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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Stopping working

50 replies

BooBoosMumma · 31/05/2010 18:17

Hi all

A question for all the mums and preggers ladies out there: when did you / are you planning to stop working???

Would you do the same again or finish earlier / work until later?

I'm sure there must already be a thread on here about this, but I have hunted high and low and found nothing!

Thanks ladies : )

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nagoo · 31/05/2010 18:26

I had to give up last time at 34 weeks as I was knackered from the hour commute each way.
now I work 5 mins from home in the type of job I can sit down stand up not carry heavy things etc, so plan to work about until I drop! More time off after is the priority.

RedCardinal · 31/05/2010 19:07

I am only 18wks in my first pg and am planning on working up until wk 38 but time will tell, I also commute hour and half each way so it may end up being sooner. For me its more financial and I would rather the time after the baby is born. However lately I have been feeling the urge to never work again, only a dream I'm afraid. I guess if money isn't an issue take as much time off as you can.

nunnie · 31/05/2010 19:18

I stopped work 3 weeks early as I had given my notice in anyway and had holiday owing. I am only a casual worker now, so I get to pick when I work. I have an exam to sit when I am 39 weeks pregnant, so there won't be a great deal of work being done in my due month but there will be plenty of revision to keep me busy.

del1 · 31/05/2010 19:34

With my first, I worked up untill the last day possible. Which ended up being 39 weeks.
I gave birth 3 days after my due date, so didn't really have a lot of time to relax / prepare!
This time, with having a 18 month old, I am aiming to finish just before 38 weeks.
Just so I have some time to spend chilling with my little one, and saving some energy!
I also drive half an hour each way on the motorway, which isn't too much of a problem.
I just know this time, that getting as much rest as possible would benefit me!
I am terrible with no sleep

nymphadora · 31/05/2010 19:36

I'm 20 weeks and planning on stopping at around 30. I have loads of leave to use and am having a section possibly at 38 weeks. I have also been off work a month and am likely to be off more yet.

mitfordsisters · 31/05/2010 19:59

I planned to go off at 38 weeks, but changed my plans and went off at 37 weeks - office job, with some local travel and an hour commute each way. I got very tired towards the end, had an awful upper respiratory thing and puffy ankles - it was definitely time to stop.

Haggisfish · 31/05/2010 20:00

I'm a secondary teacher and lasted until 35 weeks - was absolutely knackered and fully ready to leave by then. Am looking forward immensely to being able to nest and clean at a leisurely pace. I do have quite a large bump, though.

OhExpletive · 31/05/2010 20:09

I worked until 37 weeks last time. Only stopped because the consultant told me if there were any problems with the ECV I was having he'd take me straight for a section, didn't want work booking jobs for me if I was busy with a newborn! This time much more tired with a non-sleeping toddler, working until 36 weeks and hopefully lighter duties to keep SPD at bay.

Shaz10 · 31/05/2010 20:12

I stopped at 32 weeks. (Teacher, on feet a lot). It was brill - I had loads of time to go out and buy the pram and all the stuff we needed without being knackered from work too. I got to go on nice days out and relax with my husband. I ended up having a section at 38 weeks so I was glad I didn't leave it much later.

supergreenuk · 31/05/2010 20:14

I had 4 weeks at home. OMG I was soooooo bored. I knitted 2 teddies and started cross stitch. Thank God she came on time. However....the last 2 weeks I was pretty house bound as I had cronic back pain. I couldn't have gone to work even if I wanted to.

ooosabeauta · 31/05/2010 20:30

I stopped at 37 weeks to fit in with term dates and not lose holiday pay (another teacher), but in hindsight it wasn't ideal because by then I was really as big as I could get and was struggling with flights of stairs in a Victorian school building - made worse of course by hoardes of 15 year olds in a hurry! Earlier on in pregnancy, when deciding, I didn't realise quite how difficult I would find moving (not house, just body ) at that late stage.

ooosabeauta · 31/05/2010 20:35

I'm wrong actually, it was 36 weeks, but I was still huge. The mobility issue might not apply to you of course if you are leaner/taller/have managed not to get so big. I put on nearly 50% of my original body weight, and cars stopped on a few occasions in my last weeks asking if I needed an ambulance or a lift

onadietcokebreak · 31/05/2010 20:37

I planned to finish at 38wks and was coerced into leaving at 34wks by a bullying office manager.

Personally I think it depends on how much travel etc you have to do and say plan to leave later and if health reasons dicate or circumstances change you can always leave earlier.

Portofino · 31/05/2010 20:42

I stopped at 36 weeks as I was having real trouble sleeping hence constantly knackered. I had a nice relaxing 4 weeks planned. Feet up, bit of nesting, the odd lunch out.

In reality I was hospitalised at 37 weeks due to unstable lie/polyhydramnious. I was SO gutted.

cassell · 31/05/2010 20:50

I stopped at 36 wks (saved up AL so could use that for the last few weeks and not start ML until couple of days before due date). I was definitely ready to finish by then and actually wished I'd stopped a few weeks earlier esp as ds came 2 wks early so didn't have time to do the things I'd planned to (like pack a proper hospital bag...)! If I have another I would plan to stop about 34 wks I think.

TaurielTest · 31/05/2010 20:55

First time, 39 weeks. Had baby at 39+3 so not much time for R&R. This time, am taking mat leave from about 36 weeks, but am taking all my annual leave first, so stopping at 30ish weeks.
It's worth checking the deal with your annual leave (when's the holiday year, can you carry forward accrued leave), as sometimes if you don't take it before ML it can be too late once you return, and you don't want to lose it!

gaelicsheep · 31/05/2010 20:59

I planned on finishing at 38.5 weeks (ie on the closest sensible Friday), but have had some problems with high blood pressures etc. so decided to take a week's leave and finish the end of this week at 37.5 weeks. I already have to go in a couple of days next week though.

Last time I finished at around 35 weeks I think, but I hated my job and couldn't wait to get out of the place.

Until the last couple of weeks I was confident I would work up to the bitter end, but the dr gave me a bit of a reality check and I do now feel ready to stop. My brain is starting to focus away from work and towards family and I'm really tired when I get home which isn't really fair on DS. I think this week's the right time tbh. Baby could really come anytime now in any case.

Bumperlicious · 31/05/2010 21:01

Oh god, am 24 weeks and I would stop tomorrow if I could! But as it is I will probably stop about 3 weeks before. I did 5 weeks with DD but it's different first time, you need to make the most of the free time and space before it goes forever! This time I will probably just be staying at work for the air conditioning!

beanlet · 31/05/2010 21:07

Working up until 10 days before EDD, but between now and then (currently 35 weeks) I can mostly work from home. Which is a good thing, because I get huge painful elephant legs by the end of the day if I have to go in.

Emster30 · 31/05/2010 21:48

I am currently 32 weeks and planning on finishing at 36 weeks. People have said I'll be bored at home but I think I can cope with that, thanks! I had to start my mat leave a week before my due date because it's a Sunday, and I'm taking 3 weeks of annual leave before that.

Petsville · 31/05/2010 22:07

Currently 29 weeks, planning to start my mat leave on my due date but take a week or two of annual leave first. However, I've got a desk job and an undemanding commute, and I've been lucky and felt very fit so far.

nicm · 31/05/2010 22:33

i stopped at 38 weeks with ds and he came on his due date so only had 2 weeks off. this time i plan to stop about 36 weeks so i have the time with ds and to get more organised.

Floopy21 · 01/06/2010 10:11

I'm hoping I will be able to keep working until the actual birth (financial reasons), 1st pregnancy though, so not sure how that's going to work out in reality.

vicbar · 01/06/2010 12:13

I planned to stop at 38 wks with DC1 but got signed off at 36 wks as kept fainting and really glad (she was born on due date). DC 2 signed off from 34 wks due to Spd but then he arrived 4 wks early. DC3 left at 36 wks as planned then she arrived at 38 wks. Im currently 32 wks with DC4 and had planned to leave at 36 wks but got signed off at 28 wks due to SPD and wont be going back before the baby is born.
One thing to remember is that if this is your 1st preg this is theonly lot of mat leave where you can mooch, rest without having to deal with another child - take advantage of it.

goodlifemummy · 01/06/2010 15:24

My first pregnancy I had twins, and stopped work at 30 weeks, I should have stopped at 28 weeks as I had one and a half hour commute each way on the motorway, and I was ma-hoo-sive! I took all my leave and ended up starting maternity leave the day before they were born as they were six weeks early....pre-eclampsia...worked too long? Too much of a commute? Pregnant again now 5 years later, and really unsure of how long to work until, although am only part time now! Its tricky!

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