Work until due date or work until labor?

[Anonymous]

Labor. You will really want those days on the other side. I was ten days late.

[Anonymous]

I would have been bored out of my mind just waiting for baby to come. Worked until labor for all three kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have been bored out of my mind just waiting for baby to come. Worked until labor for all three kids.

I'd relish some boredom at 40-42 weeks pregnant! Kick back, relax, read books, browse stores, clean up, sit outside, watch tv, cook, etc? Those would all be leading reasons for me.

[Anonymous]

Definitely work until labor. I can’t imagine going back to work at 10 or 11 weeks because I took leave before the baby was born. I worked until I walked into my induction appts at 42 weeks. It sucked but it’s what most people do.

[Anonymous]

I worked until labor but my co-workers at the World Bank thought I was crazy. In some countries, moms start leave a month before the baby! Next time I might work until 39 weeks. I didn’t know I was in labor for sure on the last day and was pretty uncomfortable. I wanted the days on the other side, but in retrospect wish I hadn’t eorked (from home) that day.

[Anonymous]

If you have plenty of leave time and can afford the time off with no pay (at some point) I'd 100% stop at my due date.

It's nice to have an end time. I worked up until delivery. But both times I was induced so I did know it would be my last day in the office when I did finally stop. I'd already handed over most of my work to the people filling in for me, so things were pretty light anyhow.

But if I could have afforded taking off time before the baby I would have done that for sure.

[Anonymous]

I worked until a week before my due date. I'm glad I did because my daughter was born 3 days after I stopped working!

[Anonymous]

I started working from home at about 36 weeks. Went into labor overnight Sunday into Monday of my 40th week, so I ended up working until I went into labor.

[Anonymous]

I started teleworking on my due date at 40 weeks and then went into labor at 6pm right as I logged off at 42 weeks. Kinda sucked because I was exhausted and not ready for a 30 hour labor when I'd already been up all day.

It's hard to know when you'll deliver. If you stop at 36 weeks, you might go another 6 weeks after! And half your unpaid maternity leave will be gone.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids were a week late, both born on Saturday nights. I worked that extra week but the last day of work (Friday) was going to be my last day even if the babies were later.

[Anonymous]

I teleworked the last few weeks - so I was working when my water broke with my first. It was 4 days after my due date. I would have been bored and getting (more) impatient if I had stopped working early.

[Anonymous]

I worked until a week before my due date with my first and a week before my scheduled c-section with my second. With my first, the way she was positioned I could barely move and spent 3 days on the couch before going into labor. With my second, I had a NST appointment the first morning of my leave where they sent me to have an emergency c immediately (baby was fine).

It's nice to have an end date in the office so you can wrap up whatever you can - especially if you have a long leave planned.

[Anonymous]

I stopped working as of my due date. Baby came 10 days late. I had grown out of most of my maternity shirts by that time, I was tired, and I had to go to lots of doctor appointments.

I enjoyed my time off. I finished the baby's nursery, made lots of freezer meals, had dates with DH and took naps.

I also liked having a hard stop at work. It would have been hard to start anything after my due date.

[Anonymous]

work until labor. i worked until my due date in the office, then asked to telework the next week. I teleworked a full week and then on Sunday night went into labor. you're likely to be induced / go in labor the week after your due date so if no baby before due date, telework the next week.

also, have your out of office saved and have your computer with you. when you go in labor (and you'll know), update the out of office. the closer you are to due date, do small assignments or transition projects.

[Anonymous]

I worked up until I was sent to the hospital for emergency induction at 40+3. But I also worked those last two weeks from home, bless my flexible boss. I'd like to potentially do telework again this time around but we'll see.