STMs - how/when were you taken out of work before LO was born?

bewilderingstar · April 2014

I am preparing myself and my bosses for an early departure from work. I am thinking about leaving a week or two earlier, maybe even sooner than that if I get really uncomfortable... In RI we have a short term disability insurance (TDI) that we pay for through the state. The only things is that I need a doctor to take me out of work. Technically my mom (boss) could take me out of work early, she is a chiropractor, but I'd rather just have all the TDI paperwork go through my OB.

So my questions are: How were you able to get your doc to take you out of work early? Did you just straight up ask him/her? Did you have to prove medical necessity?

Thanks in advance ladies!! I wanted to get all my ducks in a row. I am such a neurotic planner.

mrscurlygurl · April 2014

I had medical necessity. Baby wasn't growing the way they wanted, so they wanted me on bedrest to try to get him to grow. Also, I was having severe back spasms that were incapacitating. I only was out a week before giving birth though.

TexasGirl81 · April 2014

If it's only a week or two earlier then I say just request it like that for your mat leave. Many girls here are leaving at least one week early.

For me I have to stay till the last minute.

AMcLaws · April 2014

I'm leaving two weeks earlier. With my last, there was no date specified on my leave paperwork, so I just called and said, "start it. I'm out." This time, I think I'll have to have a doctors note, but I don't think he'll have a problem doing it

Skeemer · April 2014

I don't have any medical issues but I was worn out & exhausted with DS so I had planned to take 2 weeks off prior to his due date. Before I could though the little rascal decided to arrive early.

This time I'm just planning to see how I feel. If I can work until I go into labor then I'd like to do that because we need the money.

runrinserepeat · April 2014

Well, I was going to ask my doctor to request I stop working at my 40w1d appointment, because I was so miserable and at that point I had terrible swelling, my BP was high, and my OB had already expressed that she wasn't crazy about the fact that I was still working. LO was born at 39w6d, though, so it never happened.

Honestly, I'd play it by ear. Unless you've got a medical condition now that your doctor has told you will necessitate you stop work early, I don't think you're going to be able to "get your ducks in a row" before it actually happens, y'know?

AKB090609 · April 2014

I worked until the Friday after my due date. I felt like going to work helped pass the time. I had 3 weekdays off before DD was born, however DH came down with a nasty flu those days so I was taking care of him, honestly I would have rather been at work.

jnnfrrose6 · April 2014

I worked right up until the end last time around. I wanted to hold on to my time off (FMLA or otherwise) for after LO was born. I also gather from hearing from other women that I wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as others are towards the end (I even worked out the night before DS was born, don't even ask how I managed that), but this time around it's been different. Definitely feeling worn out more quickly. The toddler at home probably doesn't help that

I'm still planning on working to the end, but I'm keeping my options open. I think it's still too early to know if you'll "need" to take that time early, and honestly, I think I'd go out of my mind having a week or 2 off. I need something to keep me busy.

drunkenhandstand · April 2014

With my first I was working and I requested to leave at 38 weeks. I had 8 weeks of maternity leave given by the company and then I took 2 weeks of vacation which gave me about 10 weeks in total. They didn't mind at all as long as it was considered part of my mat leave and not an additional couple weeks. Honestly I was so swollen and miserable looking, they felt so bad for me they were practically kicking me out the door. Baby came at 39.

bullybutt · April 2014

jnnfrrose6 said:

I worked right up until the end last time around. I wanted to hold on to my time off (FMLA or otherwise) for after LO was born. I also gather from hearing from other women that I wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as others are towards the end (I even worked out the night before DS was born, don't even ask how I managed that), but this time around it's been different. Definitely feeling worn out more quickly. The toddler at home probably doesn't help that I'm still planning on working to the end, but I'm keeping my options open. I think it's still too early to know if you'll "need" to take that time early, and honestly, I think I'd go out of my mind having a week or 2 off. I need something to keep me busy.

I agree with this. I would much rather use my allocated time spent with the baby instead of twiddling my thumbs waiting for baby to come. I went 2 weeks past my DD, so it would have been 4 weeks of wasted time. F THAT!!!! I want to have as much time with baby as I can, and even that time isn't nearly enough. I say stick it out and keep yourself busy...nothing worse than sitting around waiting for water to boil...if you KWIM.

abundancenow · April 2014

I went out about 7 weeks prior to my due date with my first pregnancy. I had planned to go out 4 weeks prior with the normal temp disability benefits in my state. I asked my OB first and she denied it bc she only approves certain medical conditions. My primary doctor had been treating me from conditions related to stress from my job prior to me getting pregnant and approved my early leave. I was involved in a situation at work that was under investigation for harassment and was stressful and I had been documenting it in detail. It really sucked and going on early leave was a great decision for me and I immediately felt relief.

AKbadwolf · April 2014

I worked right up till day of with my boys. With DD I was induced so I knew a few days ahead of time. I was induced on Tuesday at 40w 3d. Worked a half day Monday and then told them I needed to get myself ready to have a baby the next day and that I would see everyone later.

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cookieinva · April 2014

I worked up until a week past my due date, the day before I went in to be induced. I prefer to save everything for once the baby is actually here, especially since there is no telling when baby will come; FTMs should not be suprised to go late.

LyndseylovesHugh · April 2014

I worked until the day I got induced. I felt pretty good, had a desk job and thought I would be bored just sitting around doing nothing.

bewilderingstar · April 2014

Thanks for all the answers ladies.

Thankfully, the TDI doesn't run out for 6mo s and I know we can swing the missing 1/3 of income. My job is quite stressful (which I didn't mention before) and there's a lot of emotional ties to it. I spoke with my mom (boss) today and she agrees to see how I'm doing at 36wks to evaluate me leaving at 38wks. I'm sure I'll have things to do... I mean, a baby is coming and the house will never be perfect! haha

acciovino · April 2014

I am hoping to work up until 2 days before my RCS.

With DD, I took disability 6 weeks prior because I had terrible PUPPPs and SPD. I couldn't sit at work anymore so my doctor forced me to take off early.

cuntasaurusrex · April 2014

I'm working 'til I pop. I'm really hoping my water breaks at work, because I want one of the assholes I work with to have to clean it up. In addition, I hope that I'm wearing a skirt or dress and that the mucus plug also chunks out.

ETA: @alyssa719

aimeepigott · April 2014

I left work at 36 1/2 wks due to difficulty completing my tasks ( PT and I had trouble completing certain manual therapy techniques on my patients). I spread out my vacation time per week and after DS was born my Short term disability kicked in for 6 weeks. The first week I had trouble I called my employer and discussed everything with him.

alyss0nl · April 2014

I taught up until my water broke, which was a Friday. I wanted to work up until the last minute so I could have more time on the other end.

kweaver123 · April 2014

In nj we are paid through short term disability and are allowed 4 weeks before 6 weeks after and 6 weeks for baby bonding. I am taking all 4 weeks before and I just gave the paperwork to my doctors office with the date I plan on going out and they just filled out there part and signed off.

TurtleMonsters · April 2014

I stopped a couple of weeks before my date. I was teaching parochial school music- hauling my "classroom" and instruments with me, multiple flights of stairs. They took pitty...but I was not paid for the days I didn't work. I had stopped teaching Mommy and Me music (lots of activity) a month before. Then I did repair/managed a music store during the rest of my free hours, and that one I stopped 1-2 weeks before- it was a weird situation, so I was happy to get out of it and be home.

If you don't have a taxing job or health issues, and you enjoy what you do, I'd say work to your date if possible. I was 10 days late, did my final pre hosp cleaning cooking a couple times or more. It would have helped to have work keep my mind off of things.

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