How long are you planning to stay working before baby?

lexieberry

I am planning on staying working until a couple weeks before babys due date, but I am feeling the effects of my work environment now. I work at a boutique, standing and moving around for 8 hours a day...my energy level is lower, I'm moving slower, and feeling not so hot especially by end of day with the usual aches and pains. 

Just wondering, if you're planning on still working full-time up until baby or cutting it back a month or so before due date? Or is this just a wait and see...

sleeping5beauty

I'll probably work until 2 or 3 weeks before my c-section is scheduled. I can't wait till the end of January!! Then I will have an actual date that this baby will be here. As of right now, my last day will be Feb 17th. My due date is March 13th and my c-section should be around March 6th.

footnotegirl

This is probably wishful thinking on my part, but I'm planning on working right up to my due date. I have 35 days to go, and so far there's been nothing about being pregnant that has gotten in the way of my work. Mostly my work involves me being seated, and other than carrying a small stack of books every once in a while, the most exertion I have to do is push a book cart. 

jayleigh68

My plan is to work up until the day I go into labor.

mckee1

As much as I'd like to stop a couple weeks early I'm planning on working until the end too. Work is certainly getting hard (I'm a nurse) but I have to use vacation/sick time so it's not worth it to me to leave early...we'll see! I might stop at my due date if they will induce me at 41 weeks.

dojo1

I have to commute 90 minutes to work each way, which includes a 3k round trip walk from the train to my office and back.  I'm going to start working from home about 3 weeks before my due date and will go on my leave once the baby is born.

ferris0906

Right up until I deliver.  I am a teacher at a charter school, so I have NO paid maternity leave.

Sara1373

I'm planning on working until my water breaks   I want to use the full 12 weeks with my LO and I know if I was home waiting for him to come I would drive myself crazy. Also, my Dr. said most FTMs go late, and all my friends have been 10-12 days late so if I took a week or two off before, it may be closer to a month before he arrives. 

 

Good luck!

secst26

My last day was going to be yesterday, but I decided to work another week. I'll officially start leave on the 9th. I'm due the 26th, but may need induced early (19th) due to bp issues. It's getting harder/painful to walk around as he dropped this week and think being rested beforehand will be nice.

I was afraid I'd be bored until I sat down and wrote a list of (non-physical) projects around the house I can do (e.g., gather tax documents, organize recipe binder, read breastfeeding book, pick out announcements, send in registrations for baby products, etc...)

skibunny59

My last day of work is two days before my due date.  I'm an elementary school teacher and I am on my feet most the day but I've been feeling pretty good so far.  I know most FTM are usually late with their first baby and I don't want to be sitting around at home getting anxious.  Also, I have to use my own sick days so I would rather use them after the birth.

mommadawn1012

I plan on working up until the day before I have my scheduled c-section. I don't get paid maternity leave either, so every dollar helps. I really wish I could afford to take some time off beforehand, but I don't want to waste my vacation time when I will be using it during the summer 

sunnyday016

jayleigh68:

My plan is to work up until the day I go into labor.

Mine too. I don't want to waste any of my maternity leave before I have the baby.  

Aleja0918

As long as everything's medically sound, I'll continue working until I go into labor. If I took off any earlier, I'd probably go nuts waiting at home.

amos2006

I plan on working til the end of the week before my scheduled c/s, although work is on my last nerve already, and I fantasize about leaving earlier!

With DD I drove myself from work to the hospital with a BP of 170/110 and was 38w5d, so i refused to leave w/o her!

laurakaz13

I worked until I went into labor and I'm in the military.  So, I just can't imagine taking time off before the baby comes if you don't have a truly physical job. 

Sorry, we are all uncomfortable and unless you have true medical problems I don't see why you can't work. 

danlexi04

As long as medically I'm ok, I'm going to work as long as I physically can. I'm an esthetician, I do only waxing and it's pretty physical and requires me to bend at the waist a lot which is quickly becoming uncomfortable. So, I'm taking it one day at a time.

Melanie.Brown

I'm due March 5th and my last night of work will be Feb. 23rd.  I'd like to work up to my due date because I'll only have about 5 weeks of PTO by then, but I also want to maximize my short term disability benefit.  For a normal vaginal delivery short term disability will cover 2 weeks before baby is born (with no medical reason) and 6 weeks after baby is born.  There is a two week waiting period, so if I work up until I go into labor, I'll only get the 6 weeks, 2 of which would be the "waiting period" and I'll only get 4 weeks of benefit.  But if I'm off for 2 weeks before, that is my waiting period and I'll get 6 weeks of benefit after baby is born.  If that makes any sense. 

I stopped working at 38 weeks with DD, and I was 6 days late with her.  I also have a very physical job as a surgical tech in L&D.  Some days are harder than others, but I think I'll make it until Feb. 23rd

manda326

I am hoping to work up until my due date if all goes well.

MotherMonster

I'm a CNA and I plan on working until I go into labor or am induced. I am getting training in a week or 2 to be a medication aide since I'm having a hard time lifting at work now, but whatever happens happens. My family will make sure me and my little girl are fine no matter what happens, so I'm not too worried.

mjsmith12

I am due the 25th. I recently decided my last day will be the 20th mostly because I work weekends and would like to be free to spend time with my husband and get stuff done and my sisters want to visit. I am a FTM so I'm a little nervous I'll go late and waste a week of my ml. however I also want to be fair to my employer, if I'm not any use to them I don't want to be a burden

That being said I think it's a personal decision between you and your husband, if you can fit it into your budget I say more power to you! I am so uncomfortable that I wish I could take off now but financially it's just not feasible. 

Good luck with you decision! 

Divallyn

laurakaz13:

I worked until I went into labor and I'm in the military.  So, I just can't imagine taking time off before the baby comes if you don't have a truly physical job. 

Sorry, we are all uncomfortable and unless you have true medical problems I don't see why you can't work. 

 

Ugh, comments like this annoy me.

Why people judge others on here for when they take their maternity leave is beyond me. It's a personal decision. Some are much more uncomfortable than others or have jobs that are too demanding physically.

My last day is 10 days before my due date. In my office it is typical of women to start their leave about 3-4 weeks before they are due. To each their own. 

Lisa9926

I'm working up until I go into labor. I want to spend all the time with the baby I can before having to go back to work.

kyethra

I had to reduce my hours when I was twenty some weeks due to being less effective.  I work with kids and for my job I need to be able to physically wrangle 'em and deal with behavior issues while keeping a sunny mood.  Normally not an issue, but with the belly and hormones I wasn't do so well.  I was working 15-20 hours a week and in grad school half time.  Now I am finishing up class work (and due to memory issues that is a herculean effort) and working five hours a week. I will work until 2-3 weeks before my due date.  I have let everyone know that since I am also at a high risk of pre-eclampsia I might need to stop before then, but I am not planning on it.  And I miss work!  I am trying to get more done around the house and prep for baby, but that is also getting harder.  I certainly don't want to wish my life away, but there is definitely a part of me that can't wait until this child is a few months old, we have a routine, my body is returning to my own, and I'm working again. 

ktroutm2

sunnyday016:

jayleigh68:

My plan is to work up until the day I go into labor.

Mine too. I don't want to waste any of my maternity leave before I have the baby.  

 Im right there with ya. Some people think I'm crazy. However I am becoming uncomfortable. My hips are starting to bother me so I'm walking funny. 

graceandsweetpea

I am 29 weeks and 3 days with our little boy and I plan on working until it's time to give birth, but I've been so sore that I'm starting to question this decision. I also work a job where I have to stand and be on my feet for @ 8 hours a day 5 days a week and I already feel it taking a toll on me. I'm exhausted from peeing all night and tossing back and forth then I get up and my feet start to ache and lately I've started to get some back pains just the last few days... I felt him completely adjust himself to a new position the other day and I'm still getting use to how he is laying. Good luck to you

Natalie3398

I am 30 weeks now and I am expected to deliver on March 8th. I think i'll work till the 3rd week of February. I travel about an hour to and from work and I work in a very stressful environment. 

I want those 2 weeks to be for me and my husband to get things ready for the baby. I want to be prepared and just in case the weather here in NY is really bad I don't want to be driving far over the bridge like that.  

dizzycooks

I am working until I go into labor.  No gaurantees on how much gets done though.  I wrote all my lessons and gathered all my supplies for every single day in January (a few field trips and a few lessons by the librarian certainly helped!!) before Christmas break.  I just need to show up.  I'll be teaching from my chair most of the time at this point, I refuse to stand all day.

jason&robin

I already have 2 kids and I am an independent contractor that works from home. I don't really get any paid time off so I will be working until the baby comes and then I plan to take 3 weeks unpaid time off. I wish I could stop working now but I have to take care of the kids so I might as well get paid as well. Makes me miss the days before #1 where I could come home from work and do nothing for the rest of the day! I am envious.

Dustilou

I plan on working until the twins come, but my Boss has other plan I think.  She has started to send me home an hour to two hours early at least once a week.  She is like a surrogate mom to me so I'm not mad, but my pay check is taking a hit. I'd like to say I will be paid for my leave, but I will not sadly. (I work for a family practice and they don't offer maternity leave).  I just going to guess and say I have about 4 to 6 weeks until she makes me stay home.  At least I like my boss..lol!

llc730

I am a nurse so I have a very physical job, but I plan to work up until I deliver. That being said I am due March 3rd and told my boss not to put me on the March schedule. I was three days early with DD and she was still over 9 lbs. Because of this my OB said she will probably induce me during my 39th wk if I don't go on my own to avoid a very large baby and increased chance of c/s.

 

JosF21

Until I go into labor

kaylahpearl

I am a dance teacher and dance studio owner. I am currently teaching 4 days a week and do all of my books and run my business. My hope is to work right up until I have the baby. I am 28.5 weeks. 

laurakaz13

Divallyn:

laurakaz13:

I worked until I went into labor and I'm in the military.  So, I just can't imagine taking time off before the baby comes if you don't have a truly physical job. 

Sorry, we are all uncomfortable and unless you have true medical problems I don't see why you can't work. 

 

Ugh, comments like this annoy me.

Why people judge others on here for when they take their maternity leave is beyond me. It's a personal decision. Some are much more uncomfortable than others or have jobs that are too demanding physically.

My last day is 10 days before my due date. In my office it is typical of women to start their leave about 3-4 weeks before they are due. To each their own. 

Well, I hate posts like this.  We are not crippled.  We are pregnant.  In most cases, if you' take care of yourself and gain only the recommended amount of weight, you should be able to work. 

If you have a legitimate medical issue then by all means stay home, but no you are not "more uncomfortable" than every other pregnant woman on the planet.  You're just being a baby. 

stargirljulie

I worked until I went into labor. I worked a Wed, the next day I called in because I thought things were starting. I got checked into L&D that afternoon and she was born in the wee morning hours.

I had a very physical job and was pretty miserable, but I wanted to be working (I was hoping it would speed things along!) and I didn't want to bored at home and miserable. I was glad that I was working and kept my mind off of how huge and uncomfortable I was all the time.