When to stop working?

HPickle23

When do most of you ladies stop working in third tri. We're debating when I should stop working because it's getting harder for me to work, but we really need to money. How soon does everyone generally stop working before baby comes? Thanks!

beedale862003

It depends on your pregnancy and your job.  I worked up until I delivered my DS, this time I am a SAHM so its different.  But I would not stop as long as you can handle the work, it makes the time go by faster and really there is no need to sit around and wait for the baby unless your physically unable to continue.

myeshabride

With my DS, I stopped working 2 weeks before my due date because I just couldn't do it anymore...mentally & physically.  This time, my goal is to work up to at least a week before or if I'm still feeling ok, I'll work until the Friday before my due date which falls on a Tuesday.  I'm already over working now at almost 33 wks, so we'll see how that goes.

apeydawn214

I'm scheduled to be induced at 39 weeks (a Thursday). My plan is to work until the Friday before the inducement so at 38w1d.

JhawkCE

I worked the day I gave birth, but I'm in the office most of the time. 

angela9602

Every single person is different. Its really up to you. I work on my feet and its already becoming a lot on my body. Instead of working 5 days a week I am now down to 4. I plan to work until I am 36 weeks then transition into a full time stay at home mom.

Tara415

I feel horrible and dread going into work each day (add to that the second job I'm not thrilled about either), but I have to stay until the end due to health insurance policy issues. If I could have, I would have taken this last month off to get the baby's room ready, rest, read, buy any last stuff, etc.

birdy09

I am on my feet at work all day and still plan on working up until the day before my scheduled C-section.  I worked right up until I had DS too.  I can only get 8 weeks off & want as much as possible after they baby is born.  Also, staying home all day with DS1 would probably be more exhausting than work! 

lindylogana

I worked up until I went into labor with my daughter.  With this one I'm taking the week I'm 38 weeks off as vacation time so I may or may not have to go back to work, depending if I go into labor.

caromartin

I'm stopping 3 weeks before my DD. I can't picture myself doing the 1h drive to work past that. I have seen girls plan to work up until their DD and go early, their replacement wasn't trained for the job yet and it was a big mess.

Janimal

With DD, I worked until my due date.  She was 4 days late.

This time I plan of working until the Friday before my C section, which will be on the following Tuesday.

CvilleMom2be

With DD, I worked the day I gave birth, but I'm in the office most of the time.

alison2379

There is no right or wrong answer to this. It depends on your job, your pregnancy and your doctor.

I'm likely being pulled from work 2-3 weeks prior because of travel requirements and commuting demands.

Galaxy8227

I'm working up until my due date--but I also work in a very relaxed office environment that is literally 2 minutes away from my home.  I stopped my 2nd job (waitressing 3 nights a week) at 7 1/2 months. 

Everyone's situation is different--I would just listen to you body and try to work as long as possible--I think it makes the time go by faster than sitting at home and waiting for the baby to come (Just my opinion). 

CA2006

With DS, I stopped working 2 weeks prior to my due date and DS was born 1 week early.  With this one, I am going to stop 3 weeks prior to my due date,. but a lot of things factor in to that decision.  I now have a 1 hour commute each way and a DS.  I also am in CA and we have many more protections.  I just started my job in March, so I am not officially protected except for when I am out on disability.  My boss is giving me through the end of the year off (which will be 12 weeks if baby is on time).  If I take time before, I am protected by disability and it doesn't change the amount of time I can take afterward.  So, I am lucky in that respect and want to take advantage of all of the time I can...I would like some 1 on 1 time with DS before this baby arrives as well as some serious relaxation time.  I know my life will be so chaotic with a toddler and a newborn...relaxation is precious and unheard of after this   As my former boss once said "take all the time you possibly can now b/c you will never get that time back". In hindsight, she was so right when I had DS.  Takle what you can afford and what makes sense for you and your family.  GL!

Temp574971250006741

With DD I had a desk job and DH and I drove together to work. I worked up until my due date. I was induced 5 days later. With this one I am a sahm. It all depends on how you feel and what you can handle.

BabyQuizzle

Look into your state disability insurance programs.  In CA you can get SDI starting at 36 weeks regardless of how you are feeling.  I took every second of that, and have been out of work for about 2 weeks at this point.  I highly recommend looking into it if your job is fairly physical.  I was having a really hard time at that point because I work with young children in a classroom without chairs for adults. It was a lot of ups and downs off the floor, and lifting the kids and bending over so I was done.  But I think that each state has their own disability programs and what they will allow.

Ceridwen21

I'm planning on working until the end of week 37.

mikeyswifey2011

I plan on working untill baby is born!!

BabyBLove

Only YOU can determine this, it depends on your finances, your employer, your benefits, etc...

 I am very uncomfy at work sitting at a desk all day, but I'll be staying put until this little guy arrives - I really have no other choice unless I want to sit at home bored and not getting paid.  I also have a 45 minute drive to and from work, which doesn't make it any better.  I don't want to use up any of my little bit of maternity leave that I get on just sitting at home waiting for baby to come - I'd rather have it for when he's actually here.

 If you're employer or your benefits allow for you to take off work sooner, then go for it! It's really an individual and personal choice!

tiplovesdap

Agree with all other pp's that this really depends on you and your situation. I am able to work from home. Would that work in your job? I was on bed rest at 31 weeks so my situation is a little different since I would have been able to use disability if I couldn't still do my job through email and phone, etc. Ask your boss if they have something flexible you can work out. My bed rest has been a blessing in disguise from a work standpoint. Best of luck to you in working something out that meets everyone's needs.

catrinawaves

I'm planning to work as long as possible with this pregnancy, but I planned the same thing with DS, and ended up being put on bedrest at 38 weeks.

Like pp have said, so much depends on your personal situation. You might want to look into asking for any "reasonable accommodations" that might make it possible for you to stay at work longer. There's an aspect to my job that's fairly physical, so I recently requested an accommodation, and my employer has gone above and beyond what I even asked for. Having said that, I do work in government, and so they tend to be very aware of the law-if you work for a private company you might want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you decide to ask for anything.

Mr. & Mrs. RN

I think a week before your due date is plenty of time for a normal, healthy pregnancy.  That last months drags on...and anything that keeps you from sitting around, just waiting for baby is good.  That being said, last time, baby came early by a few days and I ended up going into labor the day after my (and DH's) last day of work.  I was so looking forward to having a week or two alone with hubby.  So if it's your first pregnancy, maybe take 2 weeks off before your due date.

jzito74

I'm planning on working up until my baby decides to come...my last child was two weeks late and I don't want to waste any time sitting at home when I could save the time and be with my little angel pie daughter!!

Cilley

It is an individual decision. I would say you work until you absolutely can't or don't feel comfortable or safe doing so. I had to quit about wk 35 because I work 12 hr shifts and I was having BH more than 3/4 of the time. I could hardly walk the last day I worked. I was on mod bedrest until wk 37 (baby's head was really low in my cervix). By wk 37 I was ready to go back to work, but I tried to walk at the mall for an a couple of hrs a few days before I was to go back and realized that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the work. Too much cramping and pain. So I am on mat leave until LO#2 is born.  GL with the rest of your pregnancy and your decision.

blu-eyedwife

It's really what you can handle.  I plan on working until I go into labor.  One of my coworkers did that.  And one of my friends had to take off at 37 weeks because she physically couldn't work any more.

christen_z1

beedale862003:

It depends on your pregnancy and your job.  I worked up until I delivered my DS, this time I am a SAHM so its different.  But I would not stop as long as you can handle the work, it makes the time go by faster and really there is no need to sit around and wait for the baby unless your physically unable to continue.

I agree with this. I will be working until I go into labor.

RadicalDreamer143

I planned on working until I went into labor.  However, I was diagnosed with polyhydramnios, and had real labor contractions as a result for 6 days prior to giving birth (10-15 minutes apart).  OB insisted I go on bedrest.

I'm a SAHM this time, so I work up until the morning of my c-section, and I think this will be a lot harder than being an engineer, haha - my son is a handful

mabst196

If you have to go back to work after a maternity leave, work as long as you can. If you only get say 8 weeks off, do you really want to spend 3-4 of those weeks at home waiting for the baby and then only get 4 weeks home. If you don't have to go back to work and don't need the cash, I'd quit sooner.

stephensweetie

With DS I was put on bed rest 2 weeks before my DD, and it was a shock.  This time I wished I could have been on bed rest!  I'm on my feet alot with my job, I work in healthcare, so I was so physically tired.  My last day was friday and I'm having my c-section this thursday.  I think it depends on your job and how you are feeling.  I would have taken off more time but I didn't have the time to take off.