than working

I work in an office and finished at 36 weeks, I loved it !

Another office worker here, 36+1 and this Friday is my last day, I've been counting down the last few weeks as between PGP and really poor sleep at night I'm absolutely knackered! See how you're feeling, I was originally planning on going right up to my due date but was able to bring it forward.

Had my first child by emergency section at 33 weeks and I was at work the day before so this time round I finished at 36 weeks. Those 4 weeks I had a great time. I slept most afternoons lol, went for coffees with various friends/ family. Read 2 books, tried out new easy recipies and stocked the freezer for after birth and did lots of cleaning because I was nesting (possessed) lol and I felt totally organised and rested before baby came which I definitely think helped me have a speedy recovery from my elcs.

I officially start maternity leave at 37+1 on January 2nd but I am using holidays from 35+2 due to our enforced office Christmas shutdown which starts Thursday.

Tiredness hit me like a truck last week so I am glad to be taking the extra rest! I plan to sleep in, do pre-natal yoga, batch cook, rest and clean!

Last time I finished at 36 weeks, but it was Christmas so my first week was prepping for Christmas and generally running around like mad, then there was lots of family visiting etc so the first break I was going to get was 2nd January, which was 38 weeks. Guess when I went in to labour? Yep. That morning. I was exhausted and I really think it caused a number of issues in my labour, I was simply too exhausted to give birth.

This time I'm due 4th Feb (though having a section on 28th) and going on leave on Friday and mat leave from 15th Jan. I decided I was definitely having a rest first this time!

Tiredness hit me like a truck last week so I am glad to be taking the extra rest! I plan to sleep in, do pre-natal yoga, batch cook, rest and clean!

Me too!

With DC1 I worked locally in an office and stopped at 36 weeks but waters broke at 38 weeks and she was born 3 days later. I wished I had stopped sooner so more time to relax and do stuff like go to cinema and out for meal. With DC2 I had more than an hour's commute and after DC1 experience I stopped at 35 weeks. He was a week late, I kept DC1 in nursery 3dpw (though took her in late and picked up early) as felt too big to do much with her and so I got bored. If so had another then would aim for 36 weeks. But also depends on what you can afford.

With my 1st I finished at 36+5 so my 1st day off was 37weeks - good job really as was in & out for monitoring daily due to blood pressure amongst other things & induced at 37+5 (it failed) & DC arrived at 38+1 via C-section.
With DC2 I stopped at 34+1 as had some holiday to take & DC arrived at 35+2
So didn't get much rest at all sadly.

In my first pregnancy, I left at 36 weeks with 2 weeks AL before my mat leave started. This time around, I’ll be finishing at 33 weeks with 4 weeks AL to use up before mat leave kicks in. Can’t wait!!

I finished at 38+4

Baby came at 39+2!

I also have a desk job, wish I’d finished at 36/37 weeks. I was knackered!

With my first I went on leave at 36 weeks and was then 10 days overdue, so I had about 5 weeks before the baby was born which was a bit too long for me. I did get some stuff done at home but I think I'd rather have had the time after the baby was born. I'm 31 weeks with DC2 now and hoping to go at 38 weeks this time if I continue to feel OK. I have been really lucky both times and generally felt fine and had no problems. I do work in a not too demanding office job and drive to work.

Office job. I stopped at 37 weeks and had baby at 38 weeks.

At the moment I'm due to finish at the end of 34 weeks starting with 2 weeks hols, but due to the back issues I'm having, (I've come home today) I'm wondering whether I can see if I can take the rest of the holiday I'd be entitled to and start a further 2weeks early so basically using my full years holiday entitlement mid Jan - mid Feb.

I'm in Germany and you are actually obliged to go on leave at 34 weeks. 6 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after are protected and then you arrange with your work what you want to do after that. For the protected period you get your full salary. After that you get get 60 % of.your salary for a year or 30% for two years.

Finishing at 34 weeks was lovely. My job was stressful so I just slept for the first two weeks of it, then took it slowly.

I’m on my third baby and it’s due a Wednesday and I’m leaving teaching the Friday before. I left 4 weeks with my first and he was a week late- I left 1 week with my 2nd- he was also a week late!
In my head I’ll be organised and not worried about having me time- as I still have children to run round after and probably more relaxing at work teaching lol! Also I’m wanting more time afterwards so the closer I could get to due date the better x

@mortifiedmama
Due on the 4th as well and section planned for the 28th!
Best of luck with your pregnancy.

Finished at 32 weeks and glad I did. Sooooo tired

Office work and finished at 34 weeks. 2 weeks annual leave then maternity started at 36 weeks. I loved it. Baby arrived at 38 weeks.

I'm finishing work this Friday and I'll be 34+1. With the Christmas break and some annual leave I didn't see much point going back after Christmas! Tiredness has hit too this week so looking forward to banking some sleep!

I finished at 36+4 and baby arrived at 40+5. Apart from those last 5 days I had the best and most relaxed few weeks. I would wholly recommend giving yourself a few weeks off. I was really able to get the house in order and prepare for baby as well going out for lots of lunch and coffee dates, trips to the cinema, I started a cross stitch, and went on a spa break.