Maternity Leave..when?

BunintheOven311 · February 2011

When are you planning on going on leave? Some ladies on the march board are already going and they are at 35 weeks (same as me). I don't know about you ladies but as long as I am feeling good I will be at work...i would much rather have the time after the LO is born...I plan on making it to the 11th and then taking some personal time and then officially starting leave on my due date. There is so much to do at work now and I feel like I would be bored (eventually) being home for a whole month before my due date.

daisyterp · February 2011

I worked until a month before my due date and then got written off my schedule. I was SO bored at home- it didn't help that I went 11 days overdue w/ DD, so I was like a month and a half after I stopped working that she was finally born.

If I had been planning on going back to work after having DD I would have worked until the baby was born. Your due date is just an estimate and lots of first time moms go late.

Lisa and Mickey · February 2011

I was working two jobs until 38 weeks. At 38 I stopped serving/bartending and at 39 weeks I stopped my job doing billing at a dr office. I was due Dec 27 so I was worried about getting things ready for Christmas (working 60-70 hours a week at 9 months pregnant was making it tough to prepare). I ended up going a full 2 weeks late before my induction and while I did get bored, I was glad that I had taken a little time to myself to relax.

ETA: After reading other posts I should mention, I did get short term disability from my dr office job so I had to be written out. I was written out for edema. I also was not returning to that job so I didn't need to "save up" time. My bartending job was super flexible so it didn't really matter. If it came down to time before the baby vs time after the baby, I would have worked right up to delivery.

yankeegirl1979 · February 2011

So jealous that you have a choice! In our school system, we stay until we give birth unless we have a dr's note.

ThePastor'sWife · February 2011

I would have worked up until I went into labor, but our school year ended (I'm a teacher) 2 days before I hit 37 weeks, so I was home on summer break for the last few weeks. I was SO grateful to be done then, but not b/c I minded working - I felt great up through delivery, but my feet and ankles swelled beyond recognition, so I was thrilled to be able to stay off my feet and do what I could to keep the swelling down during that time. I used those 2 weeks to do the final little things to get ready for LO, and really enjoyed being able to have dinner ready for DH, being at home to run errands, etc., but I definitely would have been fine w/working through that time, too.

If I'm working when LO #2 comes along, and the EDD isn't in the summer, I would definitely work up until I had the baby, simply b/c I would rather use my leave for time w/my LO, not sitting around waiting for LO to show up!

autumn bliss · February 2011

I wanted as much time possible home with DD. I worked up until the day before I gave birth, which was 37w5d. Thankfully my OB put me on bedrest the night before I gave birth because my BP had spiked so I wasn't at work when I happened to go into labor that next morning...that would have been real fun...ha.

BillysGrl27 · February 2011

As long as the doctor gives me the green light I will be working until 39 weeks. The Memorial Day weekend is 2 days after my last day so hopefully I will feel up to a cookout or float in the pool to keep me from tapping my toes in anticipation!

I am much too anxious AND excited to sit and wait for a month, or more!

tmm140 · February 2011

I am also a teacher and am going to try to get my doctor to write me a note to go out on March 4th. My EDD is March 8th. I guess we will see what she says when I go on Thursday!

jcsntms06 · February 2011

I worked up until the day I was admitted to the hospital. Although for weeks I was so swollen that I feel I should been on bedrest, but that's another story. I would save all my maternity for when the baby arrives.

mrs. remy · February 2011

My due date was on a monday and I worked right up until the Friday before that. So my start of maternity leave was on my due date. Then he ended up being four days late so I sat around my house for a week thinking I was going into labor and having false alarms. It sucked! I also did not get paid leave nor was I eligible for FMLA so I really needed to take all my leave AFTER he was born. But it really wasn't bad.

DaniDuran · February 2011

I worked pretty much until my due date. My last day was a Friday, I was due on Monday and DS arrived on Thursday. I am really glad I worked until the very end. Just three days at home before his birth and I was going crazy.

That being said, I love my job, it is very low stress and not physically demanding at all. Everyone was really cool and my co-workers were ready to take me to the hospital in case I went into labor.

moonfaerie · February 2011

Both of my daughters were born via scheduled c/s on Tuesdays and I worked up until the Fridays before.

Cooper81 · February 2011

I was induced at midnight on December 23rd, I worked the day before (22nd), but my induction wasn't scheduled it was a last minute decision. If you feel fine I don't see any reason to take maternity leave before the baby comes, to me it would just be a waste of time.

KathrynMD · February 2011

I had a scheduled c/s at 39 weeks on a Tuesday. I worked until that Friday, took Monday off to get a pedicure and get my hair cut and have a nice dinner w/ DH.

I would do the same thing again, unless I was seriously unable to walk or something, I really couldn't see the point of staying home for a week before I went into labor.

kelleymark82606 · February 2011

I worked until I had the baby...literally...my water broke at work.

KRMac · February 2011

I was due on a Saturday, had contractions all weekend, had a doctor's appointment Monday morning and he told me that I wasn't allowed to go to work, unless I wanted to have a baby there. :P

DS wasn't born until Tuesday night, but I like to say that I worked until the bitter end. I did relax on Monday, made a couple of freezer meals, scrubbed my kitchen floor on my hands and knees...you know, essential prep work.

My friend had a doctor write her out of work early and her baby was 2 weeks late. She had to go back to work when her baby was only 6 weeks, it was so sad for her.

salc21 · February 2011

I plan to work up to the day he comes! Or as long as I am feeling well enough and the doctors don't tell me otherwise. Even though I have disability, I'm saving as much vacation time as I can so I can take it after he arrives

bridetobe920 · February 2011

I had DD on a Wednesday, and I worked up until the Friday before. I had planned to work up until I went into labor, but was scheduled for an induction at 39 weeks (due to measuring small and losing weight), so I didn't see the point in going into work for those two days before I had DD. It was good to have that time to get ready, make sure bills were paid, etc. I am glad I worked up until the last minute, because I was glad to have more time after DD was born, verses using it beforehand.

Mella&T · February 2011

My plan is to work as close to when I give birth as possible...hoping I continue to feel good and this isn't a problem or I become too uncomfortable. I just really don't want my water to break at work!

daisybaby09 · February 2011

UGH I should probably not even say this. I was forced into mat leave at 20 wks as per my contract. I had an amazingly healthy pregnancy. I gave birth 2 days early so I basically had 20 wks off to prepare? I can say that is TOO much time. Not my choice. I am in a predominately male industry soooo a man wrote the mat leave for my union(: Lucky for me!

rebeccalwhite · February 2011

I stopped working at 38 weeks and had the baby a week later. It was a good amount of time to rest and try and relax without being too much time.

jenbrian · February 2011

With my 1st, I worked until a month before my due date. I knew I wasn't going back to work at that time, so, I gave myself time to relax and get ready for baby. Evan was about a week early, so, thankfully I never got bored.

This second time around, since I work from home, I worked until the day she was born!

Hey, like you said...as long as you feel good I would save the time for when the baby is here too!

jnealet · February 2011

I was a planned c/s, which makes life so much easier!! My c/s was planned for Monday and I worked from home the Thursday and Friday before. So my last day in the office was Wednesday, which was the day the c/s was confirmed.

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