Opinions on when to start maternity leave?

arynras · October 2014

This whole time I thought my due date was Dec 3rd so my plan was to begin maternity leave Dec 1st. I'm a teacher so really that would put my last work day as Nov 21st because we get thanksgiving break off. But now they are saying my due date is Dec 7th according to my last menstrual. Im debating if I should go back and try to work that week after thanksgiving and make my last working day dec 5th now. I'm just thinking if she doesn't come early I would have wasted a week. But then at the same time idk if I will be too miserable to work that last 39th week? What would yall do?

Unknown · November 2014

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arynras · November 2014

Ainslie325 said:
I think it's odd that they're adjusting your due date now based on last menstrual period. I would've thought that they would make adjustments based on size this late in the game? I'm a teacher, too. My due date is also December 3. I'm working (planning to) through the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week.

I think you should work as long as you feel comfortable doing so-- or, if you're uncomfortable, only as long as you have to based on budget. (-:

I think it's because I transferred care. The first doctor was telling me Dec 3rd based on the first 8 week sonogram. But the new doctor is going by my last menstrual which is Dec 7th. I am measuring ahead though. According to the last sonogram it would put my due date at Nov 25th! But he said he isn't changing the date, it just means she is big. But I have heard that first babies don't usually make their appearance early, and she is my first so idk!

Okay thanks ladies

colliebabe · November 2014

I worked past my due date with DD - right up to 41 weeks, she was born two days later. I plan to do the same this time. I think it depends on the person but physically I was fine to keep working. I found the worst part was all of the "omg you still haven't had that baby?!" comments.

ETA: teacher here too so I was still on my feet a lot

BankerBSN · November 2014

I am working till this kid comes blasting out of me. I want to spend all my maternity leave snuggling my kiddo and not just sitting around waiting for him/her to show up.

LSauer21 · November 2014

I'm a teacher too n due on dec 7th I'm working till nov 26th the day before thanksgiving there's no way I'm going back after the holiday. Then I'm staying home for 5 months, till may 4th.

ColoradoBoat · November 2014

If u feel good, keep working. I'd rather spend every day I can with baby. I'm due 12/3 and probably going to make my last day a week after my due date unless of course baby comes sooner. I think only u can decide and money plays a part.

drpayne · November 2014

In the past I worked until my due date. This time I'm due 12/31. The way our holidays off fall, I decided I'm not going back after Christmas. My first 2 kids were late. As much as it sucks wasting my days off, I'm truly done, mentally and physically at that point. I'm on my feet a lot. And by that time I really want to punch people making comments about my belly all. day. long. I'm a doctor so I can't avoid people or sit at a desk etc. This time around I'll look at it as extra time to spend with my 3 yo and almost 2 yo before baby arrives.

Kmm1023 · November 2014

With DD I started maternity leave when my water broke. She was my first and ten days early. I am Also side eyeing ur doctor changing the date so late in the game! That is really odd to me!

leoandethansmom · November 2014

With my first I took 3 weeks off before I had him because I got mad at my boss and wanted to screw him over. I loved the 3 weeks I got to spend with DH and just relaxing and getting the house ready, though I did regret not having those 3 weeks at the end of my leave. This time I am working until November with which is 6 days before my due date, mainly because I want thanksgiving off for the first time in 3 years.

ebilbao · November 2014

I'm also a teacher, and am working up to the week before my due date. There is no way in hell I would work up to the day I have the baby on purpose, as I am already tired, have swollen ankles and am waddling up and down the halls. I'd love to use the week before my EDD to do some things around the house and rest. If it ends up being more than a week, I don't even care. Getting up that early, 100 months pregnant, in the freezing cold darkness to be on my fat feet all day sounds like TORTURE.

RaeChay · November 2014

I plan to go on leave at least starting one week prior to my due date, if not two. H has been saying "but the money" but I've decided he can eat the money, I'm going on leave. List of things I hate already:

1) being on painful feet all day, sometimes literally running from room to room

2) belly comments, as well as Twenty Questions game from every single patient

3) getting assigned certain types of isolation rooms (like the tuberculosis one tonight) and chemo patients and then having to switch patients during shift change

4) not having time to pee or drink water at work

I could go on. Aren't you salaried as a teacher? If so, money shouldn't be an issue....though I really have no idea how that works I guess. But if money isn't a problem, and you don't mind being a week or 2 short on time with your LO at the end of your leave, it seems like an easy decision from where I stand.

JCM285 · November 2014

I am also a teacher, due on Dec. 9, and my first day off is Dec.1. I don't know how you are feeling, but I can already tell that this last month is going to be hell. I am so exhausted and sore and being a teacher, you know how much time you are going to be spending on your feet. I am actually regretting not having taken off a bit earlier at this point, but I know I will make it through to December. I think it really depends on how you are feeling since everyone is different.

JRod13 · November 2014

I'm due the 27th and will work through the 19th provided he decides to hang out in there that long. I work from home though, so it's a little different. I'm only taking a few weeks because 2.0 will be with me when I go back anyway.

Cadg0986 · November 2014

So my due date has been 12/5 for this entire pregnancy. But my growth ultrasound (my doctor does one for all of his patients at 34 weeks) says she has a due date of 11/27. I personally feel like she just had a growth spurt or something, but either way the doctor is taking me out of work on 11/21 (pending anything happening earlier). I am a FTM and figured I would be working until the very last day possible, but I guess the doctor feels otherwise.

arynras · November 2014

Kmm1023 said:
With DD I started maternity leave when my water broke. She was my first and ten days early. I am Also side eyeing ur doctor changing the date so late in the game! That is really odd to me!

I don't think it's that he is changing it. I think I was misinformed with my previous doctor. She didn't know what the crap she was doing. I trust this doctor much more.

arynras · November 2014

RaeChay said:
I plan to go on leave at least starting one week prior to my due date, if not two. H has been saying "but the money" but I've decided he can eat the money, I'm going on leave. List of things I hate already:

1) being on painful feet all day, sometimes literally running from room to room
2) belly comments, as well as Twenty Questions game from every single patient
3) getting assigned certain types of isolation rooms (like the tuberculosis one tonight) and chemo patients and then having to switch patients during shift change
4) not having time to pee or drink water at work

I could go on. Aren't you salaried as a teacher? If so, money shouldn't be an issue....though I really have no idea how that works I guess. But if money isn't a problem, and you don't mind being a week or 2 short on time with your LO at the end of your leave, it seems like an easy decision from where I stand.

I'm salary but I don't get paid by the district when I take leave. I just get paid by STD for 6 weeks which is only 60% of my normal pay.

arynras · November 2014

Cadg0986 said:
So my due date has been 12/5 for this entire pregnancy. But my growth ultrasound (my doctor does one for all of his patients at 34 weeks) says she has a due date of 11/27. I personally feel like she just had a growth spurt or something, but either way the doctor is taking me out of work on 11/21 (pending anything happening earlier). I am a FTM and figured I would be working until the very last day possible, but I guess the doctor feels otherwise.

That's kind of how mine is too. Even though my due date is Dec 7th she was measuring ahead at 32 weeks which would have put me at Nov 25th. But he said he isn't going to change the date, just to know she is big and may come early. But then I have rarely heard of FTMs having their babies early. It seems like they hang in there as long as possible lol.

allitor12 · November 2014

What I am doing: working until I have LO.

What I wish I was doing: going on maternity leave as of yesterday.

ebilbao · November 2014

allitor12 said:
What I am doing: working until I have LO.

What I wish I was doing: going on maternity leave as of yesterday.

-------------
PREACH. This last month is going to be brutal.

path75 · November 2014

I am going to go as long as my ob allows me to work. Since I have a desk job I am hoping until contractions start. We shall see.

byrne15 · November 2014

I worked right up until I delivered both kids.

This time I am working up til the Friday before I deliever (C-section scheduled for a Mon). So technically, If I don't go into labor on the weekend, I'll have 2 days off before baby.

kim1730 · November 2014

I'm all for resting and taking it as easy as possible at the end of pregnancy. So assuming no complications like I had in the past, I'm leaving work as early as my doctor and disability plan allow (36 weeks). But with my work situation, this will not affect the length of my leave post baby, and also I have a very good disability plan so it shouldn't make much of a difference financially. So I guess it really depends on your situation.

amieeyoung · November 2014

I have been debating as well - I have 8 weeks sick leave (really almost 10, but I need to save some for doc appts. etc). to use after, I have 7-9 annual leave to use up before the end of the year. I can mix and match for my leave and if I don't use all my AL it converts to sick. I am going to use AL 15-19. I am due the 18th so figure if I go late I've not wasted much and if I go a lil early I have some AL to work with. It is a hard decision to make that has to be a personal one depending on how much time with baby you want after, how much it affects your families income, etc.

cormacmammy · November 2014

In ireland you have to finish work at least 2 weeks before your due date... I'm due 28th December so this means I have to finish up on the 14th dec at the latest. This is my 2nd baby... Don't think I would have been able to keep working on my last pregnancy at 39 or 40 weeks!

Beevol · November 2014

I worked until I went into labor (41weeks) with my first and plan to do the same this time. I have a desk job and live in the States so it makes more sense financially and because I'd rather have as much time with my baby to establish breastfeeding, bond, etc before I put her in DC too.

desertsun · November 2014

I think it just depends on how hard on you your job is. If you're physically miserable, then consider at least cutting back hours if that's an option for you.

If you have a desk job, then I would probably try to save as much leave for after baby's arrival as possible.

feeshah · November 2014

allitor12 said:
What I am doing: working until I have LO.

What I wish I was doing: going on maternity leave as of yesterday.

THIS. So very much all of this.

dianeg1017 · November 2014

I would work till you can't don't waste a minute of leave without baby. I worked with DD until the day before she came (I was in labor for 2 days). I plan on working till this one pops too.

ayonamj · November 2014

I'm a teacher as well. My due date is December 11th and I'm working as long as I can

emp156 · November 2014

i'm a teacher also and will work as long as i can. i'm due during christmas break and my last day of work before vacation is dec 23. barring any issues that may arise, i plan on being there that entire time. that said, if baby stays put into january, i won't be returning to work those first few days.

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