Working up until/past due date

[Anonymous]

Do you plan on working (or did you work) up until you have the baby, or do you plan on stopping at a certain point before then (e.g., once you've past your due date)? Just trying to figure out what I'm going to do...thanks.

[Anonymous]

I planned on working right up until I had the baby. By 38 weeks (and with the July heat) I was miserable but still swamped with work. I sort of gave myself permission at that point to start my maternity leave on my due date--I think I needed the mental "stop" date. But, thankfully, I had my baby at 38 weeks 5 days so I was one of those employees that was there one day and then not there the next, but I had planned so things were wrapped up at the end of each day.

In the end, I think I would've kept working past my due date even though I gave myself the out; I wanted the time with the baby on the back end. That is my general recommendation to others, but only you know your situation and whether you are truly too miserable to keep going to work.

[Anonymous]

I worked up until my baby's due date. He actually arrived 4 days past that, but that was the date I'd given my employer and decided to stick with it. For me, one of the best pieces of advice I got from friends with children is to take a few days before the baby comes to do things like get a haircut that you won't have time to do for a while after delivery.

I would also think it depends on your job, eg. stress- or activity-level required, how long the hours are, etc.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it totally depends on your job and how your pregnancy is going. During my first pregnancy, I had planned to take 2 weeks off before my due date just to nest and relax, b/c I was working at a very stressful job. Turns out my baby came 6 weeks early, so that didn't quite work out as planned. This time, I am planning to work up until the baby arrives, whether that's before or after my due date. But, my current job is totally not-stressful, I only work 3x week, and my pregnancy is going very smoothly.

[Anonymous]

I worked right until my due date. My employer only allows a certain number of weeks for maternity leave, and I wanted to use every day off to spend time with the baby.

[Anonymous]

I worked right up to the morning I didn't feel "right". I still went to work, but that evening I knew our dream would be coming true soon.

Every woman is different and some handle the third trimester better than others. People have different jobs. My job required a lot of field work and being on my feet a lot so it was tempting to take time off, but I stuck it out to the end and was glad I did. I combined FMLA, maternity, STD, vacation to maximize time with DD...but then I ended up resigning anyways

[Anonymous]

A little different for me, I went in for a check up (not with my regular dr) three weeks before due date, and because i was 4 cm dilated he told me, literally, you are having this baby within the week. i promptly panicked, because nothing was done, and my job is a little physical, so i stopped working the next day. of course, my baby didn't come for another 17 days!! i was going nuts, walking miles every day to try to initiate labor. i recommend trying to work a little longer if you can, as long as you feel up to it, because i think the mental benefit is worth it.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

I worked past my due date. I had a pretty good pregnancy overall and felt good in the homestretch, so going to work till the end was fine with me and most everything was set-up (at least the basics . I ended up working a full day and then headed home to tell my husband I thought this was it. Stuck it out for a few more hours before heading to the hospital later that evening around 9 p.m. I gave birth the next morning. I think coming up with sort of a plan is a good idea, but then going with the flow as things happen. I knew I would go to work till the very end, of course I didn't think that I'd be two days late . As far as what to tell your employer, everyone is different, but I recall I gave them a date of my due date and they just said that whenever you give birth to call them within a day or two and short-term disability/FMLA would kick in the first day you left work.

[Anonymous]

I worked until 9pm at night the night before my baby was born. I was hoping the burst of energy and nesting would result in a cleaner house. Instead, I got a cleaner inbox and some awesome PowerPoint!

I had a fairly easy pregnancy, but had crazy hot flashes the last 6 weeks and some sciatica in the last month. I allowed myself the option of going in a little later in the morning if I was dragging and I think that was what made me able to keep working as long as I did.

I am glad I worked up until the end - it kept my mind occupied!

[Anonymous]

I planned to work right up until baby's arrival even if I went past due date (which is what I anticipated). Turns out I was 2-3 cm dilated at 37 week appt and told "any time". Well, 38 weeks I was 4.5 cm dilated, fully effaced and still walking around at work and not feeling any contractions. Due to being strep B positive and so far dilated we decided to induce if I reached 39 weeks. (for fear of going so quick and not receiving antibiotics). I took one day to myself then baby arrived. Better to have the time after baby arrives vs. before in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I worked up until the day I went into labor. My daughter was born a bit early - 38.5 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I worked one week past my due date. Why not? I have a cushy office-job, and they had no problem with me working shorter days. If I'd stayed home, I would have been bored and isolated. But by the end of week 41, I decided that was it, and told everyone that baby or no baby, not to expect me on Monday. The baby was born Sunday night.

[Anonymous]

I knew the day I was being induced, and only ended up taking off 4 business days, just to do some last minute things and relax. This time around, assuming all is well, I plan to take off the week prior to due date. I just don't think I'd want to be at my office if/when anything happened!

[Anonymous]

I planned to work until the baby came -- I just didn't expect him to be 8 days late! It was actually easier for me to be at the office doing things; when I did things at home I would exhaust myself going up and down the stairs twice just to do a load of laundry. And I was impatient enough for him to come, I figured sitting home on my couch folding baby clothes would just make me MORE frustrated that he was late. As it was, I'd really cleared my desk of big projects, so I would pitch in to do whatever needed done each day -- and I do remember scheduling a few longish lunches and taking whatever doctor's appointents I could get instead of maximizing my time at work. My office is even closer to the hospital than our house is and my husband only works a few blocks away from me, so logistics would have worked out fine if thing had gotten moving during the day. All in all, the only depressing thing I remember about working up until he actually came were the cries of my coworkers every morning when I arrived yet again -- "Oh no, you're STILL here?? You're STILL pregnant?" -- after I'd gone through that same conversation in my head at home.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully I will be able to work till my water breaks. My boss isn't thrilled about my maternity leave to begin with and if I keep my job I'll probably only take 2 weeks off.