Working Moms: When did you stop working before labor?

[goodeats]

In California you can stop working at 36 weeks and start collecting STD, and it does not affect the time off you get after you have the baby. So I stopped working at 35W5D! I spent the time getting the babies stuff ready and general 'nesting'. I cleaned out all the junk drawers and under the sinks. My house has never been so organized. By 39W the house was ready, and I was looking forward to a week of watching movies and resting. Of course baby had other plans and she was born at 39W2D. Boo!

So I say take off as much time as possible before the baby is born as long as it does not sacrifice the time you get off after the baby comes. You won't have 'alone' time for a very long time after the baby arrives

 

[disneychrista]

I think it was 2 weeks before I had my daughter, 1 week after she was due, it was due to doctors restriction. My plan was to work until I had her.

With my second I was put on bed rest at 5 months due to my water leaking. 4 months of bed rest with a 2yo...not so fun.

 

[MichelleVW]

Both of my girls were two weeks early and I worked up until the day before on both of them.

 

[2disneyboys]

Son #1 was 12 days late & I was put out of work 2 days before I had him.
Son #2 I had an induction 10 days before he was due (complications) so I worked upto the day before I had him.

The important thing is to listen to your body. Your going to be uncomfortable (thats a given) but if you and your dr are concerned, go ahead and cut out early! Good Luck!!!

 

[2binak]

Congratulations OP!!! I was taken out of work 2 weeks before DD was born. She was very low & I went to L&D twice in one week due to strong, consistent contractions, only to be sent home because I wasn't in "real" labor. After that my OB took me out of work.

OP - depending on where you live, you may not be able to collect STD before the baby arrives, unless your OB takes you out like mine did. Our company only allows 6 weeks of STD following a birth (both v***nal & c-section). Any time you take after that without a dr's note is unpaid time off. You should definitely check with your HR rep to see what your employer's policies are.

 

[Darcy03231]

With DD I left the office Friday at 5 pm (worked a 40 hour week). I planned to go in on Monday, but she made her appearance at 8:01 a.m. on Monday morning.

With DS again I left work on Friday at 5 pm after working a 40 hour week and he was born on Saturday morning.

I will say that I have very easy pregnancies and deliveries. I was in labor with DD for four hours, with only the last one being bad. The first 3 hours was more crampy than painful. With DS it was 45 minutes from my first labor pain to delivery. I barely made it to the hospital.

 

[Kae]

With DS I was still working in a Salon so the boss liked us to stop 2 weeks before due date. So they wouldnt have to re schedule appointments, I did work the desk a couple times when the Managers Grandmother pasted away. But then went 16 days late, it was fun running into clients & still being preggo With DD also late I was working in a office for family so I worked up until I had her.

Kae

 

[Mandyjg20]

I worked the same day they checked me into the hospital, it was uncomfortable, but I was ready for her to come two months before that

 

[Disnydad]

My wife worked until labor both times. She's self employed so if she does not work, she does not make any $.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

I don't know how you ladies do it.. With my first I worked until 4 weeks prior - I live in CA and we can go our on disability at 36 weeks as previously stated. I used those 4 weeks to sleep in, clean, take lots of naps in the afternoon etc.. Really enjoyed that time off. DS was born 9 minutes after his due date by C-Section. For DD I was a SAHM and she was a scheduled C so things were different.

To the OP - as a teacher myself I would do what your body tells you to do. If you are on your feet all day - which I assume you are - that is very tiring on your body and your bladder...If you can do 1/2 days for the next 2 or 3 weeks I would suggest that. Maybe you can get someone to cover your last 3 classes and only teach the first 3. You need your rest becasue when the baby arrives you won't get it for a while..

 

[BKMETV]

I was lucky enough to be able to go on leave at 30 weeks if I wanted to...so I did.

 

[abdmom]

With #1, I had started a new job at about 20 weeks. I stayed home at 39 weeks. In retrospect, I wish I hadn't started the new job.

With #2, I stopped work at 34 weeks.

With #3, I started a new job at 35 weeks (what was I thinking??) and went into labor at 38 weeks on the weekend.

With #1, I was very sore, and exhausted. Post-delivery was not much better. The little one wouldn't sleep!!

You need to rest up for the delivery and the post-partum period. I would look at cutting back hours (at least) or taking leave now. Talk to your OBGYN too - they can likely get you some medical leave.

 

[MrsPete]

With my first child, I stopped working about two weeks before my due date. I was terrified that my water'd break in front of my class, and ALL the babies in my family are born early. In retrospect, it was a mistake. I sat at home 'til my due date . . . and then three more miserable weeks. Five weeks sitting at home, the nursery already finished, nothing to do. Couldn't start any projects 'cause every single day I was sure was THE DAY. Not being busy, I just sat around feeling sorry for myself. This was back when we really could've used the money, and I burned up all my sick days.

With my second, I would've worked right up to the moment labor began, but she was due in the summer -- so I wasn't working anyway. On my last day of school, I fell down a flight of stairs. Yes, all the way down a whole flight 8.5 months pregnant. I called the doctor, and since I wasn't outwardly hurt, he wasn't concerned -- he said that if the baby came, he wouldn't do anything to stop her. After all, I was only two weeks from my due date. The stinker held on 'til her due date . . . and three more days.

So much for ALL the babies in my family being born early. I broke that tradition.

If I had it to do again, I'd work right up to THE VERY DAY of delivery. Assuming, of course, a healthy pregnancy.

 

[Buckalew11]

I wanted about one week off before DD was born.

She had other plans.

I scheduled my last client at 12:00 noon on Monday and went into labor while doing his hair. I went home, walked, laid down to rest and had her around 5:00 tuesday morning.
It was perfect timing!
My doctor was leaving on Wednesday for vacation!

 

[bellebud]

we own our own business, so it was different for us. I started labor in our store w/ our first baby, and was back to work w/ her (we made a nursery in the back room) in 2 weeks. I was still sore, but when you have to work, you have to work.

We were a little better off almost 2 years later when my ds was born, so I was home by then.

 

[NotUrsula]

That morning with my first, and three days before with my second, under doctor's orders. I did have those 3 days docked off my STD maternity leave, so that I had to come back to work 5.5 weeks PP; it caused a nasty hiccup in our daycare plan because we hadn't counted on that -- DH had to beg for 3 days off to cover the time.

 

[bjscheel]

With the first, I wanted out of my job (college internship that allowed me to stay after graduation and wasn't necessarily expecting me to stay after baby). So I quit 2 weeks before my due date. Then I sat home for almost a month as she was 2 weeks late!

With the second, I was working three days a week. I worked Thursday (my due date), had Friday off as usual, and had her on Sunday. It was a desk job.

 

[IHeartTink04]

I worked up until the day before I was induced!

 

[ilovefh]

OP here. Thanks everyone! It was great reading everyone's experiences.

I think I am nervous to go into labor at school, which is about an hour from the hospital I want to deliver at. I have made sure everyone knows that an ambulance is NOT to be called (this was my coworker's suggestion) and that I am to be driven the hour to Celebration, and not taken to the local two hospitals. I think it scares me because I have absolutely no idea what will happen when I do go into labor. I have a pretty high pain tolerance so it might not be a big deal if things move slowly, but what if things move fast? Not likely, but it could happen.

I am also weird about just suddenly being out. I like the idea of planning a set date and having everything ready for the sub for that date. I also like the idea of letting my students know the set date I'll be out rather than it be a last minute surprise.

We're still undecided because I didn't have a chance to talk to my doctor about it this appointment. We had our one time appointment with his partner to meet him, but we have another appointment this week so I'll ask him then.

ETA: I also don't want to be sitting home for weeks either! I just wish I didn't feel like crud at the end of the day and require a nap! I get home around 5-6, take a nap and am in bed by 9. Doesn't leave a lot of time for school work and I am getting behind!

 

[LisaNJ25]

I always went out 4 weeks before since thats when disability kicked in.