How late can stay at work before baby comes?

[YellowCecil]

Hi all

I am due on 18 January and so have said to my manager that I will work up until Christmas, and then leave after that which gives me the best part of 3 weeks before the baby is due.

She seemed surprised by this, as have others I've spoken to. Am I being unrealistic to think that I can work this far into my pregnancy?

It seems sensible to me to have as much of my at home time with my baby as possible.

When have others felt that they needed to leave work before birth?

Thanks!

Yellow, when I was on maternity leave with DS I did very little sitting at home cleaning and thinking about the baby... I did a lot of cinema trips and theatre matinees, knowing that I shortly wouldn't have the chance for a while.

I think it depends on your job and your pregnancy. As a nurse in the wards I worked up until 37 weeks with both DS's and had DS1 at 40wks and DS2 at 39wks. I just couldnt reach the patient's by that point.

I dont think there is any time you have to stop by (apart from the birth)

I worked until 2 weeks before DD and then from home for those 2 weeks with DS and with DD I left 2 weeks before but worked until DD again.

I had ELCS with both - although DS's was only sorted out 2 days before my due date.

I did exactly the same except I was due on 12 Jan. I think my last day at work was something like 22 Dec. An early Jan baby is great timing from that perspective! DD arrived on 9 Jan so I was actually only 2 days into ML by the time she arrived. As Orm said, the time after is far more precious.

I had trouble with my back towards the end and found it difficult to get around, I could work from home which helped a lot. When I went in for my leaving present they thought I was going to give birth then and there :)

Good luck!!

I worked till 36 weeks with both. I have a desk job but quite stressful sometimes, with long hours. I was astonishingly healthy throughout my pregnancies but still, after being on maternity leave for 5 days, my blood pressure dropped, iron levels went up and I was just generally healthier.

DS1 came 10 days early, and I still had no cot, no car seat, car was a 2 seater, no feminine unmentionables....

With DC1 I was due in to work on the morning she was born - I had a meeting and was trying to give my assistant instructions on what to do over the phone after my consultant had broken my waters.

Yes I was mental.

And yes I do feel slightly embarassed.

I was due to finish work two weeks before my daughter was due - which would have been okay. I got home and went into labour whilst watching hollyoaks an hour later. was all fine & I got to spend my entire mat leave with her! xx