When Did You Stop Working

[Anonymous]

and what contributed to your decision . . . I'm totally exhausted all the time and in the evening my legs, feet, and hands are swelled. I barely able to help my DC with homework or make dinner. Also, I have started having Braxton Hicks Contraction periodically throughout the day. Finally, I'm a school administrator so much of may day is spent up and down stairs in and out of classrooms. Really not a position that allows for relaxing throughout the day. I know it is ultimately my decision but just looking for input from other Expectant Moms. TIA

[Anonymous]

I worked up until delivery with my first (he was 11 days late, so I ended up working a lot longer than I thought I would). But I was relatively comfortable up until the end and didn't have the symptoms you describe, plus my job was not as physically demanding. My reasoning for working as long as possible was: 1) I wanted to save all of my leave to spend with the baby, and 2) I was worried that I would be driven crazy by impatience if I didn't have something to occupy me in the days leading up to (and after) my due date. Another consideration might be transitioning at work--if your employer needs a fixed date to have a sub start, that might weigh in favor of stopping work earlier so as to ensure a smooth transition. Sorry you are so uncomfortable and good luck!

[Anonymous]

I stopped working 10 hours before DC was born...when my doctor sent me to the hospital. What contributed to my decision was:
- wanting to save leave;
- not wanting to be stuck at home waiting around for the baby in case it was late;
- need to tie stuff up at work;
- flexibility to come in/stay late when I wasn't feeling well or hadn't slept
- I have one of those personalities where I just can't relax!

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

the day i went into labor.

work helped distract me from the aches and pains of pregnancy and i had a lot of work to do and things to accomplish. i'm 34 and feel like i'm a a point in my career where i have to appear upwardly mobile (whether i am or not), so i wanted it known that i was working hard right up til the end and that i would be accomplishing set goals on maternity leave (actually sat down with my boss with a typed time-line of the next year's goals&objectives with items on the schedule for during mat leave).

[Anonymous]

I worked up until the day I went into labor. I had frequent braxton hicks contractions, sometimes as many as 30 a day, so that wasn't a factor for me. I gained a lot of weight so I was kind of uncomfortable near the end, but I didn't have enough leave time to waste any of it before the baby was born.

Who's filling in for you when you go on leave? Is there any way someone could act as your deputy for the last bit of your pregnancy, and do the stuff around school while you stay at your desk more?

[Anonymous]

Planned on working until I went into labor but then ended up having an induction date set for a Tuesday. I felt sure I'd go into labor before then so I madfe my last day the Friday before. Figured it was okay to have that one Monday off if I went until my induction (and I did) but would not otherwise have wanted to use up any leave pre-baby. May have been different if I had more than three months ...

[Anonymous]

10 days after due date (and 3 days before giving birth). I would have gone up to labor except there was drama around when and whether to schedule a post-due induction, and I just couldn't concentrate on work during all that. That said, I worked from home my last day or two, which doesn't sound like an option for you. I wanted to maximize my paid leave post-birth.

[Anonymous]

I worked through the morning of the day my #1 was born. Was very uncomfortable and had a feeling of not really being able to do it anymore for the last week or two, but did it anyway, if you know what I mean. I, too, wanted to save my paid leave time for my baby.

Now I have learned that if you have verifiable doctor-documented problems, you might be able to go on disability before you give birth, and save maternity leave for after the birth.

Maybe a possibility for you?

[Shopmom]

I started out with a half day schedule before fully staying home about three weeks before due date

[Anonymous]

My last day was my due date and I was induced a week later. I had a boss who was in denial, so I needed a date certain so that he'd finally help me get things transitioned. I wanted some time to rest and relax before the crazy no-sleep days. I also was pretty sure I wouldn't be going back, so I wasn't concerned about my leave time. It was a great decision for me. I watched baby birthing shows on tlc as "homework", got things ready at home, and just took it easy. I highly recommend a little time off before delivery if you can swing it, especially if you're uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

At 26 weeks, I'm planning to stop in 6 weeks. I have a lot of things I want to accomplish before baby gets here and I'm just too tired on the weekends to get it all done. But, I'm not planning on working after the baby is born so I don't have leave to consider.

[Anonymous]

With #1, the day before my due date. With #2, the day after. Both babies were late, but due to holidays and weekends, I didn't use up any leave before they came. Both times, my decision to keep working was entirely based on not wanting to burn the leave, but I was also very tired at the end.

[Anonymous]

I worked up until two days before my due date. DC was a week late, so I had about a week of time to myself, which was wonderful. I'm a teacher, so I totally hear you on the up and down stairs and whatnot. I actually found the job to be the right combination of moving and sitting for me toward the end.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

How does maternity leave work if you want to take it before the baby is born? I thought that the ST Disability starts paying only upon the birth. Are employers generally flexible about starting leave early? I'm so swollen and exhausted that I'd really like to start my leave early, and I'm about 50% sure I won't return to work after the baby comes so I'm not too worried my leave being shorter on the flip side. I don't know how to approach this with my employer, though. How appropriate is it to start leave early?

[Anonymous]

I think if you are looking to start leave early w/ your employer's blessing and possibly pay, then you need a doctor to say that you shouldn't be working anymore. That would likely put you on ST disability.

to OP's question, w/ #1, I worked through my due date and that was to be my last day. It was good since I went into labor the next morning anyway. I sit a fair amt though and had a relatively comfortable pregnancy (probably because I was not on my feet as much as OP was). The accomodation I made late on was to stop riding metro and start driving the last 2 weeks. I got paranoid all of a sudden that I would go into labor on a stuck train!

I hope to work to the due date w/ #2 as well. I will be coming back to work but feel I have adequate leave (4 months) and so would not stress about a couple days at home pre-baby "costing" me time on the other side. I'm also due at the very end of a month, so I think my employers will likely expect me back 4 months from then regardless as opposed to a set number of weeks (we need to spell it all out still, but that's my sense based on talks so far).