Working til your due date?

k8knits · September 2014

I'm planning to work as long as I can. It's tough because I work with kids/young adults with severe/profound intellectual disabilites, which often translates to severe agression, so I will have to be really careful. Fortunately, there are plenty of other people who have done it before, and everyone takes extra care to watch out for the preggos.

mrsalvidrez · September 2014

I will work right up until my due date just because I kind of don't have a choice. I guess I could take my leave early but only 4 weeks is paid so I don't see the point in taking it early. I would rather spend all of it on actually being with my baby once he/she is here. I'm still deciding how many weeks to take off as well. I am entitled up to 2 or 3 months but like I said only 4 weeks is paid (and then I can take part of my paid vacation days if I want to) so yeah haven't quite figured that one out yet.

Newbostonmomma · September 2014

I went into early labor while at work. Honestly, try to work as along as you can! You will want to use your maternity leave AFTER the baby is here. People may try to tell you, "oh take time off to rest before the baby is here." Honestly, you will be so uncomfortable you won't be able to really rest. Save your time to bond with your little one

IMO

somewheresublime86 · September 2014

Thanks for all the responses ladies! From the way everyone has been asking, I was starting to wonder if it was 'typical' to take a few days off beforehand.

Glad to know that plenty of women have worked up until their due dates or even been in labor at work!

pepperjack76 · September 2014

I was planning on working till the day I was due for my first baby, but due to Pre-e baby was evicted at 37 weeks. A complete surprise. For this one, it will be a routine c-section so i will probably work from home the week before if I get to be too miserable. If i had a three hour commute like you though... I don't think I would continue working in the city. I would be freaked out and hopefully your work let's you work from home for that week or two.

JAP09-02 · September 2014

I SAH now, but I worked up until my due date with my other two pregnancies. In fact, I didn't really know I was in labor with my first (expected abdominal tightness, but only had back pain) and went to work while in labor. I may go stir crazy this time.

purple_2012 · September 2014

I plan to work up until I go into labor. I won't get paid for all of my time off, so I want to try and make as much as I can before the baby comes.

breyuna94 · September 2014

I think I'm going to work up until I have the baby cuz I don't get a paid leave so hopefully I'm able to and this little baby will let me do it

nfresh29 · September 2014

I'm planning to work as long as I can since we don't have maternity leave; we have to use our accrued sick/annual leave hours or go on LWOP. I'm hoping as I get closer, that I'll be allowed to invoke situational telework and do that 5 days a week. My new office normally allows only 1 day a week of telework, but I have known people in my agency working full time from home due to medical reasons. I commute 1.5 hours each way by train since I live 50 miles away, and the thought of going to labor on the train is not pleasing.

emb518 · September 2014

With my first child I was put in bed rest the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy, my DS came at 41 weeks.
This time around I plan to work until a day or two before my scheduled csection. However somedays I think it would be nice to have a week or two to prepare and relax. Then I go back to it would be nicer to have that whole 12 weeks with my new LO.
It's a tough decision.

I know my work has asked when I plan to stop working. I work at a VNA and they will have to cover my patients so I'm sure it's just so they can prepare for my absence and isn't them being nosey and judgemental. Hopefully that's the reason for the questioning at work.

Sharon&Paul · September 2014

All three of my pregnancies I have worked up until the day of deliver. It is hard at the end, but when you have more time with the baby it is worth it. The last pregnancy I had prodromal labor for 4 days before my water broke. Being at work with contractions was hard. i don't know if I will do that again. I just did not know, because they told me it could be anyday or a month from then. She came a month early, so I don't think anyone believed me when I said I was in labor.

vdavis89 · September 2014

I worked up until a week before having our first, I regret not working all the way through my due date because I ended up being induced so it was a whole week without pay. This time I plan on going until I can't go any more. I'm taking my maternity leave and STD and I might have some vacation time but not working means not getting paid for me (and we can't live on short term disability)

EmmaSF · September 2014

I worked until 39 weeks last time. This time, I plan to work up to a week before my due date but as I am having twins, who knows what will happen. Heck, who knows what will happen with any of us!

Flowerstar1023 · September 2014

I actually do think this thread has relevance, especially in a country with very limited or no maternity leave as a seeming standard employment policy compared to our northern neighbors or comparable developed countries in Europe. It's helpful to hear others' experiences as a FTM.

BigAppleBiggerBelly · September 2014

I want to save every day of maternity leave for after baby, so I plan to work until the very end. Last time, I got M-F jury duty from week 34-38 or something, which was awesome because the court was much closer than my job then (20 minute commute instead of 1.5 hour). I got to sit in a comfy, air conditioned room, and everyone brought me food. Too bad there's no chance of that happening again!

ETA I have a desk job that doesn't require any heavy lifting, and my clients bring me food as thanks a lot, so I'll probably be quite content here.

shoeflypie · September 2014

Teacher and due April 18. I went late with DD but I've heard that the closer you have them, the sooner they come. Anyway, I plan on being done Easter break so I can rest and spend time with DD. I'm Phys Ed and have to run all over the school all morning so I'll be taking off ASAP!

amacksta14 · September 2014

I work from home so I'll work right up until I give birth. April's kind of a busy time of year for Accountants.

nomesy · October 2014

My last pregnancy ( when I was a teenager and it resulted in adoption ) I went on leave then have birth the following week ... This time I have an option if maternity leave and I have a heap of holidays banked up as well, as soon as I tell work I'm pregnant I'm sure they will realise why I'm banking so many hours , I'm still not sure when I actually want to go on leave , I'm going to sit down with a friend and ask her financial advice, like how much holidays I will accrue by due date and I also have to find out about maternity leave for my work and how it works !

BabyIxolib · October 2014

This is my first so nothing to compare but in an ideal work I'll work as long as I can, Even with maternity leave I don't want to use up those annual leave/PTO days. My husband is actually deploying and won't be here so I actually feel a little better about being at work if I do go into labor, I have a city job and we are one block from our public safety building and we work a lot w/the police and fire, I keep joking w/ them that they are going to have to take me to the hospital but it's kind of comforting to know they will be there, IF I needed them.

lexyandcliff · October 2014

I work in a prison which some people feel is unsafe while pregnant. I plan to work my normal job up until my due date. They may try to put me at a desk job away from the inmate population but who knows. I would rather stay doing what I'm doing until I have the baby and take a whole 3 months off.

CivilMommy · October 2014

I worked until the night before my induction (high risk...39w induction). I had no reason to stop early. no work = no pay

I waddled myself and my 11 pound baby around the office until the end.

knlouis · October 2014

i worked up until I gave birth with my Daughter but with my twins i was on bed rest in the hospital at 5 months

livrobb · October 2014

With my first I worked up til the week before...my feet were so swollen I could barely walk. This time around I plan on taking a month off before so I can spend some quality time with my daughter before baby comes. But I am also not going back to work after this baby.

lexyandcliff · October 2014

You know what's funny you just responding in this thread that annoys you keeps it going even longer with your own irrelevant information on your distastes. I love when people complain it cracks me up.

itshumpday · October 2014

If it were up to me I would so working now! First tri is tiring!! Plus being around kids all day is germy! But, that's not an option. Working as long as my body will let me. I think I can talk the kindergartners to push me around in my desk chair the last month.

Jalexandra22 · October 2014

I worked up until the week before my due date on the first one and plan to do the same on this one. My company allows work from home days, so I am sure I will work partially from home from about 36 weeks on. I prefer work until right before the due date because it keeps me busy. :-)

keifekm · October 2014

With my last pregnancy I felt great and worked until the day I had her. I plan to do the same this time as long as I feel good. I was always scared my water would break at work though! I work with a lot of men and it would have been very embarrassing for all of us.

ashleigh76 · October 2014

I plan on working up until my due date. Luckily I'll be delivering at the hospital where I work. If I happen to go into labor while on the clock, I just have to go upstairs.

Stacy915 · October 2014

I had planned to be done working 2 weeks before my first was born. He decided he was ready 2.5 weeks before his due date! So yeah, I worked right up until the day before he was born.

Yaz14 · October 2014

I realise this thread is a tad old but anywho... I'm actually finishing work in a month (bad circumstances). I'll only be 19 weeks when I'm done. Originally I had planned to work until pretty close to my due date, then I decided to finish the week before Christmas. Now I just can't stand it anymore so am working out my notice and am done. Obviously I will not be able to get another job being so obviously pregnant. If I get particularly bored I can always relieve (I'm a teacher).

scoutmaxwell · October 2014

I have been thinking about this as well, so these comments are really helpful. I wasn't working when I had DS and now I have a pretty demanding full time position. I guess I will just see how I feel. I remember being miserable at the end, but also needing things to do to stay distracted and busy. Good luck to all the working moms!