FTM here, still pregnant with 8 weeks to go. I want to know if anyone has any advice or can tell me how realistic it is for me to want to work till delivery. I've already told my boss I want to do this but really have no idea just how much more uncomfortable I will be compared to now. At this point I'm fine working, I have a desk job, so it's not physically demanding at all. Did you plan to work till delivery? We're you able to do so? How did you feel in the last weeks?
Edit: reason why I want to work till delivery is to spend as much time as possible during my leave with LO. I think it would be a waste of my leave just waiting to deliver.
Re: Work till delivery
I have a Daughter born 2/26/2013. She is pretty much amazing!
I worked up until the day before labor (induction). I'm a 1st grade teacher, so on my feet all day long. It wasn't an issue. I felt better at work than home anyhow because I was busy and not thinking of how miserable I was.
I went into labor at work, drove my hour commute home and hung out all day until it was time to go to the hospital. I was 40 weeks pregnant.
I worked up until the week DS arrived (last day was on a Tuesday - had DS on Saturday). I went into labor Wednesday morning and stayed that way for 3 days - definitely didn't feel like laboring at the office. I had planned on working up until he arrived so I had as much time as possible with him.
Mine is also a desk job, I had a light work load by that point, was uncomfortable but not too bad - just got annoying having to use the bathroom every hour. I used PTB for those 3 days before he arrived so that my leave wouldn't officially start until the following Monday - 2 days after he had arrived.
GL and congratulations!!
I don't know why people with desk jobs.want to take off work before delivery and burn up leave time! I worked up until the night I was induced (6 days after my due date), and then the day before my scheduled c section the second time.
yes it is uncomfortable, but if you have a desk job, you'll either be sitting at work or sitting at home
The sanity saving thing was the ability to work from home during the last week or so. I was definitely more comfortable there plus no commute on public transportation.
As annoying as it was to work at 40 weeks pregnant, it was better than having nothing to do but overanalyze every twinge.
This. Except I started having contractions at lunch on Monday and then I went home after work and rested. My water never broke. I wouldn't do it differently.
I thought the same thing, until I was in this situation. I work a desk job, but I managed a large team in a high stress environment. I was so miserable I went out on my due date because the stress was causing painful contractions. DD wasn't born for 9 days, so I "lost" that time with her but I wouldn't change a thing because I went into birth much more relaxed. Do what feels right for you and your baby.
Honestly, the last few weeks were not so bad. I was tired, but you're tired anyway at that point I think.
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I worked until the day I went into labor.
With my first, I worked a full week, then went into labor on a Sunday and had DS1 on Monday evening (41w1d).
With my second, my water broke at 8pm on a Tuesday night after I'd worked all day without a clue that I was about to have my baby . DS2 was born Wednesday morning. He was four days early.
Same here.
Once I hit 37 weeks, I pretty much "checked out" mentally. Luckily I had a desk job at the time with pretty low-key duties and responsibilities. Other than that, I felt fine.
I took a half-day on a Wednesday for my 39 week check-up, found out I had to be induced, and sent my boss a text message. It was not a big deal at all.
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Because in some cases the leave before the baby does not take away from time after the baby. Also I was very uncomfortable. I could not sit in my chair for more than 2 or 3 hours. And just walking down the hall gave me contractions. Plus I have a train commute and don't want to go into labor on the train.
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I work a desk job as well, and I worked up to delivery. Worked all day Friday, and was actually in early labor just didn't realize it at the time lol, gave birth Saturday morning.
It's totally feasible so long as you/LO don't have unforeseen complications.
Granted, this will be my first baby, but my plan is to be in the office until the Friday before my due date (I'm due on a Thursday) then work from home until the baby comes. I'll still be putting in the hours and sitting at a desk, logged into my work computer, but I'd rather not have my water break at work and then have to take an hour long train ride home, then drive to the hospital (another 20/30 min further). If I worked closer to home/the hospital then I would be in the office up until the end, so for me it's a distance thing not a sitting at my desk working issue.
I got a kick out of that too, I worked until I delivered at 40w5days. Most people knew I was past my due date because I left work on my due date with contractions (ended up being Braxton Hicks, so I was back the next week). But a few people didn't know, so those last few days it was fun when people said, "aren't you due soon?" and I'd say, "Yes, last week!"
That seems like a good plan to me. I worked past my due date, but I have a quick commute home and I drive. I did end up leaving early twice that last week because my BHs would get pretty strong and I didn't feel well. My work was very understanding of it, and it was never a problem to get home, but that would have been rough to have a long train ride.
With DD1, my MW pulled me out of work when I was just shy of 38 weeks. We had planned to induce at 39 weeks (there were some issues with the placenta, fluid, and growth), but I ended up being induced 2 days later.
With DD2, I started leave the Friday before my due date, which was on a Sunday. She was actually born on her due date, so that ended up working well. I was definitely getting tired and my back was killing me from sitting at my desk all day. I was really ready to start leave. I think if I had gone past my due date, I still would have been glad to be off work.