Working Moms: When did you stop working before labor?

[ilovefh]

We're getting ready to have our first baby. My original plan was to work until I went into labor (7th grade teacher) but lately I am so tired and in pain by the end of the day that I've been thinking of picking a day a week or so before my due date to stop working.

So what did you do? Did you work until you went into labor or did you stop working before your due date?

I'm not terribly worried about money because I have short term disability to cover my time off. I also won't go back until August so leaving earlier doesn't affect how much time I can take after the baby is born.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My best friend teaches 3 year old preschool half-days, and she went into labor one night, went to work the next day, then went to her midwife and had her baby.

Edit: This was her third, so she knew what to expect!

 

[Acklander]

I worked up until the day before I had DS, however I worked a desk job where I was able to get up and walk around as needed through out the day. I was a bit uncomfortable, but it doesn't matter where i was (work or home) I was uncomfortable, so that didn't make a difference - and it helped pass the time quicker.

 

[aaarcher86]

I've always ended up with issues, but my plan was always to stop working about 2 weeks before the peanut was born. I'm a pretty small person, so around 30 weeks I start begging for them to cut me open and take 'it' out

I figure that the 2 weeks will allow me to rest up and get all the final touches on everything that I need. I can't tell you how great a nap feels when you're pregnant, swollen and cranky!

 

[pospisil]

I worked in a Monday, went to the dr and got put on bedrest that afternoon, and had DS on Friday. I had planned on working until the last possible minute, but DS had other plans. ; )

 

[kellyg403]

With my last son, I worked right up until I had him. I had meetings all day and didn't feel well but thought it was because I was sitting on big behind all day. He was born at 11:38 that night, 3 weeks early!

With the others before him, I usually stopped working about a week before they were born...but only because each of them were just about 10 - 16 days past my due date..any minute became REALLY any time now!

Kelly

 

[turkeymama]

With my first, I planned on working up until the day I went into labor. And I guess, technically, I did. I actually called into work on that Thursday because I didn't feel great. I guess my body was trying to tell me something; I went into labor that afternoon and DD was born the next afternoon (which was 2 weeks prior to my due date).

With my second, I was not so noble about my job, lol. We were already certain of a planned c-section, so I checked out of work about one week ahead of time. I wanted that time to rest. DS was so big and I was in so much pain. Turns out, I had been having pretty regular contractions for awhile and they were 5 minutes apart by the time I went in for my c-section (10 days prior to due date). My kiddos like to surprise us.

If you feel like working, more power to you. However, I don't think you'll miss out on any special awards or accolades for working up until "the big event". Listen to your body.

 

[BeckyKay]

I was overdue with the little man and had to be induced. I was still taking work calls while in L&D. About an hour out from actual delivery, my DH turned off my phone

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I wasn't working with either of my two, but I did go to Epcot for Food and Wine Festival two days before DD was born!

DS was due 7/2, and when that day came and went, we did our usual Epcot day for the 4th and I was hoping the fireworks would scare him out! But nope, he waited 10 more days past that.

 

[Pakey]

Worked Monday, had baby on Tuesday, back to work on Friday.

 

[Piecey]

I was scheduled to work until the day before I was scheduled to be induced... Started having contractions a week before and left work to go to the hospital which wrote me out of work because I worked a half hour from the hospital. And I was a swollen mess. So I sat on the couch for a week...boring!

 

[dreamin_disney]

a week before my due date. The only reason was because my co-worker ask me when i was going off. I felt like maybe she wanted me to go off so my replace would come in sooner-lol! I was wobbling and dialated to a 2-3 at that time but looking back i think she just felt bad for me-lol! I hads to walk long distance from point A to point B about 3-4 times a day. I could have worked a few more days but i'm glad i took off cuz wow!

if i ever have another kid I would love to take 1 month off early and a 2-3 extra months after. I'll have to have a C-section so thats 8 weeks off but I want to enjoy the baby. I took out disablity just for that Hopefully this year I'll be blessed

 

[java]

I stayed right through being in labor. I was in work on a call with a client, he asked when are going to have that baby? I replied I think now! My office sent me home the 50 miles in a town car. I had my son the next morning.

 

[indimom]

I worked right up to my delivery with both of mine; But, I felt fantastic and had very easy pregnancies. If you need the time, take it.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had planned on leaving work a month before giving birth because my job includes climbing up the sides of trains into them and jumping back out of them to the ground but she had other plans. I was off Fridays and Saturdays and still working and one Friday went to Costco and water broke - I gave birth over a month early so I had no time off from work prior to labor!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I had originally planned to leave work (at the time, in a bank) one week before my due date, but was having some issues and left a couple days early. Thank goodness I did! DS decided to come ON what would have been my last work day - and I was one whose water broke out of the blue, and then the contractions started, so it would have been quite the scene on the train!

In your situation (where you will be off until the end of the semester either way) I would definitely stop early. I would be nervous about going into labor in front of my students. Plus that way, your sub will be starting when you are not in the hospital yet, and you can talk the first few days, so she can ask little questions and really get comfortable with your class.

 

[sunshine1178]

Both of my kids were born at 34w3d, so I'm looking at your signature saying "stop now!". I think that you have to listen to your body. If being on your feet all day teaching feels like too much, then it's too much. Can you switch to half days to ease the transition for everyone?

 

[mickeyboat]

With DD11 I was at work on a Monday and my water broke (at 34 weeks) on Tuesday while I was sleeping. I was put into the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks until I was induced. I did as much work as I could from my hospital bed.

With DD10 I told everyone on Friday that I would not be back on Monday because I was convinced I was having the baby over the weekend. I did - SUnday night.

 

[swanmom]

I was a teacher trainer and was conducting two back-to-back workshops (9am to noon and 1pm to 4.) I went into labor that night. It is still a running family joke that our DD was born that day because she couldn't wait to get out and escape the sound of my voice !

(BTW, I think that whole 'avoiding mom's voice' thing continues to this day!)

 

[njmom47]

My insurance covered 2 weeks before my due date and 6 weeks after. DD#1 was born 8 days after her due date so I pretty much had 3 weeks off. DD#2 was born 2 days after her due date so that was 2 wks 2 days. With DS I took an additional 2 weeks off (with 2 little ones and a 40 hr a week job standing on my feet in 1 place and they wouldn't give me a stool to sit on) because I went to my dr and explained the above and he signed me out early. So Ds I had a month and 4 days off.