When to cut back at work

CynRO12

Hi everyone. I'm at 20 weeks and work two jobs. The first is a Mon-Fri desk job and 2nd is serving at a restaurant ( typically 3 nights a week). As of now, the desk job is more uncomfortable and causes my back to ache, or when I do get up I get cramps until I walk it out.
At my serving job (which up until this point I've felt great with constantly moving, and the exercise is an added bonus); but this past Saturday, I really felt the weight of the babies. My body was so sore when I got home!!

Having said all that . . . What have your experiences been like with work? When did you start to slow down/cut back or take leave?

carrotcake06

It really varies. I have a desk job and had no intention of cutting back - I ended up WFH twice a week starting at 32-33w due to mild pre-e. My water broke at work at 34w.

KatieGummow

My OB asked me to stop when I got BH at 25w, but okayed me to keep going on a week by week basis (she checked in with me at all my appts). I kept going until 32w and I chose to stop.

zazu13

I tapered off starting at 30 and quit by 33. Delivered at 35.

Rxmom04

I'm at about 16 weeks now but the OB and MFM have pretty much both said at 20 weeks they want me to start to decrease my work activity. I work a retail job on my feet for 8-12 hours at a stretch (no breaks) so I think what they're going for is to have me sit so much out of each hour and watch it from there. Work seems to be ok with that idea and has gotten me a comfy tall chair so that as long as I have a tech with me which is most of the time I could pretty much do about half my time in the chair. Not going to complain there, in the last week or so I'm starting to feel it when I work a 12 hour shift followed by a shorter shift the next day. Not really sitting much yet but I'm glad I have the option.

ballygirl

I had terrible pelvic pain from about 16 weeks on, so anything involving walking was too much for me.  My job is mostly at my desk, but even sitting in the chair all day became too much around 30 weeks or so.  I was able to work from home some days and started cutting back gradually as needed.  I often just worked shorter days.  I wasn't ready to completely stop work but 5-6 hours per day was all I could handle.  Luckily my job is very flexible like that and they were ok with my gradual wind down.  I think I stopped work completely around week 34 and delivered at 38 1/2 weeks.

oughtonk

I got put on bed rest at 26 weeks, I'm still working my normal schedule but I'm doing it remote.  I started getting uncomfortable at work around 23 weeks and was considering talking to my boss about working from home more often but luckily my doc demanded it.

With your desk job try to get up every hour and walk, also see if there's something you can prop your legs up on the elevate them some. Both of those things seemed to help me with the cramps and aches of sitting at a desk.

Even though your server job isn't what's making you the most uncomfortable right now being up and walking could potentially cause more issues as you get further along. If I were in your position I would probably start cutting back on the serving job now. Especially knowing now that my cervix started shortening around 20 weeks and landed me on bed rest by 26. The pressure on your cervix can cause it to shorten quicker than the doctor's want it to, but of course every pregnancy is different.  Just keep an eye on yourself.

CynRO12

Thank you for taking the time with all your responses!