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Original poster

When did you leave work??

32 replies

Kookie · 19/10/2004 09:27

Hi guys, I seem to be becoming a regular poster these days! So many questions and I'm aware time is running out swiftly as I'm 27 weeks pg and it only seems yesterday that we were sat huddled over the pregnancy test!! Can I just ask, when did you leave work? I'm a teacher and trying to struggle through to the end of Autumn term (December 17th) however it's getting more and more knackering as the days go by. Am I being a complete wimp or should I consider leaving before I'm 36 weeks? Any ideas welcomed!!!!

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Yorkiegirl · 19/10/2004 09:32

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Blackduck · 19/10/2004 09:32

I went to 38 weeks (left on the friday - had ds on the Tuesday!), but I'm not a teacher! I am a tech trainer so did stand on my feet a fair bit, but my boss cut it right down towards the end.....SO I think you have to think about what is good for you and baby. I wasn't big so though I was quite tired I didn't feel I was lugging a load of weight around!

zubb · 19/10/2004 09:35

It depends on what work you do, and how you feel. You have to do what you feel comfortable with, but if you have limited maternity leave you have to decide whether you want as much of it as possible with the baby, or some time to prepare.

tammybear · 19/10/2004 09:35

I worked at an office so as I was sat down all the time I tried to stick it out as long as possible so I had later to come back after I had dd. I was going to go on my maternity leave on 17th December, and I was due 10th January. Problem was dd came on 15th December and so I didnt even get to enjoy any time to myself on my maternity leave!! Nice early Christmas present though

Tinker · 19/10/2004 09:36

I would have worked until my due date but it fell on Easter Monday which complcated things. I would leave whenever you feel you are too tired. But I wanted as much times after the birth as possible. Depends how much time you can afford to take off after the birth I think

Pidge · 19/10/2004 09:45

Hi Kookie - I think you really have to weigh up how you're feeling against how much leave you can afford to take, and how much time you want before and after the baby is born. I have an office-based job, though with over an hour's commute each way and last time round I knew I wanted as much time as possible after the baby was due, so worked till 2 weeks before my due date. Dd was over a week late, so in fact I found I was really twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to happen. I'm now 21 weeks, and would ideally like to work till 1 week before my due date this time, though my commute has gone up to one hour twenty, so this may not be realistic.

A major factor is that it's a bit of a lottery as to how fit and well you feel in the later stages of pregnancy. I was lucky first time round and felt great, but lots of women really need to finish work so they can rest.

codswallop · 19/10/2004 09:52

36

iota · 19/10/2004 09:57

I stopped 7 weeks before with my first - ended up being 9 weeks as he was late. Can't remember with 2nd, but about the same I think (took advantage of good company maternity policy )

Chuffed · 19/10/2004 09:58

38.5 by dr's dates, 39.5 by mine. I was bored stupid for the 1 week that I was off, finished on the Friday, went into labour on the next Saturday evening.
It all depends on how you are feeling, how your feet are (swelling wise).

Pagan · 19/10/2004 10:02

32 weeks. Worked in an office where the bosses were great and didn't bother if I went to have a power nap in the board room sofa in the afternoon. In fact some others used to do the same with no pregnancy as an excuse. Can't say enough good things about them. However I loved my 2 months off before DD. Having worked solid since 16 I figured at 35 I deserved some me time. I did lots of things and chilled out too. It was marvellous. I haven't returned to work (which they were also fantastic about) and am now expecting second. No time to relax looking after DD though so look back on my time off fondly.

Twinkie · 19/10/2004 10:13

Finish end of this week and can't wait - will be 37 weeks, next week I am noton maternity leave but am taking the holiday I have to and it can;t come soon enough!!

motherinferior · 19/10/2004 10:15

Planned both times to work till 38 weeks but just ran out of energy and finished at 37 - I'm freelance so I didn't have to go anywhere, but on the other hand had to fund all time off. With dd1 in particular I was pretty well part-time by the end.

Just as well I did quit 'early' second time round, as well, since I gave birth five days later.

hana · 19/10/2004 10:32

Kookie, I'm a teacher too, and am pregnant - am also hoping to make it to the end of term (17th) I work part time so maybe a bit easier. My baby is due the 25th so I think I'll pretty big by then. DD was conveniently born at the beginning of the autumn term 3 years ago so had the entire summer (paid ) and then I started mat leave with the new term. Have you decided what do to yet?

artyjoe · 19/10/2004 11:16

Hi Kookie

I'm also 27 weeks but am struggling as the baby is very low so am getting pelvic and groin pain which is a drag. I'm fortunate as I run my own business but have already started cutting down my hours. This month I am only working 3 days a week and from 1st December I'm starting maternity leave, but still around to take calls, post etc. I wanted to go to part time first to eliminate the boredom and the shock factor of having nothing to do. For me personally I don't believe I could work until 38 weeks as I'm just too big and sore...couldn't imagine going through until the week before Christmas!

Titania · 19/10/2004 11:46

I left at 28 weeks on the dot.....I worked at a veterinary surgery and it was getting more and more difficult to do things there....and then when I got attacked and bitten badly by a feral cat with manky teeth, brought in by the RSPCA and I was stuck in casualty for hours wondering if my baby was ok, reality hit home for me and the practise that it just wasn't viable for me to work there safely anymore.....the cat just missed an artery in amy arm by millimeteres

I think you should leave when you feel ready or when is practical for you.

pixiefish · 19/10/2004 11:51

when are you due then? i left at 36 weeks- before Christmas as I didn't want to 'lose' the Christmas hols (also a teacher) dd born 31.1.04.
I found it very hard towards the end but just struggled on... be careful on the corridors.
One of the women at work has worked until 1 week before with both her babies- couldn't do that...

bonym · 19/10/2004 12:10

With dd I finished 3weeks before the due date - this time around (and 7 years later, I'm now 38) I plan to finish 11 weeks before (earliest allowed) because I'm knackered! Mind you I am doing a sedentary office job, and was previously. Teaching is I guess much more exhausting.

Original poster
Kookie · 19/10/2004 12:22

Hi again guys,
Pixiefish, I'm due on January 19th so this would give me four clear weeks (supposedly!!) Plus there are the holidays so theoretically I wouldn't start my leave till 3rd of January so if I can make it to the end of term it would be best. Unfortunately taking a week off sick is out of the question (work is NOT very understanding,pregnancy is seen very much as a weakness here. Think that maybe I'm just feeling hormonal and like i can't cope, when I very probably can!! At least I haven't gotto cope with ferral cats cutting me to pieces like Titania!

OP posts:
fufmum · 19/10/2004 12:31

I work with kids and i am working till 17th Dec too. I will also be 37 weeks PG, I'm due on the 16th Jan. I know i will be knackered but i would rather keep busy as long as i can and then take more taime off after DS is here!

Rowlers · 19/10/2004 12:44

I left at 34 weeks and DD was 6 days late.
I teach too and couldn't have gone on any longer really.
If you stay on till DEC 17th, help yourself out as much as you can. Get pupils to do as much of the giving out of books, fetching, writing answers on the board etc as you can. They love it, love helping a preggy lady and the responsibility. Good luck!

beansprout · 19/10/2004 16:48

I left at 36 weeks but have an office job so was able to sit down a lot. It's difficult to know how you feel by the end of things. For me it was the right time to stop but we are all in different circumstances. Good luck.

bundle · 19/10/2004 16:50

38 weeks, both times, best to keep busy imo (i was 2 weeks overdue both times)

clairabelle · 19/10/2004 16:52

28 weeks with dd, 12 hour full time days in A&E and pregnancy did not mix. Got to 35 weeks with ds doing part time. You should really go when you feel ready there's no point in being completely knackered prior to the labour.

Flossam · 19/10/2004 17:02

I've just gone earlier than I planned, finished on sunday and I'm 35 weeks today. But I'm a nurse and was getting up at 5.45 in the morning and getting home at about 9.30 at night and was on my feet pretty much all day. I'm moving house this week, my ankles are swollen something awful and my blood pressure was up at my last check up. So I decided enough was enough. I have two weeks holiday to take before my mat leave starts though, so I will be nearly 37weeks by the time I actually leave proper IYSWIM. I'm also owed 3-6 weeks holiday before I go back depending on whether I take it full or part time. But it won't be quite the same for you will it?

The best advice I read here is that you can always go earlier if you need to but you can't go later! Work were really good about it and I should imagine most would be, rather you go off if you need to than phone in sick all the time. I have lots of little things planned and I'm hoping I won't get too bored, but as my mother said, it's just tough!! You and baby have to come first and sod everything else! No you are not being a wimp! Good luck!

Hulababy · 19/10/2004 17:18

I'm a teacher too. My mat leave started week 35 on the first week back after a half term. So really I got an extra week in for free and finished at 34 weeks. It was just oconvenient for me to finish at a half term, and TBH I was pretty tired by then and school was hectic.