When you start dilating

svdrummajor07 · June 2012

Ok so I am not getting any paid maternity leave so I really want to work until either the doctor says no more or until I go into labor. I was just curious at what point the doctor would probably want me to lay off work. If I start dilating slowly will she want me to take it easy? I work 8-10 hours completely on my feet so I'm trying to be as prepared as I can be when it comes to when to stop working...

mben1119 · June 2012

I worked 8 hours on a Friday, and gave birth Saturday morning. I had been 1-2 cm dilated for about 2 1/2 weeks before then, and my doctor didn't tell me to act otherwise.

jandb2011 · June 2012

I worked straight up until having DS (also on my feet). Unless you're having other things going on, you dilating has no bearing on when you need to stop working. A lot of women walk around dilated for weeks/month before going into labor.

Or you could just skip internals all together, if you think your Dr will make you quite working, just based on that. They're really not a necessary part of pregnancy, until you're actually in labor.

byrne15 · June 2012

I was 3cm @ 36 weeks. I kept my regular schedule until the day before I gave birth (3.5 weeks later)

AprilAngie · June 2012

You can be dialated 1 cm for weeks.. depending on your type of work you do. Its up to your comfort level.

If you dont feel comfortable- however with that said Im 31 weeks and feeling upcomfortable and Ihave an office job. I guess you do what you do when you have to

melissamomof3 · June 2012

Unless your doctor thinks you need to lay off work, you can be dialated for weeks before you deliver. With my first baby I had an appointment at 2:00 in the afternoon and was told then I was in labor and would deliver in 8-10 hours. I finished the day at work and went home and did some gardening and house work. Went to the hospital at midnight and delivered at 6:50 that morning.

LittleApple · June 2012

You can still work even though your cervix is dilating. I worked up to the day I gave birth at 2-4 cm, 100% effaced.

mylittlesunshine · June 2012

I started dilating early with DD1 (had a lot of preterm labor issues) and was 3cm at around 33 weeks. I had her at 36 weeks. I worked that Thursday night and Friday at 3:00am my water broke.

With this pregnancy I am 3-4cm at 37 weeks and plan on working until I go into labor. I have to say though, I work a desk job, so it isn't too bad.

piinkzebrapriint · June 2012

mylittlesunshine:

I started dilating early with DD1 (had a lot of preterm labor issues) and was 3cm at around 33 weeks. I had her at 36 weeks. I worked that Thursday night and Friday at 3:00am my water broke.

With this pregnancy I am 3-4cm at 37 weeks and plan on working until I go into labor. I have to say though, I work a desk job, so it isn't too bad.

since you continued to work I assume you weren't put on bedrest, however, did the doc put you on modified bedrest at all? I ask this because of my own personal experience this time around (this is #2 for me, no prior ptl issues with #1)

amykins1283 · June 2012

Lurking (slow night)

I worked up until my water broke and had been dilating for a couple of weeks. It's definitely doable to work right up until you deliver, depending on what you do (I'm a teacher). In my district it was "work until you deliver or a doctor writes us a note" so I went as long as possible.

BrieanneB · June 2012

With DD I called into work from labor and delivery to let them know that my maternity leave was going to start then

With DS I was a SAHM but I was on my feet taking care of a toddler up until the moment I got into the car to go have my son - You can definitely work right up until you get into real labor, and I think saving your maternity leave for when the baby is here as much as you can is the best thing you can do!

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