Stress at 37 weeks- am I being silly?

runawaylaurel · February 2015

I have a usually not-so stressful job. Last week and the next 2 weeks, however, will be ridiculous. I will be working an extra hour or 2 each day (and weekends!) and be go-go-go all the time with some pretty high visibility/intensity decisions.

I've been getting increased Braxton Hicks, which is normal, but they've started getting painful (not with any frequency) which was never an issue before. My sleep is already disturbed and my normal pregnancy heartburn is bumped up to an 11. My stress has always manifested itself physically, but I haven't ever been pregnant and in this situation before. My question is- should I take off and just leave my job behind early (I planned on working up until d-day)? Tough it out? I know tons of other pregnant women have high-stress jobs all the time and keep working just fine...

I'll be discussing with my midwives today as well to see their thoughts. Just wondering if I'm overreacting/wussing out.

edited for words.

gsancho · February 2015

I don't have first hard experience but I'd wait to see what your midwives say. Of course, I say that when I am dying to get done with work 2 months before baby comes, so I obviously am not patient. It could all be a coincidence that your BH are worse as you are further along. Or sometimes when work is crazy, I forget to eat and drink as often. So be sure you're still taking care of yourself. Maybe instead of starging ML early, just schedule some random days off during the week to give yourself a break?

mrs.willie · February 2015

You're not overreacting. The last month totally sucks and all your symptoms will only get worse. How long are you planning for your leave? I'd try to stick it out as it's that much more time you have with LO after their arrival. With DS, I planned on working until the end. I left my office on a Thursday and said see us Monday (closed for Good Friday) and didn't make it back. This time, my RCS is scheduled for a Wednesday so I'm planning to work until the Friday before to have a couple days with DS.

As @gsancho said, remember to take care of yourself. Maybe try to schedule a prenatal massage or something for a little pampering.

runawaylaurel · February 2015

Thanks ladies. I am staying home permanently after the birth so at this point it's really about maximizing my money-making time... but I'm tense and exhausted and feeling crappy. I thought about taking some days off here and there, but my "days off" will be filled with phone calls and checking email on my phone. Not fun or relaxing!

I like the massage idea. And I'll definitely bring up BH frequency and pain with my midwives this afternoon.

weansworld09 · February 2015

If I wasn't going back, I would just start leave now. My job is pretty stressful and we are short staffed, stay late almost daily and often I work through my lunch break.

I'm used to it, but I just said last week if I could start my leave now, I would. Unfortunately, I wouldn't do it unless told to by my OB bc I have to go back full time after my leave.

It's just a lot this late in the pregnancy. I can totally relate with how you are feeling.

lawmom747 · February 2015

If you are planning to be home permanently after I would try to wrap things up - maybe give them a week and then say goodbye.

With DD I worked up until the Thursday before she was born on Easter Sunday. She came a week early. I have a high stress job and it was really hard at the end. So if you have the option I say try to gracefully bow out a little early.

( Yea for Easter babies @mrs.willie )

TLooney17 · February 2015

If I was staying home permanently after baby, I would probably leave early! I worked until the last minute with DS, so I could maximize all of the time I got for maternity leave.

mrs.willie · February 2015

I guess if I weren't going back, I'd just give my notice sooner rather than later.

@hoppin747‌ That is too funny... we both worked up until the same day and your LO was born the day before mine, same year. My water broke on Easter, but it wasn't much and I didn't know. Lol. I have a few friends who had b-day's 4/8 and were hoping I would have DS then.

pblge · February 2015

Sorry you're dealing with this! I'm sure you're not going to hurt anything by staying at work longer at this point (well, it seems unlikely anyway), so you just have to balance the stress versus the money to you and your family. :-/ Good luck!!

Steph1673 · February 2015

If you aren't going back, I'd leave now. The few weeks pay is not worth the stress, unless that money is dire to your situation.

From experience, I have a high stress job, which got more stressful in my last two month of pregnancy. I had perfect BP until 36 weeks and ended up being induced at 37 weeks bc of it. I'm 99% certain it was stress induced hypertension. The day I was surprised with an inducement, I even took the day off to "relax" to try to de-stress.

Stress is real, don't mess with it for 2-3 more weeks of pay when you obviously have worked out a way to live without your income moving forward.

Best of luck to you!

runawaylaurel · February 2015

Thank you for all the advice! I really appreciate everyone's perspectives. I talked with my midwives yesterday and they recommended taking one day off per week and make it very clear that I want that one day off to be 100% OFF with no phone calls and no check-ins. They also said they're 100% willing to give me a note to start my leave early.

@steph1673 my BP is normally 100/60ish, has been my whole pregnancy. Yesterday it was 125/70. They weren't worried about hypertension (yet) but you're right, this is not something to mess around with.

mrs.willie · February 2015

@runawaylaurel‌ that sounds like a good plan. If they want you for the next couple weeks, they should be willing to do that. Good luck!

Steph1673 · February 2015

runawaylaurel said:

Thank you for all the advice! I really appreciate everyone's perspectives. I talked with my midwives yesterday and they recommended taking one day off per week and make it very clear that I want that one day off to be 100% OFF with no phone calls and no check-ins. They also said they're 100% willing to give me a note to start my leave early.

@steph1673 my BP is normally 100/60ish, has been my whole pregnancy. Yesterday it was 125/70. They weren't worried about hypertension (yet) but you're right, this is not something to mess around with.

This is exactly what I did! I decided to take Wednesday off until I gave birth starting at 37 weeks, and that very first Wednesday I got induce for BP. Mine was low 100-115 and shot up to 140 at 36 and 37 weeks.

Good luck!

Stress at 37 weeks- am I being silly?

Re: Stress at 37 weeks- am I being silly?

Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motility
IUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFN
IVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!
Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!

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Stress at 37 weeks- am I being silly?

Re: Stress at 37 weeks- am I being silly?

Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motilityIUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFNIVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!

Choose Another Board

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Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motility
IUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFN
IVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!
Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!