Working til your due date?

somewheresublime86 · September 2014

In the last few days, I've had a few people ask me if I plan to work right up until my due date. I've been tempted to tell them to mind their own business, but it hasn't felt judgmental, just curious.

The truth is, I haven't thought about it too much yet. I'm a contract employee, so if I'm not working I'm not going to be getting paid. Maternity leave is one thing, but I think it would be hard to justify not working the last month or so of my pregnancy unless there was a medical reason.

I'm curious what others' experiences and plans are. Did you work right up until your due date? Do you plan to?

Ifeellikeamammal · September 2014

This has been on my mind too. I've not yet disclosed at work, so I haven't had to bring it up. When I do I think I am going to propose working from home full time for a couple weeks leading up to my due date. I live in the NYC metro area and work in the city, so my commute is long (3 hours/day). My rationale is that I want to be close to my hospital when it is go time. Who knows if they will approve or not, but I really don't want to use up precious maternity days before the birth, and I know I'd be much less stressed being close to my hospital. Do you think you could negotiate a work from home period?

littlewest1 · September 2014

I worked right up until the day I gave birth.

taahira · September 2014

I think it really depends on your pregnacy and how your feeling towards the last few months. That you won't know till you get there. With #1 I finished 6 weeks prior to my due date, I found it to much. I couldn't do another day. #2 I worked up until my due dates, u finished work on a Friday and had my DD on the Wednesday. I felt great, I had energy so kept working. This one is a bit different, I now run my own company, I plan on working right till the end, I'll work from home the last month.

menacohen · September 2014

Last time I literally worked up until my water broke. I woke up to go to work and my water had broken. I stopped in dropped off anything I had pending and went to the hospital, which was less than a minute away. I have not decided if I want to do the same thing this time. I almost feel like I'd like to stop working in April since I did have the baby 3 weeks early last time.

4N6s · September 2014

I plan on it, yes.

wolowizard · September 2014

My goal is to work up until my due date. I have to take vacation time and sick leave for my maternity leave, and if I make it to my due date I won't have a full 6 weeks of leave built up. I do have short term disability and a hospital confinement insurance that will help when the baby comes, but I'd like to try and not use any PTO if possible.

rosemama116 · September 2014

Unless there's a reason I can't work, I will be working right up until I give birth

somewheresublime86 · September 2014

@Ifeellikeamammal‌ - Definitely. When we got new computers a couple of months ago I asked the tech lady if she could make sure mine was all ready to work virtually. I tested it out a couple of weeks ago and it's all set. The problem is the nature of my work. I do training and development for aerospace, and a lot of it is meeting with people, taking pics, synthesizing info - not necessarily things I can do without being at work at least some of the day. I'll have to come up with some good options to pitch to my boss. I think you've got the right idea being closer to home the last few weeks - I hope it works out!

@Ally1986‌ Oh, the joys of not having any paid leave! I'm hoping to move to part time once baby is born, but being a SAHM would be wonderful!

HeavensAngel20x · September 2014

It's my first pregnancy, but I will be working up to my due date. I am a nurse practitioner, I cannot work from home and I do not get paid maternity leave. So far I have been pretty symptomless besides the occasional nausea, insomnia, tender breasts, and peeing a lot

but I feel good so I will try my best! I am sure wherever I am working whether it's at the office nursing home or hospital someone will get me to the hospital if my water breaks since my hubby has a 45 min drive into town

showers3 · September 2014

I taught on Friday a full day 90 minutes from my house and hospital and DD was born on Saturday. With DS I worked through the end of the school year as normal and DS was born 3 days later. I've always felt great and didn't want to waste sick days so I plan on working up until this little one is born as well.

MitoRachel · September 2014

I think if you are physically up for it, that it is a good idea to work until you go into labor. Almost all women hit "the wall" in pregnancy where the desire to get the baby out is really really strong. The more you can distract yourself during that time the better!

bowman958 · September 2014

I worked until noon on the day DD was born! I had an induction scheduled for the next day, so it was going to be my last day no matter what.

starshollow · September 2014

I worked until a couple days before my due date last time. I am a teacher and I was due right after April break so I decided to stop working right before break so that my sub could pick up after April break. I hope to feel good enough to do the exact same thing this time.

MudLover · September 2014

I worked 2 jobs right up until I had my daughter. I worked that friday during the day at my normal job and that night at my 2nd job. My water broke sunday night in bed so I didn't make it to work Monday to either jobs.
I will be working as long as possible with this one also.

redneckmomma25 · September 2014

I worked to 38 weeks. The only reason I stopped then was because I was an hour from the hospital. Had I know I would be induced at 42 weeks I would have worked until then. I did get a lot done at home. I did the whole nursery myself. But it was awful being home waiting.

Sweetlill1 · September 2014

I will plan as of now to work until I go into labor, but since our schedules are made so far in advance I could see them not putting me on the schedule for April since I am due 4/5. I am a FTM so who knows what will happen. Luckily the hospital I will deliver at is two minutes from the hospital that I work at.

islandmom79 · September 2014

I worked up until the day before my c-section. I took one day of vacation to relax before baby came. I plan on working up until the end this time as well.

ejz98ric02 · September 2014

I'm a FTM, and a teacher. I have a 2 week spring break immediately preceding my due date, so I plan on working until then.

Mindish · September 2014

Last time I planned on taking two weeks off just prior to get things ready, but DS came a month early and I had nothing wrapped up at work. I spent my first two weeks with a newborn trying to write IEPs and finish progress notes. It was AWFUL. I'm not working now but I was considering a contract job recently, and I told them I'd need a full month off just in case.

DosChicas1417 · September 2014

I worked up until the day I delivered on both prior pregnancies and plan to do it again this time.

fitfam20 · September 2014

I had my son on a Monday and I was scheduled to work that day. I wanted as much time with my son after he was born.

mhickey426 · September 2014

My last day was my due date. I work in a school. I worked til my due date because I was then able to use sick days (full pay) to get me to Easter break (full pay). Between the dick days and Easter break that gave me an additional 4 weeks home. It sucked working that long but was so worth it. I plan on doing the same this time since my lo is due on Easter

MagalinaH · September 2014

I'm not allowed to take my six weeks until the baby is born, so I'll be working up until I go into labor. I could technically use sick days and take extra time off beforehand, but I couldn't "plan" for it ahead of time.

Prpljade · September 2014

I think I'm with what sounds like the majority here and am planning to work as long as possible. I do not have the luxury of working from home or maternity leave. It will be whatever PTO I have saved up. Unless DH gets a better job before April and we can survive on one income, I'll be back to work in as little time as the dr will allow. If I can get my employer to work with me on a part time schedule for the first three months it would be a dream, but it's not likely.

Edit because damn you autocorrect

crossfit704 · September 2014

I am part time and in sales (so I make normal pay when I work and commission based on what I sell). I spilled to my boss today (I am good friends with his wife and we told the people at the gym today). He was amazing about it. My tentative plan is to work up until I have the baby. Take a few weeks totally off, and then work from home for a few months. Ill go back very part time to the office after that (prob 10 of 20 hours a week), and work the other 10 from home. Granted I have to run all this by him but I don't see it being an issue.

SuperFudge00 · September 2014

I plan on taking the last month off. I can't imagine being on my swollen feet, waddling through the ER 12 hours a day. They'd probably put me on modified and the thought of working 12 hours at a desk is worse.

With my research and planning, I will be able to continue earning the same salary. And the way the PDL and maternity leave is structured, if I don't use PDL, I lose it. I've been paying into state disability since I was fifteen and never used it. I feel comfortable using it for this.

CTolley86 · September 2014

I have to this time because I came back to work 2 months pregnant and in canada you need to accumulate 600 hours of work in order to qualify for our 12 months paid leave. Last time I took my leave 3 weeks before I gave birth because it was August and really hot and I wanted to get things ready for our home birth! I had a little extra running around to do! Most of my friends worked until they felt they weren't comfortable, sometimes swelling or stress forces you to
Leave a hot early but some women work until their delivery day. All up to you! No one is judging, people just ask annoying questions when your pregnant!

Sarah04Marie · September 2014

For me, it will depend on how my pregnancy is going and whether or not I end up having to be on short term disability. If all goes well as I hope it will, I am currently planning on taking 1.5 weeks off prior to my due date simply because I work 35 mins from home and I'm worries about going into labour early. My coworker took 2 weeks off before her due date for her first pregnancy and was 2 weeks over due. For her second pregnancy, she worked right up to her due date. Mind you, she lived in town. My mom was over a month early with me and my sister and 2 weeks over due with my brother ... Hard to predict what will happen when it's my turn!

redheaded14 · September 2014

I WFH so no reason for me to not work until the last day as I see it. Now, I might put my phone in an "away" status so people don't bug me too much, but I can get most things done through spreadsheets/email.

When I was working in my first job out of college, the girl I shared an office with was pregnant, and I spent the last 2 months of her pregnancy terrified that her water was going to break and I was going to have to rush her to the hospital. I had never really been around anyone pregnant (or babies) at that point so I was seriously concerned that I was going to have to play the hero and wouldn't get her to the hospital in time. Turns out she had a scheduled c-section and took off half a day before her procedure. Glad I made that all about me! (In my defense I was 23....everything in my world was about me!)

aeith11 · September 2014

I worked until I went into labor with DD and will be doing the same with this baby. I'd rather spend my ime at home with my baby then alone

ScarletOflaherty · September 2014

I took the day before my induction off to wrap up loose ends, but that was it. I get 12 weeks off and I'd rather spend every minute of that with baby rather than twiddling my thumbs waiting to go into labor.

klr1215 · September 2014

I worked up to the day my water broke (41 weeks). I didn't feel too terrible towards the end and I was glad to spend the full 12 weeks with DD. I will do the same this time assuming there are no complications.

Chelseyhelton · September 2014

I plan on waiting until I deliver maybe work some from home. I have no PTO so the longer I work the better. I'm also going back to work about 2-3 weeks after the baby is born. I will work part time from home and part time from the office.

springlove59 · September 2014

I plan on working until I go into labor....I am really nervous about my water breaking at work though! Not really sure I want the whole office to see that....hopefully it happens on the weekend!

twinklepits · September 2014

My husband and I have agreed that our best financial option is for me to be a SAHM once baby comes. So I will be working until March 31st. Due April 16th. This will give me some time to rest and get any last minute prep done.

topaz7777 · September 2014

I worked until the day before last time and probably will again this time. I may take a day or two off, but I'd rather spend the time at home with LO than home alone waiting.

babyluv1234 · September 2014

i have a 2 1/2 hr commute to work each way! im hoping i can make it to the my due date. on my first visit the doc warned me that towards the end the last thing i wanna do is either be stuck in traffic or taking mass transit. my worst nightmare would be to go into labor at work and not have a way to get to the hospital. I hope to make it to my due date

Puppies+Rainbows+Unicorns · September 2014

Last time I worked until a week before my due date and was able to wrap up getting the nursery set up and enjoyed having some time to myself. Will likely do this again. I am in CA and get paid for four weeks prior without having it impact leave afterwards (use it or lose it situation).

SuperFudge00 · September 2014

Yalmont said:
i have a 2 1/2 hr commute to work each way! im hoping i can make it to the my due date. on my first visit the doc warned me that towards the end the last thing i wanna do is either be stuck in traffic or taking mass transit. my worst nightmare would be to go into labor at work and not have a way to get to the hospital. I hope to make it to my due date

Ambulance

MissLMS · September 2014

With my DD I was in labor at work, timing my contractions on my iphone, and then went home to labor more after my lunch break. I wanted to stay there at least half the day so I wouldn't have to take the day off. With my DS, I went into labor in the middle of the night, but I did work the day before.

I plan to work as long as I can with this one, maybe even labor at work if I have to. I want all my maternity leave at home with my kids after the baby is born.

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