Working full-time

fishakris · September 2017

Hello ladies

I'm not super active on the blog, but wanted your opinions/experiences on continuing to work full-time and being later in pregnancy. I'm currently 32 weeks and am starting to struggle. Feeling a bit frustrated and lost.

elmich3 · September 2017

I'm right there with you. I'm 34 weeks and I work at my family's greenhouse and most of my work is manual labor. I've been struggling since 30 weeks. I want to cry most days because I'm so tired and sore. I finally decided to tell them today I'm calling it quits at 36 weeks! Maybe sooner... Lol

Everyone is different so don't let it get to you when someone says they worked until birth. Plenty of women stop early on. But if leaving work isn't an option for you, talk to your employer about how you're feeling so you can be on the same page. It will put less pressure on you to put on a brave face. Take longer breaks and maybe less hours if you can manage. You're so close! Hang in there!

samsterrr · September 2017

I'm currently in school full time (38 hour week) and it starting to get to me at 32 weeks. I stand a lot during the day and the lack of sleep is making this hard to handle. I set my leave for Nov 3rd, one week before my due date, and I'm debating moving it up.
Is starting leave earlier an option for you? If so I would do it. Everyone is different and you don't want to be totally burnt out and exhausted when baby does come! Take the break if you need it!

kdl89 · September 2017

This week it has been harder to get through the day cause I am not sleeping well at night. I am 32w3d and due Nov 13 and said my last day at work would be the Nov 10 (starting to think this was a bad idea) but I do have some vacation time left so I might see about taking half days off or something when I get further along. I want to keep busy til this little one arrives cause I don't want to be hanging out around the house waiting, I am hoping time will go faster if I am and still able to be working.

DungeonTrollMel · September 2017

I work in a very physical and syressful
environment. I'm 30 weeks and starting to question my plan to work up to 39 weeks. Even my OB is telling me I need to work on cutting back my hours at this point. She herself admits that she should have cut way down with her first before she did and says only by the grace of god did she not end up with any complications from working so much.

If there are any modifications you can make to your schedule or decrease hours I would look into it

fishakris · September 2017

Thank you all for your insights. I've started teleworking one day a week, but not sure it's enough. Between not sleeping and being plain uncomfortable. It helps so much knowing others are in my boat.

MaximumEffort · September 2017

32 weeks and working full time with 12-13 hour shifts. Body wise I'm doing much better than I was last trimester but I always hit that wall of exhaustion at around 2:30. I'm currently scheduled for the next 4 weeks which brings me to 37 weeks, I didn't want to leave my charge nurses hanging if I couldn't do it any more.

ariasbabyblog · September 2017

With my first I planned to work until one week before my due date and I intended to use that week to finish getting everything ready. Turns out I finished work on Friday and went into labor on Saturday. If I could go back I would give myself more time before to take into account the unpredictability of pregnancy and labor. If you are already struggling, I'd start taking time off sooner, assuming you have that option available to you. This is your only chance for anything resembling "down time" before baby arrives, take it with both hands.

littlemissc17 · September 2017

I worked up until my due date with both of my children and while my job is really stressful, it isn't physical so I was able to do so. I worked from home some too. I don't regret working up until my due dates because I would have gone crazy at home lol.
I agree with the other ladies. Be open with your employer and try to make modifications if you can. Don't be afraid to take off early if you're able to but if you're not, don't be afraid to speak up about what you need and what would make things easier for you.

dragonfly87-2 · September 2017

I am currently 31 weeks and plan to continue working up until I go into labor. I have noticed in the past two days it's getting harder to move around and energy levels are lower. But nothing I can't manage. I run a school and luckily the first quarter is coming to a close and things are settling in for the year.

mymulligan · September 2017

With DD, I had a demanding/stressful job, but it was not manual labor. I planned to work up until I delivered. I wanted as much of my leave to be with baby v. Pre-baby. Around 34/35 weeks, my OB suggested I stop working (I had protein in my urine and had gained a lot of water weight; my BP was normal but she wanted to make sure it didn't rise and cause pre-e.) and we compromised with half-time working from home. I started working from home and kept my feet up as much as I could but went into labor at 36w3d. even though it was a surprise for her to come early, I didn't feel totally unprepared. I honestly don't know what I would have done at home by myself for those weeks if I didn't work.

fishakris · September 2017

@ariasbabyblog I love your insight about this being my only down time pre -baby. It doesn't hurt to pump the brakes a bit and slow down.

fishakris · September 2017

@kdw89 Funny, I have the same due date.

irishfrisky · September 2017

I'm an ER nurse working full time 12 hour night shifts. 31 weeks. I've gotten 8 hours of sleep in 3 days. It's not pretty right now.

curiousfool1 · September 2017

I'm at a desk/office job, and plan to work right up until I go into labor. I'm also new to this job (started in January) and do not want to jeopardize my position here by starting my already limited leave any earlier than I have to.

MaximumEffort · September 2017

I think if I didn't have to do patient care or would be able to have less of an assignment I could work longer. I was actually wondering about getting scheduled for something else but unsure if they are able to do that here.

NYTino24 · September 2017

I am 32 weeks tomorrow and planned to work up to my due date. However, the carpal tube has put a real wrench in the plans. I also have 29 students and no air-conditioning. I spend about two hours in the car or more each day, but luckily my back hasn't been acting up because I've been at the chiropractor twice a week. I need to get a doctors note and to consult with my short-term disability leave to see how much I could get covered. I have about two weeks of sick leave that I saved up besides what I had planned to take for the maternity leave. I didn't want to use it all because I need to work 91 days in order to get my raise for next year. If I leave earlier, I may want to come back earlier. I hate to cut my time with him shorter once he's here, but I might have to do it. I only have 8 weeks to work between when I go back and the summer anyway. My replacement is lined up, so I just need to make a decision.

Airynn Chica · September 2017

With my first I went into labor teaching my kindergarteners and I was fine. With my second we closed school for break on Friday and she was born Monday. This one has been harder! I'm grossly tired and more pain than the first 2(I'm older too). I would have taught until I go in to labor but I'm long term subbing until I'm 36w so then I'll be home for 3 weeks until baby comes hopefully.

mamioftwo93 · September 2017

I work PT 10 & 1/2 hrs. @ the hospital doing FT hours as a phlebotomist (No I don't get FT benefits as the originally FT employee which sucks) I'm 33 weeks as of today & its most definitely been rough on my feet as well as my pelvis. I'm on my feet hours @ a time getting blood (Stats, timed, & routine specimens)from patients on all 8 floors as well as outpatients on different sides of the hospital. Not 2 mention training new hires 2 stick that back up my work load bc they have no experience smh. Sometimes I'm alone w/no help bc the staff is too lazy 2 come in as scheduled & its hard!! My Dr. Doesn't recommend leave bc I haven't dilated/effaced & they don't know if I'll be covered before my DD gets here ( they haven't even checked for some months now), so I guess I have no choice but to keep going. She's not showing any complication but my body is. When I bring it to their attention everything is "Oh well that's normal.." My body is on E & in different kinds of pain every other day...hopefully I'll make it the remainder of these 6 wks since they moved up the date. If she doesn't come early that is..

MaximumEffort · September 2017

Hi @mamioftwo93 do you have a support belt or compression stockings? This trimester has been much better than the last for me at work but I started wearing the compression stockings to help with the pitting edema that comes from working back to back shifts and the belt is more to keeps my hips in check.

kaitlinliz · September 2017

I'm planning on staying until I go into labor. I'll be 32 weeks on Tues. Like others said, I didn't start this job til March so I don't qualify for fmla. I do qualify for a personal leave where they can't take away my position..I have to apply for it before 30 days before I take it. My next appt isn't until Oct 5 and my Dr has to fill out a packet. I hope he doesn't take forever to do it so I have the 30 days in case I go early. I have my last day set for the day before my EDD. My job isn't hard perse but it is demanding. Mentally if nothing else.

mamioftwo93 · September 2017

@MaximumEffort No, I don't have any stockings or a support belt. That sounds like a good idea though. I think I'm gonna go & buy some today.

fishakris · September 2017

@mamioftwo93 I have a belly band and have really found support in it this trimester.

Want a personalized experience?

Working full-time

Re: Working full-time

Choose Another Board

Search Boards