How long before baby's due date did you stop working?

[Anonymous]

I am curious to know how long people worked (before their due dates)? I am in the beginning of my third trimester, and work a desk job at a law firm. The stress level for my job is generally moderate, although occasionally more intense. My pregnancy thus far has been healthy and uneventful (i.e., no bed rest or inability to work). My EDD is mid-September, and I have a 10-minute walk to work. I generally feel more fatigued this trimester, but don't have any major aches or pains that prevent me from working. The walk home (after the days at work) is probably the hardest part, as are the sleepy afternoons.

Would love to hear people's thoughts on whether to take time off before the delivery -- to help with the delivery -- as well as what people's experiences were in terms of at which point they were physically unable and/or too uncomfortable to work.

[Anonymous]

I stopped working 3 weeks before my due date and I WENT NUTS! I don't know about your personality, but I like to be busy and it was excruciating. You may also want to consider that any time you take before may take away from time after, and you will most likely want as much time after as possible.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

With DS #1, I stopped working one week before I delivered on my doctor's orders and I was on bedrest, so it was pretty boring. My next door neighbor stopped working at the beginning of her 3rd trimester and just relaxed. Her reasoning was that it would be at least 18 years before her life was that peaceful again. I thought that was a wonderful idea!

[Anonymous]

I worked right up until my due date.

[Anonymous]

Carried my baby 40 weeks.

Worked on Wednesday all day, gave birth Thrusday morning at 10am.

At the time I was planning on returning to work (ended up staying home 2yrs). The reason I worked up until birth is that I wanted every second of time off to be with my new baby.

[Anonymous]

There was a similar post not too long ago if you want to search it and see what others say.

Worked on Tuesday. Didn't feel right on Wed. morning so called doc. and had DD in PM.

I had a great preg. so I didn't want to take vacation time unnecessarily. My job required me to be on feet a lot so I was VERY tired, but I have a high tolerance so I just dealt with it.

Can you get a doc. note to put you on at-home bedrest? Depending on your job, you may get FMLA and/or STD to kick in.

[Anonymous]

I went a few days past my DD and since baby was really big, they sked an induction on a Tues am. I planned on going to work on Monday, but my water broke at 2am Mon morning. I also wanted to save as much paid leave as possible for when baby was born.

[Anonymous]

I was due 9/27 and had minor issues at the end with blood pressure but that was resolved-I just felt so uncomfortable that I ended I think on the 19th-(Wed)-well I ended up being off for maybe 2 days because I had the baby late on the 23rd(Sunday)! It is sooooo tiring right after and you have a little one to care for-I can't recommend more highly that you take off a little bit before--you will not have much relaxing after I couldn't stand when people would tell me stories about how they worked until they went into labor-(even if that meant going from their office to the hospital) is that something to brag about-is work more important than taking care of your body before the most major event in your life? This town is so workaholic and that is fine for some people but listen to your body and if you feel like it's enough-trust me it's worth it--

[Anonymous]

Five days prior due date. I was planning to work all the way up to the due date, but in the week leading up to the birth, I started getting cramps and bleeding, then gave birth.

[Anonymous]

Last day was a Friday - had a grouchy weekend, cleaned the entire house on Monday (like a maniac) and baby came Tuesday a.m.

[Anonymous]

Am due in three weeks and planning to work until my due date. I'm definitely not at my most productive right now but I agree with PPs that I'd go crazy with boredom if I weren't coming to the office. Also, a good friend stopped working the week before her due date and the baby ended up being two weeks late and she was so frustrated. And, she spent three weeks of maternity leave that she could have used on the back end. I'm trying to save all my time for after the baby is born.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

1 week before DD; baby was 4 days late. Even now that I am back at work, I still think it was the best decision.

[Anonymous]

I worked up until the baby was born each time.

[Anonymous]

I worked til 6:30pm on Thursday and baby was born Friday at 9am (10 days early). I had planned to work up until his birth anyway, although I was grateful he came a little early.

[Anonymous]

Went to work on Friday. Baby was born that Sunday evening. My job didn't offer much leave (6 wks total), so the plan was always to work until my son was born.