Am I crazy to try to work til 39 weeks with 40 min commute?

[Podemos]

Trying to decide what to put down as my leaving date for maternity. Ideally I want minimal time off before the baby arrives but as it's my first, I've no idea how I'll feel.

Thought I'd settled on going at 39 weeks with the view that I could always go earlier if struggling. But now I'm wondering if that's a stupid idea as I drive 40 minutes to work. DH could come and pick me up if labour started quickly at work but it would take him about 50 mins to get to me, then 40 minutes home.

Then I think I'll really regret going earlier if I'm sat at home for weeks on end, going overdue with a slow build up to labour.

Any advise on how you've made the decision?

I’ve just stopped at almost 38 weeks and for the past week driving has been super uncomfortable. I feel very well but just couldn’t cope with being sat in the car!!

There's nothing to stop you doing it and going earlier if needs be. Listen to your body. Sounds cheesy but it's actually great advice.

I was of the same mindset and was meant to stop at 38 weeks but sitting in the car for the commute (50 minutes) became so uncomfortable I went off at 37 weeks. Dd arrived at 38 weeks so I was really glad I'd done it

I guess it's different for everyone but I wish I had! I was so bored once on maternity leave and DD didn't arrive til 42 weeks. I think with your commute being a drive it should be fine. I drove right up to giving birth, if it's comfortable for you it's your judgement call.

Jesus no! Well I couldn't have personally. I'm 39 weeks now and I've been done in for ages. I finished before Christmas and used annual leave until 39 weeks, so I'm in the first few days of actual maternity leave now. I actually finished at around 35 weeks, which was just due to where the Christmas break fell, I'd probably have worked to closer to 37 weeks if it wasn't for Christmas.

I'm sure some women wouldn't bat an eyelid at working right up to their DD but it wasn't for me. I haven't had the easiest pregnancy though. My first was easier and I coped better, but I also gave birth at 39 weeks!

I think listen to your body is good advice. I worked until I was 39 weeks, took a weeks’ holiday and they started mat leave on my due date. Really happy I did so as the baby was nine days’ late and waiting around was tough. I didn’t drive but my commute was a 25 min walk and a 30 minute packed commuter train, where getting a seat wasn’t easy.

Happy I did it that way, but would have went earlier if necessary.

Thanks everyone. It's so hard because everyone has such different experiences.

I'm totally happy with going earlier if things like the drive or actually working become difficult - that's not too much of a worry for me. And my boss would be totally supportive- getting cover in earlier/at short notice wouldn't be an issue.

I guess my main worry is going in to labour while at work. And although I know it's not (usually) like in Eastenders, where waters break dramatically and the baby starts coming right there, no one really knows! I just don't want to look like I've no idea what I'm doing (which I don't!) when I put in my leave date knowing that if labour starts at work, it'd take over an hour and a half to get me home. But then again I suppose if things went off that quickly and dramatically it might be best to get to the hospital local to work ASAP???

My first turned up at 35+5 before I'd started maternity leave. With my second I went on leave at 37 weeks. I loved the time at home before the baby came. On days when #1 was in nursery I cooked, relaxed, went to the cinema.

What would your contingency plans be? What if your waters break and you have to go into a hospital close to work as an emergency admission and you end up having to stay there to deliver? What if you go into labour actually driving? Does your route have lots of places where you can get off the road / turn around and get home?

I planned to work right to the last possible moment, but my waters went at 34 weeks when I was on my morning commute. I basically dragged myself back home, so that I could be admitted to my local hospital rather than the one right next to my office, but I was lucky to be able to do that

Also - any possibility of working from home a couple of days a week? That would help enormously in most jobs, to be able to cut out the commute

insane

I worked until 38 weeks and DD was born at 39. It was really uncomfortable towards the end (huge bump, people thought I was having twins), but I wasn't in permanent employment.

It's a good idea to have a contingency plan in place.

I had to stop a bot sooner than that as was really uncofrtable in the car my drive 45mins-1.5hrs depending on traffic ... but basically carried my file and hospital bag in the car with me from 35weeks (which was handy as had a car crash into me that week and had to go for a check up)..

so stick a week in but go when you are getting uncomfortable...

I worked to 39 weeks, but took Wednesday's off. Half a day from about 39 weeks, iirc, and then the whole day from 35 weeks.

I started my mat leave at 30 weeks with first due to antepartum haemorrhage. With the second, by 32 weeks I was having such strong contractions when going up and down the seven steps to my office from reception (walk of about 10 metres plus these steps) that I stopped work at that point

I worked until 38 weeks on my first with a similar commute, had been booked for a planned c section for the next week and felt ok. My last day of work I got taken away in an ambulance due to early contractions and over exuberant colleagues. It turned out to be Braxton hicks but they brought forward the section and ds was born the next day.

I couldn’t do it. I’m struggling now at 32 weeks but each pregnancy is very different. I can’t wait to finish up in a few weeks.

Irish law means you have to go on maternity at 38 weeks, but I ended up changing my mind and arranging to go at 36 weeks. I had an hour long commute which included a 20 min walk, and my SPD got too much in the end.

To be honest it was nice to have a chance to fart about the house, lazily get the baby’s stuff ready and take myself out to the shops unencumbered by DH or a newborn.

By the time dd arrived (at 40 weeks) I’d had a nice rest and plenty of time to chill out by myself before life with a newborn kicked into gear.

I did - 45min commute, office job, all Ok!

Not something I would do in a full time normal job with that much commute but every body is different isn’t it? Only you really know how you’re feeling right now 😘 I’m at 31 weeks and have been trying to ‘get on with it’ absolutely hate slowing down never experienced anything like it before but got to listen to our bodies and do what’s best for us and baby.

If your crazy then so am I! I've set my last day at work as being at 38 weeks (despite the fact my first came at 37 weeks, just going to ignore that 😂) and I commute either 30 mins or 55 mins depending on which office I decide to work in. I'm planning on cutting down my commutes to the further office by maybe about 35/36 weeks so that I will at least be nearer to home if anything does happen at work. Neither workplaces are anywhere near the hospital I plan to give birth but I am aware of the nearest hospitals incase anything does happen. Nobody can predict when a baby deicides to make an appearance so we can only make plans for any situation and hope it turns out for the best.

In my opinion yes. My first came at 36.5 weeks. Second was also early.

Do you have any holidays to use up before maternity leave? I couldn't carry mine over so had 4 weeks to use up.

Can you work from home at all?
I worked til the day before for both of mine. First one I was commuting on subway every day & actually walked several miles the day before my waters broke in the night to meet friends for dinner. Second one I felt less spritely but I did still manage to work from home until right before I had dd2. (I only had US leave though so couldn't really burn through leave before having them). The amount of time off in UK and other countries makes things easier for sure, but if your work arrangements can be a bit flexible then do whatever works for you, everyone is different and there is no right answer.
Good luck!!!!

I wouldnt. I gave birth at 37 weeks before starting maternity leave. My commute involved driving for an hour. Fortunately, labour started in the middle of the night. If it had started while I was at work, I would have been in all sorts of trouble as it was very quick. I might well have given birth on the side of the A10.

I worked until week before due date with both of mine, dd was 2 weeks over due and ds 10 days. I didn't want to waste mat leave before but I was very well.

I couldn’t fit behind the steering wheel of my car after 36 weeks! DS1 was born at 37 weeks as well.