For those of you that work...

turtlegirl115

Are you working up until delivery or taking time off before? I'm currently trying to work until the last minute because I have limited time off for maternity leave.

 My other dilemna is that I have an active job. I'm a child protective services social worker so I'm constantly on the go, doing home visits, school visits, etc. Today I was complaining because we've been getting a ton of new reports and it's SO stressful and tiring. My co-worker asked me why I didn't just get a doctor's note saying I can only do desk work. It's tempting and I know my dr would do it but I feel like that just makes it worse on my co-workers and that everyone (minus the girl I was talking to) will resent me. What would you do?

dkolody13

Im planning on working until the day of but I have a desk job.  I would wait it out and if it gets to be too much you can always stop then. 

I would drive myself crazy being at home.

alatham

you should do whatever is easiest and most comfortable for you. if the other people you work with don't understand that you are pregnant and it gets pretty difficult to get around, then they have some issues to work out! you shouldn't make it more difficult on yourself, you are already doing a lot by brewing that baby!

Steffsjet

I am going to work until the last possible minute because of the same limited maternity leave.

As for taking the desk job, I would seriously consider it.  I am not sure how smoothly the home visits go usually but I can see the potential for lots of stress that you don't need at the moment.  I am sure your co-workers would understand, especially if they have been pregnant.  And hey, you are only doing what is best for your child!  Isn't that what your whole job is about!

Hi725

I'm working until my due date. i'm not sure what I'll do if the baby comes late. I may stop on my due date, or I may work until I go into labor so I can have the rest of the summer off.

SWMcFarland

Well, I am stuck at home on bedrest due to high blood pressure and I would LOVE to be back at work.  asnowracer posted a great post this morning about bedrest, etc. and how it feels.

As for limited duties, if there is a reason for it, there isn't a problem.  I tried to get my doctor to agree to this so I can go back, but it was a lost cause. 

I guess I am saying that if I had a choice, I would (no matter how uncomfortable and tired I was) much rather be at work then wasting my precious time just sitting here, stewing and worrying.

Good luck!!  :-)

JBsBride36

If I have a note from doc signing me out of work, it doesn't affect the time I have off after the baby. NO ONE that I work with kept working after 38 weeks, but my doc wouldn't give me a note last week...

 On your second point, has anyone else done that?  I think if other women did it, I would too, but if not, I would try to tough it out with doing the visits.  With that said, every pregnancy is different, so if you and your doc decide it's best for you not to travel around so much, don't.  You and baby are more important than what your coworkers think.

MidwestTexan

I will stop working at the office at 38 weeks. I will be continuing my employment with the same company as a part time employee working from home, so I plan on switching to this status for the last two weeks of my pregnancy. My maternity leave it unpaid so I will probably start working again shortly after birth, but since it's from home, I will have much more flexible hours. I am very grateful for this!

MaggitobeBrooks

I'm in a very similar situation. I don't get paid for any maternity leave, but have 2 weeks of vaca that I can use and can take up to 12 unpaid weeks. Originally, I was going to just work up until I go into labor. Howvere, my only modes of transportation to the hospital from my job (should it come to that) are a ride from someone or a taxi. (DH works 45-1 hr. away, so I prob wouldn't be able to wait for him to get there).

 So now I'm thinking that it might be a good thing to take the weekbefore my EDD off and just really scrimp to make up for the extra weeks loss of pay that I'd suffer.

Looking at this, I don't know if it's much help, but I hope its something!

leannerae

I have a desk job with nothing to do so I am going to go as long as I can to earn money and save money etc.  I really hope that I am able to go up to my due date. 

nova@spamcop.net

I plan to work until I start going into labor, but I have a desk job.  I'd talk to your doctor about getting a note for you to go on restricted duty.  It's hard work, especially at the end, and you really need to be putting your energy into growing a healthy baby.  At the least, maybe you can rearrange some of your duties so you do a few visits, but not nearly as much as normal.

Lulu0802

I am going to start working from home for the last 2 1/2 weeks (starting on 3/20).  I don't live far from my office so I said I would still come in for a few weekly meetings and to help with the transition, but that I would mostly do work from home.

 

mariRose

I'm thinking of starting maternity leave the week b/f my due date - I have a 45 min. to an hour commute & it's starting to get really tough to do.

cnchavez69

I get hardly any paid time off so i'm working as long as i can.  i have a desk job too though so it shouldn't be too hard. 

artsyandi

I work in a social services not-for-profit so I see the stress that some of our monitors are under. I would suggest picking a date at which point you will want to start working "modified duties" and talk to your boss about it. If you approach them with a note saying, "I'd prefer to work more in the office starting in a couple of weeks" it will give them time to adjust... and the fact that you will be reducing duties a little might also help them prepare for you being gone permanently for maternity leave. The biggest thing is to keep the lines of communication open with your supervisor.

I will mention though, that sitting at a desk for 8 hours on end can be difficult too... so you might just want to reduce the hours you are out of the office rather than going all or none.

Loops925

alatham:

you should do whatever is easiest and most comfortable for you. if the other people you work with don't understand that you are pregnant and it gets pretty difficult to get around, then they have some issues to work out! you shouldn't make it more difficult on yourself, you are already doing a lot by brewing that baby!

yeap! Although, I'm sure that if they have children, they know what you're feeling, so it shouldn't get them upset.

I'm working till the day before since I'll be having another c-section.

turtlegirl115

Steffsjet:

And hey, you are only doing what is best for your child!  Isn't that what your whole job is about!

What a great point!

Thanks for your input everyone! I'm sure I'll get bored sitting at the desk all day but I have PLENTY of paperwork to do. They were already planning on taking me out of rotation by March 18th (meaning no more new reports for me) so it's only about 2 weeks early. It's not so much of the physical aspect as it is the stress that worries me. For example, I was on call last Thursday and out til 10:30pm. The weekend before I was on call and out from midnight to 4:30am. I need a break! So thanks for making me feel better. I was feeling like a wimp.