Working mamas

momtobe613

Hi ladies,

Sorry if this has already been asked; I did try to search but didn't see anything specific regarding my question.

We advance schedule at my job (nurse)- eight weeks at a time so my next schedule is due very shortly and will run me into my due date. My question is for those of you who advance schedule; when did you stop scheduling yourself? I have every intention of working passed my due date if doctor gives me the thumbs up and baby & I are both healthy. Anybody experience anything similar? How did you deal with it?

Hope everyone is feeling great as we approach the finish line. Prayers and blessings to all!!!

dkleid

So I am not a nurse but could you schedule your self up to your due date and then if you go past that be listed as on call??

klkonwi

Do you do 12 hr shifts or 8? All depends on how your energy level is and your budget.... You need to take that into consideration.

btm013

I'm not a nurse but I just want to say you nurses are truly wonderful! Thanks for all you do!!

rolson8947

I work in ICU and we do our schedules about the same. My director knows my due date and I'm pretty much scheduled until baby comes. She knows that the baby could come early or late so it's kind of been just left as "we will figure out how to get your shifts covered when baby comes".

capeterson1

I scheduled myself up until the night before my due date and figure that if baby is late that I can call in to see if they need help after this date... I don't want to officially schedule myself just in case.. And also I may want a couple days to rest before babys arrival depending upon how I'm feeling

Kathjnr22

In Ireland we have to legally stop working at 38 wks.... and a lot of ppl - depending on their job - don't even work up to that... someone told me yesterday that nurses actually have to finish up at 36 wks... we do get 26 weeks maternity leave here though which helps... sorry - not much use to u but decision is made for us here - max 38 weeks....

jessieR358

I'm scheduled all the way up till my due date but I've let my manager know that it could change. We have prn and float coverage who can handle my shifts.

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tiffany831

I scheduled up until my due date as well and my manager knows that of course I might be out earlier. She said if I go past and want to work to just call, but 12 hour shifts at 32 weeks are already getting hard and my feet swell so much that I can't imagine working at 40 weeks. Plus I feel like all I can do right now is assess and give meds and chart. Turning and moving patients isn't happening right now.

MJMum524

I am a nurse as well...
Koodos to all you nurses who plan to work past 38 weeks or past your due date. I worked until 38 weeks +1 last time and was induced at 39 weeks. This pregnancy has kicked my butt hard this time and at 32 weeks ALL I can think about is how much I want/need to be off work right now. I have (sorry to say) secretly judged people going off work early who are pregnant. Now, karma has bit me in the butt and I pretty much cringe at the thought of working another shift.. I'd say work until you can and don't be so hard on yourself if you need to be off work lets say, tomorrow! Maybe even schedule a week prior to due date to take some self care time because God knows, you deserve it!

katester91

I'm a nurse also and I've talked to my nurse manager and she plans on scheduling an extra nurse (If we even have the staffing for it) the week before I am due and she will keep me on the schedule until I go into labor, which was my request. We schedule in advance also.

dancegurl1118

We schedule 4 weeks in advance (ugh) so next schedule takes me 3 days before I'm due. I will be scheduled until I go out. I don't have enough PTO to go out anytime before hand (I don't even have enough PTO for my leave. I will be unpaid for 10 of 16 weeks off). Considering how I feel now, I'm terrified of how I will feel 9 weeks from now.

LaurenAnn0405

I'm not a nurse but we do advanced scheduling at my job too. Thankfully in this case I'm the one making the schedule so I have a little more control over things. I scheduled myself up to my due date and then planned the rest of the schedule as if I wouldn't be there so if I go late (which I did with my first) I'll just be a bonus person to help out because I plan on working until my water breaks!

Westypet

Y'all woman warriors amaze me. I only have a couple of days scheduled in April and May and I can't imagine working more than that!

Jna0407

I'm a NICU nurse and I am already off the schedule as of the middle of May. I work closely with my OBGYN and she takes care of all the NICU nurses and she recommends going out at 36 weeks. She said it's too much time on your feet, too much bending, heavy lifting, and not to mention lack of energy. I just worked Thursday and Friday and could barely move or keep my eyes open when I got home. I guess it's your own personal preference and depends on your financial situation. Good luck!

swimbabyswim

I'm not a nurse, I'm a hairstylist and have to schedule appointments several weeks in advance also. I blocked myself out just a couple days before my due date. I figured it would be too stressful trying to find spots for all my clients at the last minute. If the baby comes early I'll deal with it when the time comes. I also don't want to be completely exhausted before the little one arrives.

henrytviii

I think you've gotten a lot of good answers here but it seems like if you only schedule to your due date you might be forced to stop working at that time. If you want to work right up until delivery, is it easy to pick up last minute shifts? If not I'd see if you can schedule to one week past your due date. I thought I once heard the average for FTM was 10 days past their due date. With my first I was 13 days late, I wanted to work but was already off the schedule (retail), I had plenty to do and I'm salaried so I just kept going in for a week so it wouldn't count against my maternity leave. It was tough physically to be on my feet all day but much tougher mentally to hang out alone at home and wait for labor to start. I only worked a little bit those two weeks and I drove myself nuts. I regret not going in full time.

momtobe613

Sorry it took me so long to respond! I am on my fourth night shift tonight. You all have given me great advice. I am going to schedule myself until the week after my due date and if he comes early, well they know to schedule an extra person. Thanks so much for the advice.

Totally admire all of you- it's so hard to juggle everything sometimes & you're support and advice is so appreciated!!