Physical job - how far along is realistic before mat leave??

[sommeliermama]

Hope there are some lovely people who can offer some advice here. I work in a job on my feet, was doing 50 hour weeks which have now been reduced to 40-45 hours. It's still a lot, I know.

Just wondering if anyone has had a physically demanding job while pregnant - and how many weeks did you make it before going on maternity leave?

I would ideally like to get to 34 or 35 weeks but I can already feel myself slowing down and feeling tired all the time. I'm 18+4 at the minute. Every day is a struggle!

I work as a gardener and made it to 36 weeks, I was furloughed at that point and so glad as I was starting to struggle. I had planned to make it to 38 weeks. 34 weeks sounds sensible.

I was on my feet for my whole shift but I ‘only’ did 37.5 hours per week.
I went on ML at 36 wks, although I only had 2 weeks off before DC arrived early.

I was only doing 37.5 hours though!

I think at about 32-33 weeks I had to stop. I did have two falls though as I was out in all weathers and it was icy at the time. I think you just have to be prepared that if you need to stop early you will have to. I did hate it though as I got bored quickly but physically I knew I couldn’t go on any longer.

It’s a completely individual thing. With my first I went at 36 weeks as it was a really hot summer and I was struggling. With my second I left at 38 weeks and took two weeks holiday before starting mat leave but could have happily carried on until the end.

36 first time due to ill health. 38 weeks second. Ideally I would have finished a bit sooner but self employed so couldn’t afford to.