How long did you stay before taking ML?

[ColleenEatsVeg]

Hi have a question. How many weeks were you before you took mat leave? I keep having this idea in my head that I could stay til pop time (office job, only a train commute) but know that might not be realistic.

I worked till the end of week 36. I could have gone on one more week, but probably not more than that (I had a short commute too, but it was taking me ridiculously long to walk to the station, climb stairs to platform etc...)

38 weeks, would have done an extra week but it was too much hassle to change all the paperwork for the sake of a week.

I had a month with dd, well 4 weeks hold and then mat leave. With ds I am having 5 weeks, and finish work on ties

33wks both times

I got signed off at 28 wks by dr/consultant due 2 problems with DD

I was 30 weeks but I do a very demanding no sitting down 5pm til 2am shifts in a pub and I don't feel I could have gone on much longer but only because I had ridiculous pain in my feet and they were horribly swollen

38 + 4 days. During the last few weeks my company paid for taxis to and from work, to and fro to maternity appointments. I had a pelvis belt and crutches due to spd, but i wanted to carry on working, and they were also desperate to keep me for as long as poss. I wasn't ill, I just couldn't manage more than 7 hours a day at work so had slightly reduced hours. They used to check there was going to be a first-aider in the building before I arrived in the mornings. This was over 10 years ago and I definitely wouldn't do it now.

I got signed off at 29 weeks and would seriously consider stopping at 29 again. I was due to stop at 35.

38 weeks exactly - I gave birth that day after I had finished work. I did plan to work up until the end though. My work had lent me a laptop and I was working from home, otherwise I would have finished earlier.

I was fairly enormous by that point. Even though he was 2 weeks early, DS weighed over 9lbs so I'd have struggled with a commute

35 weeks with ds. I knew I was being induced just before 39 from pre-conception appt. Plus I was working long hours and was totally exhausted. 30 weeks this time. I'm expecting twins and am looking forward to going off very much although I don't feel as exhausted as the last time. It's always a bit of a gamble but it's difficult to change once you're nearer the time. I always believed it was better to go slightly earlier with everything in order for a handover than give a later date and have to give up early because you feel unwell and leave things undone.

At 36 weeks as was due section at 37 +5 had I known the stubborn madam was going to turn and not arrive till 42 weeks I would have stayed till at least 40 weeks. I have a very physical job and honestly felt much better whilst still working, I blew up like a ballon once I stopped working.

36 weeks with DS1 - he was 10 day late and I was v bored - 37 weeks with DS2 but took holiday - which needed using up- until due date -DS2 also over due but I enjoyed the time!
If you are feeling well and job isn't too tiring then I think 38 weeks is fine - mine had quite a lot of travelling and I had had enough!
if do go on till later make sure everything is ready for the baby before you stop work - at least the basics - somewhere to sleep, pram and some clothes - as I do know quite a few people who had the baby early when they worked later - its probably the irony factor that makes you notice it
also I agree with Lizcat think its important to try and keep active when you are on maternity leave - if possible of course - with DS2 I went swimming loads and did aquanatal and it really helped!

39 weeks with DS1, 38 weeks with DS2 (although 39 weeks by hospital's dates). I had SPD with DS2 (but could still walk unaided), so it was harder, but I work in an office with a short commute, so still eminently doable. And I too was bored in the week before DS1 arrived, although second time was all right because DH and DS1 were around to amuse me.

34 wks with DC1 as I felt truly crap (didnt find the reason until 39 wks) and with dc 2 I worked until 38 weeks.

I got bored with DC1 but hadnt switched off with DC2 !

I took annual leave for a fortnight at 38 weeks - physically could have carried on, but wanted some time to get everything sorted and have a bit of time to myself. ML started on my due date.

In the end, DS was almost 2 weeks late so was rather bored after 4 weeks of being at home on my own!

37 weeks for ds1 and he was born 2 weeks early
I had planned for something similar with ds2 but had a longer commute that got the better of me at an earlier stage. Ds2 was then a week late.