last day of work opinion

noodle929

I was planning to stay at work right up until I go into labor, but now I am starting to wonder if I should maybe stop a week or so before my due date.  Any thoughts?

Here's my deal:

• I work in a laboratory and am going between my desk and my lab bench all day (adjoining rooms).
• I have an 1-1.5 hour commute each way. (Hospital in the middle of that distance) DH works 3 minutes from our house.
  
• I am due February 25 but have this sneaking suspicion that LO will be coming earlier than that. No real evidence of this besides the gut instincts of myself and most family members. Most guesses are for mid-Feb.
  
• I've got enough saving put away to take a full 12 weeks of leave and my company is very flexible.
  

newsgal

When I had my first, I worked right up until the night before I gave birth (I'm a SAHM now). I also had a great benefits and I wanted to make the most cash possible b/c I knew I wasn't going back to work after my leave was over. I had a one hour commute each way and was nervous about that. I didn't have a great plan, other than to have someone drive me the 15 mins to the hospital if I went into labor at work, but I went into labor at 4am so I was at home and it didn't end up mattering.

It's up to you of course based on how you feel, but my personal motivation was as long as I felt good, I'd keep making the money. I also was told my DD would come early based on my progress and she did - but just 6 days early.

Good luck!

Jenniferk08

my plan was to work right up until my due date.  However we've now changed that to the week before.  I also have an hr commute but lately I was getting overly stressed if I hit traffic and ended late to work that I would start to cramp so I felt it was not worth it.  Also baby was breech and I was concerned about needing a c-section and wanted a little extra time to rest before hand. 

magdalina.h

I'm working all the way up until my c/s. I don't want to risk anything with getting my full 12 weeks. My company is very flexible too, but legally they could still fire me if I go past 12 weeks by using the leave early.

sclement7975

Well, I had planned to work until labor kicked in, but am now off until after the baby comes. My dr said it was a good idea and I have insurance that will cover any leave reccomended by my dr. Sooo, I think it depends on each person. I could have worked longer, but since my job is stressful and I have virtually no breaks to eat balanced meals, we thought it was the best decision. Just do what you think is best for you and baby!

Mrs.HMommy

Seems as though I'm in the minority here! Lol... I'm probably going to ask the Dr. to release me abt 2 weeks before I deliver (I have a scheduled section). I thought abt working until the week I deliver, but I've had a tremendous amt of back trbl this time around. My lower back kills 24 hours a day, and when I walk or stand for any period of time I the pain starts shooting down my leg. Between the commute, the walk to my building when I get there, and sitting 9-10 hour days at a desk, I'm completely over it. I also work in a very high paced, high pressure sales position and the stress is a little much. When I was pg with DS I had virtually no benefits (I'd only been with the company abt 10 months when I delivered, so I didn't even get FMLA.) Now, after having been here 5 years, I have 520 hours of paid time available to me. They approve 8 weeks for a csection, and the 2 weeks will be covered as long as Dr. approves it. So I'll be covered for the 10 weeks that I'll be out fully paid, before I use my vacation, and a few months of unpaid time which we've saved for.