Feeling so unwell at 35 weeks, should I finish work a week early?

[Toastytoes1]

Hi,
I'm 35+4 today and I just feel so uncomfortable and unwell. I've had hyperemesis which had been very well managed since I was about 10weeks as long as I took my medication but for whatever reason it just seems to have stopped being as effective and I've been extremely nauseous everyday for weeks now.
I also just feel so uncomfortable, I've been told that I'm having a big baby but that my bump measures a lot smaller so maybe that's adding to it but I just feel so squashed and uncomfortable. I'm also completely exhausted with no energy at all.
I've been having a lot of Braxton hicks contractions that are not painful just very tight and adding to how squashed I feel.

Anyway, I'm sorry to moan, I just really feel horrible and would like some reassurance that this is all relatively normal? It's my first baby and I just have this horrible feeling that something is wrong but really I think this is just how it feels to be heavily pregnant?

Also, I don't start mat leave until next week and even though I'm only working 3 days next week my job involves a lot of driving which is obviously uncomfortable and on one day I'm delivering training all day to 30 people and although I've been surviving this far, I'm really exhausted now and am already dreading my last week. Would it be terrible to call in sick for my last week? I really don't want to as I do love my job normally but I'm just honestly feeling that I cannot do it anymore.

i don’t really understand the current trend to work until you go into labour. It’s miserable, uncomfortable, and entirely based around some media-fed nonsense about being able to spend more time with your baby afterwards. Fuck that. Being heavily pregnant can be bloody awful. Anything that helps you feel less awful is a good thing. If you can spend a few weeks trying to rest now, you’ll be in better shape to survive the first three months of motherhood.
Martyrdom is pointless.

Yes it sounds like you need to rest, you poor thing! Listen to your body. I would definitely finish work in your position. It's going to have you completely worn out. Good luck for the next few weeks!

Sound normal to me, horrible, but normal. I wouldn’t call in sick I would just start maternity leave now. . It’s not a sign of weakness! Last few weeks is dreadful! Can’t breathe, cant sleep, cant walk, can’t eat, can’t bend, I’ve gone off about 34 weeks with all of mine. Baby might also come early. Go now and try and be as rested as possible. Good luck👍😁

Take time for you, and rest up

@nachthexe What do you mean by 'media fed nonsense about spending more time with the baby?' Its a actually a reality for some people, like myself. If I go on maternity weeks before my baby is here, then yeah. It eats into my time with my baby... People like me cannot afford to live on 150 pounds a week after 3/4 months so have to go back to work... How is it nonsense?

I'm nearly 38 weeks and just started maternity leave. It's my first pregnancy and I've found the last few weeks harder than I expected. You sound like you have a tougher job than me, I was able to work at home a lot. I don't think there is anything unusual about how you are feeling and if you can stop now, do!

It’s nonsense because it prioritises care of baby over care of mother (which ultimately is better for the baby anyway). The whole sacred duty thing. Mothers should immolate themselves and not take any rest or prepare while pregnant, and sacrifice themselves to get an extra week or two with their child.
It’s the usual thing. You aren’t a person in your own right as soon a baby is involved. You must sacrifice all. Because an extra week of changing nappies is way more important than taking time to rest before you go into labour. It’s not about you, mama. Get into work
Bunch of tosh. Take a couple of weeks and rest up. Your life is about to get way harder. Why start that by insisting you have worked yourself into the ground until the minute your waters break? You deserve consideration too.

Thank you everyone.
I hadn’t deliberately planned my maternity leave so late, this is my first baby, I just went with what I thought would be reasonable at the point of choosing an end date. I won’t book it quite so late in future pregnancies if I’m so lucky as to have another because now I know better. I think it just concerns me that there are certain things I have to do for work either way; I don’t have the kind of job where someone could take over from me at the drop of a hat. But I’m not working Monday so perhaps see how I feel tomorrow and call my manager to see what can maybe be done. Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your replies.

@nachthexe Yeah, no I'd rather have the extra week(s) with my child if I can tolerate working as close to due date as possible. Nothing to do with what other people think of me, or 'the media,' its literally because time is precious, especially when they're small.. and its not an 'extra week of changing nappies,' its time spent with your baby that you just brought into the world. (and yes, they do come first.)

You could say the same about 'media unfair pressure to go back to work,' when it's just a need to pay bills and keep a roof over your head.
Must be nice to have the luxury to casually pick and choose when to breeze back to work.