Have to stop working at 24 weeks?

JuliaAndPete · September 2013

Did anyone else's OB tell them they had to leave work @ 24 weeks?

That would quite literally be impossible for me. I'm a business owner and other people's livelihoods depend on me.

Hope I can do it from home. But does that count as still working? I'm not stressed by what I do. Unless it's a certain time of year which has already passed.

How am I going to tell my employees?!

JAck5209 · September 2013

Did your OB tell you why you have to stop? Is your job stressful or physically strenuous?

sparkman-to-be · September 2013

Mine asked me if I could consider limited schedule at 24w. He is fine with me WFH but just to stop doing so much at 24w. I'm fine with it and so is my job, so that's my plan.

YouMe&Bax · September 2013

From week 24 on we had a "wait and see" plan. We'd wait and see how I was doing and discuss it at each visit. Finally, at week 30 (last week) I was pulled from work due to early signs of pre-e and contractions. I thought it'd be impossible for me to leave this early too - but with a strong team at work we figured it out. Other peoples livelihoods might depend on you - but so do your twins and they need the best environment to grow big, strong and healthy!

JuliaAndPete · September 2013

@YouMeandBax I definitely agree with that. My twins are more important than anyone. They are my first priority.

@JAck5209 my job can be stressful and strenuous but my pregnancy was planned so I made it so I stopped doing any physical work a while ago. My stressful, busy season won't be until spring/summer time.

@sparkman-to-be maybe this is what I'll tell my OB is the plan. I'll give her more details and tell her this is what has to happen. My work never raises my blood pressure or anything.

By the time 30 weeks rolls around my employees will know and it will be a slow time anyways. I planned it this way. Gawd I hope it works out. My husband already agreed to take on the responsibilities of both of our businesses until I'm back to normal after 30wks. But I have to run the show as long as I can. $:\$

PinkinProvence · September 2013

How far along are you now? Are you having complications that is making you stop working or is it prophylactic.

I am 24 weeks now and there would be absolutely no reason that I couldn't work. I also commute two hours a day by train and walk in the city. My days are at least 11 hours long. I am lucky that I have not had any complications.

My doctor told me from the beginning that I would be on borrowed time for work after 28 weeks. But again, I guess it depends on your specific situation.

Stephanie2167 · September 2013

I was put on bedrest last week at 24 weeks. Luckily I can work from home. I just need to rest as much as possible.

JuliaAndPete · September 2013

@PinkinProvence I am 14 weeks. Could not imagine stopping work in the next 10 weeks. No issues so far (thank God) but my doctor as a precaution told me that's when MoM's usually stop working. She knows I own a business so she wanted to warn me way ahead of time. I'm still young, I'm 30. So in theory it should ok.

@Stephanie2167 Good luck. I wish you and your family the best. My cousin is 35yrs old and is 16 weeks with Di/Di twins. She's had complications and has been on bed rest since week 7. Almost 10 weeks now

spin25 · September 2013

My OB said there is no specific time that she will take me out of work, and I have a job where I would normally be on my feet the whole time, don't get to take a break to eat lunch, etc. (I still manage to eat, but I don't get to leave for a work-free 30 minutes or anything.) Luckily I've been able to sit a lot, but we will probably have to revisit the topic later.

I'm 22 weeks now and there hasn't been any mention of it since I asked about it at 12 weeks.

PinkinProvence · September 2013

JuliaAndPete said:

@PinkinProvence I am 14 weeks. Could not imagine stopping work in the next 10 weeks. No issues so far (thank God) but my doctor as a precaution told me that's when MoM's usually stop working. She knows I own a business so she wanted to warn me way ahead of time. I'm still young, I'm 30. So in theory it should ok. @Stephanie2167 Good luck. I wish you and your family the best. My cousin is 35yrs old and is 16 weeks with Di/Di twins. She's had complications and has been on bed rest since week 7. Almost 10 weeks now

Yeah, again I am not sure about your specific condition but this work deadline seems awfully premature to me. Of course, if any condition should develop or complication arise, I would fully expect your doctor to order bedrest. But just from my own experience (and of course everyone has there own and everything could change tomorrow), I feel great at 24 weeks. Of course there is some uncomfortableness and back pain, but I have continued with all my normal activities, which include shopping and cleaning and going out to restaurants on the weekends and working FT all week long (including walking up and down at least 3 flights of stairs daily at the train station.)

Good Luck - I hope whatever is decided is the best and healthiest for you and the babies!

PurpleIris30 · September 2013

I do not have any set deadlines -- it's just a wait and see evaluation from appointment to appointment. I'm 26w4d, and still working full time, although I have a job that allows me to sit at a desk. Because I'm dealing with a lot of contractions, I wouldn't be able to do a job that required me to be on my feet all day, but that's just my personal situation and you could well be different. Even if I am placed on bed rest, much of my job can still be done from home. It's good to be prepared for the possibility so it doesn't come as a shock or hardship should you have to leave work, but no automatic 24 week deadlines for me (thank goodness).

carrotcake06 · September 2013

I wasn't given any restrictions whatsoever. I work at a desk all day but have a pretty awful commute.

I delivered at 34w and my water broke at work, but I had been WFH twice a week since 32w due to mild pre-e. I had no other complications besides that and pre-e isn't a bed rest thing, so there wasn't any reason to stop working.

JuliaAndPete · September 2013

Hmmm I wonder why my OB is so strict? Especially since I have zero complications so far.

staceymack · September 2013

When I found out I was having twins my OB said to be prepared to possibly come out of work around 30 weeks. She just wanted us to have a heads up so we could plan accordingly. Well, I ended up having preterm labor issues around 23 weeks and had to come out of work. Every pregnancy is different. Hopefully, your ob will reevaluate when you get further along.

JuliaAndPete · September 2013

Amylou333 said:
My OB doesn't see any reason I can't work as long as I feel able. Current plan is to stop at 32 weeks- with the possibility of having to finish early if there any complications/I'm struggling.

As I can see in PP's, your job isn't too physically strenuous so I'm not sure why he would suggest stopping so early?
Do you feel physically able to continue? If so- I'd have another talk with your OB and ask them to explain their concerns

I don't know how I'll feel in 10 weeks. I feel awful right now but it's just nausea & tension head aches. Otherwise I'm feeling ok, work doesn't stress me out. I'll have to talk to the MFM center about this.

Thanks everyone!

SV917 · September 2013

That does seem extreme if you've had no problems. Slow business coincided with my pregnancy, so I've been working reduced hours since the beginning of my pregnancy. Maybe that has made a difference because I'm still going at 32 weeks. I think my boss expects me to be there until I leave for the hospital. As long as everything is going well, I will be.

ktjruss03 · September 2013

You should not have to stop working unless you have complications or feel it is too difficult (there will come a time). I worked full time in a pediatric office and rarely sat down or took breaks. I was put on bedrest @ 24 weeks for high BP and PTL and it lasted 3 weeks. At that point my OB said I could return part time, but doing a desk job. I worked until 32 weeks doing that when my BP started creeping up and I was hospitalized with PTL again. I delivered at 36 weeks 2 days.

As hard as it can be in the end to work, it was almost harder for my to be home with my 3 year old for 4 weeks. There wasn't a lot of rest time and the days seemed to drag by. I think every pregnancy (multiple or not) is different and should be treated as such! Good luck to you!

CNYBride05 · September 2013

I was on bedrest from 21 weeks. It's not ideal. I'd ask your OB for a rationale. Good luck.

JuliaAndPete · September 2013

As far as I know it seemed like a blanket policy. My second opinion will come from the MFM center. No offense to my dr but I've been taking everything she has been saying with a grain.

Kissimi21 · September 2013

My OB told me that most doctors will suggest stopping work at 24 weeks as a precaution. She allowed me to work until 34 weeks, but we discussed it at every apt. Talk to your doctor and discuss a week to week plan.

tirsabel · September 2013

there is no reason to stop - unless you are having issues. i put my work on notice and started limiting the more stressful things - long shifts nad overnight shifts and physically strenous shifts. however i was on my feet every day until i delivered at 36w5d. however, i only opened my schedule/office work one week at a time starting around 28-30 weeks so that everyone was aware i could go any time. i hit "the wall" at 32 weeks where it just became painful to be at work emotionally and physically. but we lasted another 4 weeks, so i guess i'm saying i thought initally there was no way i could make it but we got pretty far!

nblondheim · September 2013

I know my babies come first and was made aware of the possibility of needing to quit work early due to things I read online but never from my OB yet... I do have slight issues with a very low placenta and am on pelvic rest. At my next appointment at the end of the month this will be revisited. I am only 15 weeks but also couldn't imagine having to leave at 24 weeks if all was well. I, on the other hand, do work a stressful, active, and pretty demanding job. I am a 4 year old kindergarten teacher with no help and a VERY needy group of students this year. I get no prep time or even bathroom breaks! The only break I do get is my 30 minute lunch. Therefore, I can see myself having to leave work early. It will be hard but I will do what's best for the babies and I. I wish you the best of luck!

SWA80 · September 2013

I worked to 32 until the day I was admitted to the hospital for extra monitoring due to IUGR. In retrospect, I wish I had stopped working a little sooner. I was having regular contractions for a couple of weeks before that but my DRs kept saying I was fine to keep working. A couple of days after being admitted, the contractions almost completely stopped. I think stress was a major contributor. I would say just listen to your body and do what feels right for you.

leahscarlson · September 2013

I was unexpectedly hospitalized for 7 days at 23 weeks & 4 days due to a severe DVT (blood clot) in my leg. I didn't have any other risk factors besides pregnancy. I had hip pain and then one legged swelled and the other didn't. I am now out of work on full bed rest and twice daily blood thinner injections until I deliver. I never expected to be out of work this early. My only concern is I work for a large company so per FMLA laws I am not guaranteed my exact job back after I take off more than 12 weeks (total including maternity leave after the twins are born).

You never know what might unexpectedly pop up during pregnancy so I would be prepared early just in case! Plus, when something that scary occurs you will worry less about work and more about your babies and yourself!

hjoy_06 · September 2013

I was put on partial preventative bed rest around 27 weeks. I would go in and work 4 hours a day and then "work" the other 4 hours at home...sometimes I would work, sometimes nap

) Around 31 weeks I wasn't going into work anymore and only working about 3 hours at home, just to get my stuff that I absolutely had to done. The reason my Dr. started me on bed rest was that your body typically measures so much bigger with twins (I measured 56 weeks when I had them at 36w1d). I was in my mid to late 20 weeks when my body was actually measuring around 40. She had said that because my body was measuing 40 weeks it would start thinking it was "go time" soon and the more rest and relaxation you can get the less your body is pushing for labor. I had absolutely zero complications and this was just preventative and I couldn't be more thankful she did it...my boys were 6.1 and 6.4 lbs and needed no special attention. And, trust me, you'll grow so quickly that you won't want to work any more

)

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