Working Moms: When did you stop working before labor?

[sacall]

I was going to stop working two weeks before my due date (I too had sick time that would cover me). However, at my doctor's appointment three weeks before my due date, my doctor pulled me off of work. I was having so many braxton-hicks contractions, he no longer wanted me working.

I'm glad I did, because my dd came a week early! With my second one, I was off two weeks before she was born.

If you have the time, take it. I am short (5'3") and I was so uncomfortable, I was starting to have a hard time driving, moving and just breathing It was so nice to just take it easy before my babies were born.

Stacy

 

[GJM]

I worked up until the day I delivered!

I was due Dec. 13 - I went to the Dr. Dec. 16 at night and he sent me to the hospital to be induced. I called my boss and told her I wouldn't be in the next day!

I could have had a month off before my due date, but I would have been bored at home, my Dr. said as long as you feel good you are fine to work.

 

[msjprincess]

I saved up vacation days and went out around 3 weeks before my due date. It gave me time to get things done around the house before they were born.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I was due on a friday, 2/8. Had a scheduled c-section 2/5, a tuesday. last day of work was a friday, 2/1 (but my job is sitdown), looked at a house to buy on saturday, water broke monday so had csection monday, 2/4, bought house on 2/8.

 

[bas71873]

36 hours of labor, the first 9 of them spent at work (paralegal, so I sat all day). Why? Because I was CLUELESS about what was happening. It was my first child. It was was 3 weeks before my due date and I had just been to the doctor 2 days prior and was not dialating at all and NOTHING else had started. I left work that night and was at the hospital by 2 AM and DD was born at 12:35 in the afternoon. At about 8:30 that morning and just after I was given a dose of Nubain, my co-worker (also my bestie) called becasue I hadn't shown up for work (and was really giddy and dopey when she called).

 

[rabyoga]

I was an aerobics instructor. I taught 8 classes a week until I was 8 1/2 months pregnant. Although I did take classes until 2 days before I went into labor. The night before I delivered my daughter, I did a 2 mile power walk.

 

[kirstenb1]

I worked right up til delivery. I had a desk job, and didn't feel well so left work around 3. I went into active labor a couple of hours later.

 

[laurafergie]

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?

Lord. Thank goodness for your post. I was reading and thinking that only Amazon women must be on The Dis.

OP. If you are not feeling well and can afford to stop working, then STOP. Labor is a major physical event and it will go easier on you and your baby if you are at the top of your game. As the PP said, please listen to your body.

 

[golfgal]

I went to work while in the early stages of labor. I had several false alarms and didn't want to take the chance of it being a false alarm again--I knew it felt different so I was almost positive I was in labor. Worked my regular hours 7-3, went home, took a nap, took a short walk, called DH at 5:00, went in around 6:00.

OP-before you just take off, make sure your DI does cover you before the birth. Many policies require that you need to be "confined" (bedrest or dr's orders) before they will start paying. Check with your HR dept before making any decisions. Also, short term disability coverage IS limited to a certain number of weeks. You will want to check that out as well. If you stop 2 weeks before you actually have your baby, you may only get coverage for another 2 weeks after that, for example.

 

[ilovejack02]

A week before , I wanted time to relax, clean... yes I know , but you can't help it sometimes, nesting is a crazy urge lol. So glad I did, so nice to be able to wrap up those last cpl of days with DH alone.

 

[dzorn]

When I walked into labor and delivery to have DD there was a lot of jokes about how busy they were, but the secretary had the nerve to call in just because her water broke.

I did at least stop and do the admitting stuff I always do.

Denise in MI

 

[diznygirl]

I planned my last day of work two weeks before my due date. Baby came two weeks early. So much for planning.

Take whatever time you need. At least if you plan to be off, like I did, they won't be expecting you at work when you are go into labor.

Good luck!

 

[Christine]

I worked until the end. I have a rather sedentary job so it was no big deal.

I worked up through a Friday and then went into labor on Saturday with my first child.

My second child was induced so I knew what day he was coming. I worked the day before, cleaned up my desk, that sort of stuff.

I never felt bad at the end of either of my pregnancies. Now, if I had a job that required me to be on my feet all day, I might have had a different experience.

 

[maslex]

With my first son I was due August 10th. My last day of work (I worked at the casino) was August 1st. He was born August 23rd. I took those last 3 weeks to get everything ready for the baby and just rest (as much as a pregnant woman can).

With my second son, I worked at a local small store as a front end supervisor at nights. I was due Feb 23rd and I believe my last day was like the middle of Jan. I couldn't stand on my feet for that long anymore. He didn't arrive until March 6th.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I preferred to use my limited time off for when after the baby arrives so I worked as long as possible.

Both kids conveniently arrived on the weekend (dd on a Saturday afternoon and ds in the wee hours of Sunday morning) so with both I worked through to that Friday.

They were both really close to their estimated due dates as well. Dd was due 2 days later on Monday and ds made his EDD by 4 hours and 21 minutes!

Good luck!

 

[Jennabeth]

Don't do what I did, left work at 1:15 p.m. thinking I was in labor, baby was born an hour later at 2:15 p.m. (luckily I worked close to home and lived near the hospital). She was my second and 10 days early, we joke that I had her during my lunch hour. With my first I stopped on my due date, she was born 9 days late. I was going crazy sitting at home all day (it was Jan).

I would work until you just don't feel like you want to. I had a desk job so it was either sit at home and use materinity leave or sit at the office and be able to stay home longer.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

DD#1 I went on holidays for two weeks before my maternity leave started on my due date. Baby came 12 days post due date.

DD#2 I went on maternity leave two weeks before my due date. Baby came one week prior to due date.

DD#3 I went on medical leave six weeks before my due date. My maternity leave started two weeks prior to due date.

I should have gone on medical leave with DD#2.

I have good benefits though. Paid medical leave and one year paid maternity leave. My pay never skips a beat and just keeps on coming so there were no financial concerns.

I would say it depends how you feel and how your pregnancy is doing.
Every pregnancy and every Mom's situation is different.

 

[piglet50]

first baby i worked until my scheduled 9:00 a.m. dr's appointment. they sent me to the hospital - drove myself (it was across the street) and dd was born at 3:40 that afternoon. it was 1983 - no meds, a natural birth. she weighed 9 lbs 2 oz.

second baby i had to leave a family reunion at 2:30 p.m. ds was born at 6:40 p.m. he weighed 8 lb 13 oz. 1988 - natural birth.

i was fortunate. i worked as an administrative assistant. not hard work, just sometimes stressful.

 

[U2_rocks!]

#1 - went into labour in the early hours of a bank holiday morning - had worked all day the day before

#2 - worked all day in early labour, told my bosses they likely wouldn't see me the next day unless it was a false alarm. On the way home I stopped and signed up for a new discount shopping club that had just started up, knowing I wouldn't get to it right after the baby was born. I sat there filling out forms while having contractions 5 minutes apart. She was born just before 2 a.m. the next day - I laboured at home until 11.30 p.m.

#3 - active labour happened over the weekend and she was born around 6 a.m. Monday morning. I had worked a normal week leading up to the weekend.

I took all my maternity leave after the babies were born.

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

I wanted to save my vacation/sick time until after the birth so I worked as long as I could. I had no complications or issues so I kept working.
I worked on Friday and had him on Saturday 10 days past my due date.
The worst part about working up until delivery was that everyday at work I was asked - 'haven't you had that baby yet?' or 'when are you going to have that baby'.