Working while pregnant....how long did you stay

[KKCondrey]

Did you work until the end, or did you leave the last month or so because of all the extra trips to the Dr.s office.

I really want to work as long as I can prior to giving birth and I hope to find a way to be able to go back to work as soon as I am able to afterwards.

I've known people that took anywhere from a month to 6 weeks off prior to delivery and then I've known some that worked up until the last minute.

For those of you that were working while expecting your children, how long did you stay at your job prior to your due date. I know with the type of job it is and all of us rotating closing and weekend shifts that they will need a definate date when it gets to be closer.

[kimmee]

I wanted to work til the very end because it would give me something to think about instead of just focussing on my little baby and when she would come. Unfortunately I was bedridden the last eight weeks and ended up having her five weeks early. Does this mean your boss knows now or have you told yet?? Protect yourself - make no claims until you kno whow your health is going!! For example - the first baby can cause pre-eclampsia, very common and you may get put to bed before your ready - or you may go long term and wish you could be working so you had something else to think about!! At any rate we will be thinking about you all the way!!

[Michelle]

I worked right up until the very end. I finally told my boss 8 days before my due date that I just couldn't do it any more. I was uncomfortable sitting AND standing. Well come to find out, the reason I was so uncomfortable was because I was ready to go into labor! My water broke the very next afternoon--phew! Good thing I was at home and not at work

[sunshine]

I worked up til the end with all my kids-- even after I had surgery with my first. My boss was very supportive and let me work with restrictions (nursing shortage can be a good thing at times)

[KKCondrey]

They know about us. After my little trip to the ER last weekend I went on and told the manager at the store I'm at and I told the owner when he dropped off the paychecks Friday. The manager has been cool. When he leaves me by myself he tells me not to try to pack up or move anything real heavy or bulky to the back, they he will pack it when he gets back or the UPS driver can walk to the counter and get the heavy ones for me. I really like working and being out of the house (and being able to FINALLY get bills caught up)

I would like to try and work (Try being the key word here) until the week before if I am able. If I can do that then I will have a paycheck waiting on me the next Friday after my EDD for at least one week.

[isaacsmommy]

My water broke at work - that answer your question??? I had ds 12 days early, but had no plans to quit working early - I only work 20 hours/wk., so I was easily able to schedule work/dr. appts. around each other, and I wasn't working so much I was uncomfortable.

[Kimmomo3]

Number one I got laid off around 7 mo. so not an issue no one would hire a preg. lady (but of course that was not the reason ) Number 2 I worked up untill the very end. She was born on a Sat. and I worked all day that Fri. #3 was the same way I had her on a Sun. and worked the Fri. before full-time for both. I was feeling fine (more tired than usual but that just does with being preg.) I fit Dr. appts. usually after work, my doc was close to home so I just stopped in on the way home.

So you can plan on working up untill the end but remember things come up. Be flexible.

[Guest1]

With Katie - I was high-risk (duh - I was 16!!) so I only went to school & worked until I was 7½ months along....

Will, however, I worked on a Thursday, cranking out payroll, went home, cooked dinner, ate, showered, got dressed, got in the car, drove to the hospital & had a kid! I finally realized I had been in labor all day!

Belle, my water broke sitting at my desk!

I guess I believe in working right up till the very end!

(personally, Katie was the hardest labor, delivery, & recovery - not sure if it's because I myself was a baby or if it was staying active the whole time!!)

[voodidit]

I think a lot depends on how you feel during the pregnancy. Some people feel comfortable working up until the end while others need to take the last few months off. You will probablly know!

[sunshine]

Originally posted by Debbie


(personally, Katie was the hardest labor, delivery, & recovery - not sure if it's because I myself was a baby or if it was staying active the whole time!!)

It also was probably because she was your first. After that the bones have been moved and your body "remembers" what to do.

[dz_blonde_girl]

It really depends on the kind of work you do and how you are feeling. With my last 2 I worked on Thursday and had new babies on Friday. My job allowed me to work at my own pace, though, and there was no physical labor involved. With Blake I had to do a lot of lifting and bending. I was a Pizza baker! I just couldn't reach the floor anymore that last month and very few of the blanks I worked with would help.

[kaykwilts]

With my first pregancy I worked up to almost the day he was born. I was on a schedule where I had Tuesdays off and worked Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This was a job that was a 40 minute drive from my home about 30 miles away in this little podunk town. I took this job because when I moved from Nashville, Tennesee to Ruston, Louisiana this was the only Federal job available and I could transfer all my sick leave. Because I was able to transfer all my sick leave I was able to take off six weeks after he was born. I was already about 3 months pregnant when I took the job. I didn't tell them I was pregnant when I interviewed for the job because I was afraid they would discriminate against me and not give me the job. They're not supposed to but we all know it happens. They were irritated with me when they found out. Anyway on the day I was off I went into labor. The baby's head was too big for the birth canal so my doctor had to do a Caesearon Section on me. I went back to work after my leave and worked a couple of more years before I finally quit after giving birth to my daughter. I was able to have her vaginally as I did my second daughter. Someone told me yesterday that the hospital where I gave birth to all my children has stopped doing VBACs because they had one patient to die after her uterus ruptered and another almost died but had brain injuries after complications from the VBAC.

[spikeadoo]

I'm *palnning* to work right up to the end. Not sure how that will play out, though. I think I'd go nuts sitting at home waiting.

[Missy]

With Erick, my water broke at work, durning my last break. my super walked in the breakroom and saw me shaking, and sent me home (four doors away) he called my dh who was at home, and you'd think the super was going to be a daddy or something, he was a panicing mess. i was walking out the door, and he was tripping over his words trying to figure out if he should let me walk to my car or to have some guys help me or what. by the time he'd figured it out, dh was in the car, had it heating and was helping me into the passenger seat.

[MMP]

I worked with the first two. With ds, it was a job driving, so I basically sat on my butt all day. LOL. I worked up to the Saturday before he was due and they induced me the day after he was due. Said I had that pre-eclampsia, but if I didnt it wasnt bad.

With dd, I was in housekeeping at the hospital. Ugh. I was ready to have her three months before she was due. I was the only one working and dh took from June to November to find a job. I got to stop working the Sunday before Thanksgiving, she was due Dec 27th and I had her Jan 3rd. I took all 12 of my unpaid leave with her. LOL Quit the job in May after she was born.