Am I being unrealistic?

Lilystar82

I'm a teacher, and we are back to school this week getting things ready. Everyone kept asking me how long I planned on working. My best case scenerio is to work to 36 weeks, but my other small goal is Christmas break (would be 33 weeks.) Almost everyone laughed at me and bet money I'd be out by Thanksgiving (29 weeks). Am I being totally unrealistic? I'm a special needs teacher so I'm not on my feet, I do a lot of sitting and small group work. I guess I was just floored by everyone's reactions.

kelliwill

Everyone is different.  Some women work up until later and some don't.  Personally I planned to take myself off at 28 weeks based on Dr. Luke's book.  My Ob said, lets just wait and see and that if I was doing well at 28 there would be no reason to stop working.  I ended up working until 24 weks when I was taken off of work by the Dr.  Personally, looking bcak, there was NO WAY I could have worked past 30 weeks.  I was miserable at that point, not sleeping, pain when walking etc.  But like I said, some women can go longer than that. 

caden

Like the p.p. said everyone is different. For me the fatigue and super uncomfortableness didn't set in until week 31. I had planned to quit working in the office at week 28 but life had other plans for me and I was out at week 22. I probably could have worked until week 30. No way in hell would I want to work now (33w).

futuremrsofficer

I'm hoping to teach until Xmas break. I truly hope I'm able to make it.

SoldiersGreenBean

It totally depends.

I worked until the Friday before my scheduled c-section.  I was 36w2d when I stopped working, and the twins were born at 36w6d.

Temp159135562506975

some women work up to the end with twins.... but not most.

Dr. Luke recommends leaving work between 24-28w.  My OB also rec'd this - even if all was fine. I left work at 27 weeks - i had no problems- he just wanted me to relax and carry to term -which I did.

If i had kept working and ended up with preemies I would have always blamed myself. 

Just remember what you are doing - you are creating TWO humans inside of you=- your body is not made to do that - so you really need to take it easy... it's not a joke - NICU is no fun at all... preemies are hard.... i've seen too many sad stories on here - I personally wouldn't take any risk I did not 100% have to take.

jenn_darrin1515

I went at 35 weeks, 4 days and went in for my unduction at 36 weeks...looking back I should have asked to be taken out around 34 weeks...at that point I was so uncomfortable and swollen...

leebi07

Everyone is different.  I was able to work until the last possible moment.  I had a unscheduled c-section at 36 weeks.  I had a dr. appt in the morning and was planning on going into work that afternoon.  My dr. sent me to the hospital instead.

Lilystar82

Goldie_Locks_5:

some women work up to the end with twins.... but not most.

Dr. Luke recommends leaving work between 24-28w.  My OB also rec'd this - even if all was fine. I left work at 27 weeks - i had no problems- he just wanted me to relax and carry to term -which I did.

If i had kept working and ended up with preemies I would have always blamed myself. 

Just remember what you are doing - you are creating TWO humans inside of you=- your body is not made to do that - so you really need to take it easy... it's not a joke - NICU is no fun at all... preemies are hard.... i've seen too many sad stories on here - I personally wouldn't take any risk I did not 100% have to take.

Oh, I definitley plan on leaving when the doctor says done. I wouldn't even think twice about it- the health of the babies come first. I guess I'm just completely naive to everything It's definitley a learning curve.

BelleBaby

I worked until 35w.  I have a desk job, so I didn't have to be up on my feet a lot, but it is totally doable if you're having a good pregnancy.  I had to stop finally because of PT contractions that were getting worse. 

You just have to play it by ear.  FWIW, I've known twin mamas that have worked until 38 and 39w.

ougrad1

I just started feeling it at 28 wks and by 32 weeks I couldn't move.  I had the babies just hours short of 35 weeks.

You will be amazed how it starts taking it's toll between 30-32 weeks-really.

 

MagPie08

30 weeks was a total game-changer for me. Working was nearly impossible at that point (and I'm mostly a desk job), and I was taken out at 31 weeks for PTL. Everybody is different though - I know several IRL MoMs that worked until 36/37 weeks, felt pretty good and zero complications. 

juliagulia322

I'm a special needs teacher also and I'm not even going back until after the babies are born now. I just started feeling really uncomfortable at around 28 weeks (that's when my OB said she'd write me out if I needed). I'm so glad that I had the time off this summer because I was really nervous of PTL and so far I'm good. I would take it easy as much as you can.  Just moving around now/sitting up/driving a lot causes many BH for me. I know everyone is different but just be aware that things do happen that are completely unplanned and I've had a pretty uneventful pregnancy.

amanda31H

At 24 weeks my OB said she would take me out of work between Week 29 and 32.  I thought it was ridiculous. 

Week 29 came and I called her and said she was right!  I left work at Week 29.  I had an office job.  It was amazing how quickly my body started to slooooow down!

alturner

I went back to work for my "teacher work days" last week at 33 weeks, and I'm planning on working the next 3 weeks half days until week 36 and my last day is 9/10. Today was the first day of school and I "managed." But I have a nasty cold on top of it all, so it was a little rough..

laurenpetro

i'm just about 28 weeks at a desk job and i'm praying my dr tells me next week is it.  i'm having BHs out the wazoo.

Polofsky

I worked up to (and including) the day I checked in to the hospital to be induced. I am an occupational therapist. My OB was fine with it, I showed no signs of PTL, I never dilated, my babies growth and movement was fine, etc. If I had had to sit at home just waiting for my delivery date I would have been so much higher stress than being able to work.

Yes, I was uncomfortable and yes I was huge...but every one handles the multiples pregancy differently, do what's comfortable for you.

I do remember my last week at work getting down on the floor to put on a patients' shoes and he was horrified and kept begging me to get someone else to do it, I looked up at him and said "listen, the worst that happens is that you put me into labor...and I would be in your debt forever."

Good luck, happy and healthy pregancy to you!

Kimmy08

I was planning on working up to 30 weeks, but my girls had other plans and I was admitted to the hospital at 22 weeks and stayed there until I delivered the girls at 32 weeks.

Just remember things can come up. I was completely unprepared to stop working at 22 weeks due to the pregnancy.

babya2010

Every pregnancy is different, but I would have had no issue working all the way up until I delivered at 37 weeks. I was still extremely "mobile" until the bitter end!! (I laugh about this now - I had an NST at 36 weeks, and since it was at the hospital I had to be 'discharged' via a wheelchair. The man pushing my wheelchair was astonished when I told him I drove myself and had him wheel me right out to my car. LOL) That being said, I did stop working at 30 weeks 'just in case' but often found myself sitting at home thinking I could have easily made it 7 more weeks..

MaygenDL0ve

It's a great goal, and I'm sorry your co-workers are laughing at you, but if you're anything like me, you'll be ready to stop much sooner than 36 wks.  Today was my first day off work...  I'm getting BH contractions all the time!  Plus it's just plain exhausting at work anymore.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to rest.

babybash

It all depends on how you are feeling at that point.  I teach 6th grade and went to the end of school, I was 35 weeks.  I was glad to have the time after school got out and I think it helped me go to 39 weeks.  The nice thing is you will have Thanksgiving break and Winter break to relax and recharge.  Sitting and working in small groups will help a lot, I did a lot of sitting down towards the end and I had a great group of kids that took care of me.

jamie217

I am a teacher and worked up to 34 weeks and I could have done another week or two if I had to - I teach high school and my kids were very understanding at the end and I got to sit a good amount.  I think it might be harder if I taught younger kids.  Also, I work with a few other women who have twins they all went out between 31-35 wks.  And I made it to my scheduled c-section at 38wks 2days.

macchiatto

With that type of job, I would've had a very hard time working past 28 weeks.

redshoegirl

When I first read that most women who are pregnant with multiples leave work before 30 weeks, I laughed and privately thought they were big lazy wusses and I'd be there right up until the end.

I left work at 29 weeks.

Honestly, I don't think I could have held out much longer. I was sitting at a desk all day, but even that was just incredibly hard on my body - I don't think I realized just how much strain I was under until the frequent BH contractions I'd been having stopped after I went on maternity leave.

But like pps have said, everyone is different, and your body may handle a multiples pregnancy better than mine did!

monkski

I work a desk job with a 50 minute commute one way and was able to work up until the end. I had a c-section at 37 weeks and 2 days (scheduled) and just took a couple days off before hand as vacation to relax a bit before hand. I just made sure to take it easy. Parked in the visitor parking (since it was close to building), had an ottoman to put my feet up and kept walking to a minimum.  I always intended to just listen to my body and my doctor and while I was uncomfortable, it wasn't unmanageable and I figured I'd just be bored at home anyways.

KingShawsBride

I am a special education teacher.   My doctor told me that we will start discussing bed rest around week 28, but if I am feeling fine that I can continue to work, but should expect some type of bed rest to help carry the babies as long as possible.   My personal goal is to try to work until 30 weeks (the friday after thanksgiving).   This way I can work that week which is parent/teacher conferecnes, have off for thanksgiving and just not go back until after the babies arrive and my doctor clears me.

 

D31

I worked up until my delivery, 38w2d, and could have kept going. I felt great. I had an office job, but one that required me to do lots of running between meetings and walking, presenting, etc. My coworkers were also in shock at around week 25 that I was even there at all and thought for sure I'd be out any day, almost like they were taking bets on it or something. Guess I fooled them! You're not being unrealistic - your body, your babies, and your doctor will let you know when it's time. 

JillRock96

It really depends on your pregnancy.  I was lucky and made it to 34 weeks (I'm a school psych) and delivered three weeks later.  I really had to cut down on walking and standing during the last month.  Good luck!