when's a good time to finish work?

indylardelli · May 2015

i was thinking a month before he's due but I don't know if that's to soon or not soon enough?

RainbowMama7 · May 2015

My dr suggests 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after

Telebell · May 2015

I don't know how active your job is, but if it's roughly a desk job you can probably work up to the end. Mine is desk job with a couple miles of walking outside per day and I was glad to have the distraction and exercise. I went home on Friday and water broke Sunday. If I had a month at home enormously pregnant waiting for a baby I think I'd get antsy.

allessandra511 · May 2015

I work in the restaurant world and unfortunately my only option is working til the end. Have to save as much as I can. I'm a single mom though, so that impacts my decision.
Edit... Wow spelling

AmyB421 · May 2015

I'm a home health physical therapist so it's very active and I worked up until I delivered. It got harder towards the end but it was definitely worth having all the time off with my son instead of waiting for him to arrive.

JamieDubs · May 2015

I'm a FTM and a dental assistant. I'm concerned about how uncomfortable or impossible it may be in the end to sit and lean forward over the patients or even bend over while setting up equipment. Anyone have similar experience?

aah1013 · May 2015

I work as a nurse and worked past my due date the first time. I plan on scheduling my repeat c-section on a Monday this time and the Friday before will be my last day. I do need help lifting patients at the end, but that's really the only thing I can't do.

I guess if you have a bunch of leave or can financially afford to be off, a little time before would be nice. I was completely fine continuing to work, though.

dchiapella · May 2015

indylardelli said:
I wish I had a desk job now! I work in child care so it's really active, I know when I get bigger it will be hard getting up and down off the floor and lifting children so I was thinking about leaving the middle of September (I'm due the 25th of October)

I work a desk in the AM and teach dance for all ages all evening, I totally understand how demanding the little ones are. If you're financially able to, go for it and take a few weeks off. But it is definitely manageable to continue through. My boss had her little one last year and she was teaching until the day she went into labor and I know I'll be the same way. It really just depends on financial circumstance.

indylardelli · May 2015

I wish I had a desk job now! I work in child care so it's really active, I know when I get bigger it will be hard getting up and down off the floor and lifting children so I was thinking about leaving the middle of September (I'm due the 25th of October)

TheFoxyMrsC · May 2015

I work a desk job but I do get up and travel around the building quite a bit. I plan on working up until the week before my due date. Time will tell, but that's the plan

crbpjb · May 2015

Due on Saturday, last day will be Friday. I would work up to my due date if I could. I'm a teacher, so it will be hard being on my feet a lot, but I can't justify taking 4 weeks while pregnant versus 4 weeks spent with the baby. My fear is actually going late and wasting my leave while I am still pregnant.

dchiapella · May 2015

@crbpjb ... That's what I'm afraid of, too!

kacichch · May 2015

I'm in the UK and I get maternity leave from work, I'm using 2 weeks holiday and 4 weeks Early maternity leave. So will be finishing 13th sep and I'm due 27th oct. Then I will be taking 12 months off after the baby is born.

kellymarie329 · May 2015

I work at a desk job and I am planning to work up until my due date. I work two days a week at home now so once I get closer to my due date I am going to see if I can work at home full time. I would rather save my time off for when the baby comes!

mrscookiequeen · May 2015

I work at a desk job.. but I use the train to get in and out of the city.. 1 hour each way.. so.. I'm working til sept.1.. then try to telework til baby comes. I wouldnt want to b3 stuck in the city or train if my water breaks. My sister works near me.. and she went to work like normal.. got home and as soon as she walked in the door her water broke.. that was just lucky it didn't happen during the day.

swelniak · May 2015

Same as PP. I work a desk job and worked until the day before I checked in to be induced at 41w 3 d with DS. I plan to do the same this time. I was already counting the hours in the day until my baby was born being so overdue and being home twiddling my thumbs seemed unbearable for the waiting. I also was glad I saved it because you savor every one of those last days before you go back at the end of your leave. I also had a very easy pregnancy and did a weight workout the morning I checked in, so everyone is different! If I had complications, I may have wanted to be off sooner, esp. if I had a physically demanding job.

Kayleeandryan · May 2015

I started having contractions at 30 weeks with my first. Really hoping that doesn't happen again but planning to have my replacement trained and ready to go by then just incase. I'm ready to take off now. Mentally taking care of someone else's child is draining.
I care for a young lady who has severe mental retardation and epilepsy. I have to lift her and bend over and squat and be on my feet a lot throughout the day.

ohjaime · May 2015

Really depends on what your job is. I'm due 10/1 and have already told my employer if I haven't given birth by 10/2 (friday) I'm out.

jts2015 · May 2015

I have a desk job and the hospital is about a minute away. So I'm not sure how far I want to work until.

megewy · May 2015

I was a teacher and coach when I had my DD and I worked up until summer break (end of May) and had her June 4th. Luckily had all summer off with her but if she had a different due date I would of taken 8 weeks off afterwards

jenboston22 · May 2015

I think it really depends on your job and your financial situation. I work from home as a freelancer, so I'll probably continue working up until a week or so before the due date (although I will likely cut back on accepting new projects for a couple of weeks before that and just focus on my ongoing clients). After baby is born I will likely take a few months off and then start back into work gradually, likely with reduced hours. (I'm a FTM, so I'm not sure what to expect with regard to work after baby! My husband will be making enough to support us, so it'll really depend on how I feel about balancing baby and client work. I think I will continue on in some regard, I'm just not sure how much...)

kirsty100 · May 2015

I wish I had these options I work in aged care and my work is pushing for me to work in the heaviest area with heaviest people I hurt my back few weeks ago and now my groin. I feel like I'm falling apart I've taken certificate after certificate in and doesn't seem to be helping me because I'm still put in the same area honestly I don't think I'm gonna last much longer there I'm 17 weeks today and can barely walk and I have feeling it's because I pushed myself and my body just saying no more.

I want to work up until October because I'll go insane other wise. I can't sit home I'll go insane.

jegoffin · May 2015

JamieDubs said:
I'm a FTM and a dental assistant. I'm concerned about how uncomfortable or impossible it may be in the end to sit and lean forward over the patients or even bend over while setting up equipment. Anyone have similar experience?

I'm a hygienist and this is baby 3 for us. I have always worked until the day before baby was born. Both were c sections. You adjust and figure it out. I'm plan in a vba2c and will work until the last minute again.

babykitcat · May 2015

I have the option...I work in a pretty stressful environment and have enough sick days accumulated to be off work for September too, I'm due Oct 11th. I've been a hard worker my whole life...have had 2 jobs before just to save money and meet new people. But why do I feel guilty for taking a month off if I am entitled to it AND people who I have worked with have done the same thing...of course Id need a doctors note but he has already said my job is high stress and a career switch in the future may be something I want to do. What do you ladies think....should I take September off? Id still have about 20 sick days in my bank for after maternity leave. I also get 52 weeks maternity leave (Im canadian). So Id go back to work October 10th next year.

jenn2132 · May 2015

I'm planning for two weeks before my due date. I like having the two weeks to get all my last minute things in order before baby arrives.

Sbrouwer0706 · May 2015

For me it's going to depend on how I am doing. I'm not sure where you live but typically in California a doc won't sign off to release you from work more than 4 weeks before the baby's due date if there are no complications. On state disability Cali residents only get 55% pay also so I am hoping to work as close to my due date as possible to save up some cash.

valerierose15 · May 2015

For my first, I worked right up until the day before she was born. She was due on a Sunday and was born on a Saturday. I stopped working that Friday. I have a desk job, so it just depends on what kind of job you have.

Dani52314 · May 2015

I'm a middle school teacher and will be working up until my due date.

MissRN09 · May 2015

I plan on going off 3 weeks early. I am a home care nurse and we have to do a lot of things in awkward positions and unfortunately not always able to use proper body mechanics because doing dressing changes crouched over a couch or chair .. many things I will find challenging at the end. My DD is October 24. I have 2 weeks vacation end of September and then plan to use my sick time for the 3 weeks in October. So technically go off 5wks before.