Working up to Due Date

Do waht works for you. I was tired by it made me feel emotionally better to go to work, so I worked literally until the last day with both kids. Moreover, even though I had planned to take 4 months off after, I ended up going to work part time the 3rd week after delivering the first child. The second was funny, after 1 week home, her and I went off to my office together!

Hi C., nice to meet you! I, too, am wondering how far to work up until my due date. My due date is Dec 25 so I was thinking of working until Dec 12. However, my mom keeps telling me that based on my stature (I'm 5 feet tall), I will probably want to take off the month before so that I don't put too much pressure on my body (and bad back), and to get better rest. My next OB appt is on the 30th, so I'm going to ask my doctor what he thinks. Of course, he may say, "it depends on how you feel" ... lol. One last thing, I may or may not have gestational diabetes (waiting for results) so that may affect when I decide my last day at work will be. Anyway, feel free to write back!

I would take the month ahead of time off (which by the way you can still get paid a fraction of through EDD, which is the state employement when you have paid leave, up to 6 weeks).
You can take birthing classes, get the baby's room ready, spend the last moments with your unborn child before they are born, which is priceless.
Get your birthing plan ready, what you want out of the first few days.Contact people. Being as prepared as possible so when you get there you wont have to worry so much.
Maybe do some reading for the first couple of months of life, that way you feel a little more relaxed when you child comes, which makes the world of a difference for both you and the baby.
MOST IMPORTANTLY- SPEND TIME TO YOURSELF!!! It will change when your child comes.
You are going to do great- just trust yourself- Good Luck!

I had my first and only, pushing age 43. I had a planned cesarian at 38 weeks, worked on Friday and gave birth on Monday. The doctor told me the baby was doing great, but the Mother not so well. Even though I had an excellent pregnancy, slept well, was doing fine, I think it was an error to work so much, especially when I could have easily had a doctor's excuse to get off at least a couple of weeks prior. If you can, take a month off, enjoy the time to yourself, read, relax, whatever makes you happy. It will be the last time in your life, as once baby comes everything changes and you'll never feel so rested again! Congratulations for your nearing new baby.

I agree with all of the other ladies. I had my first baby on June 27th, 2008 and took my leave from work the last week of May. I am soooooo glad that I took that time because it really gave me a chance to RELAX. Work was stressful enough and adding that with the slight stress of giving birth at any moment. Take the time - you will hate yourself later for not taking that time to yourself. Work will still be there and they won't die without you.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

L. C

Congratulations! I personally wasn't able to work the last month of my pregnancy. I was so swollen and tired, I was glad for the 4 weeks off prior to birth even though the pay from EDD was less, it was worth it to have the rest and time to prepare. I have known some women who have worked right up until a week prior to giving birth, but they had mostly sit down, low key jobs.

In this case, you should rest up for the real 'work out'.
When you get that 'huge burst of energy'. Please do NOT
act on it. This is Mother Nature's way of helping you DELIVER.

Hi C.,

Take as MUCh time as you can off!...plus, EDD will cover 3-6 weeks off depending upon how much time your doctor approves. I was planning on leaving 2 weeks before my due date however because I was a small framed person and I had a very big baby, I had difficulty walking and was just soo exhausted at work. I ended up taking leave 6 weeks prior. It was wonderful. I slept, read, took walks(very slowly and not far) and set up baby's room. IT is the ONLY time that you will have for a VERY LONG time to yourself and I will always remember it!

Good luck!

Something about becoming a mom teaches you to throw your plans out the window. ;-)

I worked the day I delivered my first--she came at 37 weeks, to the day--and survived. My journal entries from that time are really short and filled with information about my aches and pains.

With my second, I stopped working early. I was planning to stop 2 weeks early, as insurance generally allows, but ended up going out even earlier for preterm labor issues. My journal entries from that time are filled with information about my life and chronicles my changing relationships.

This is what I believe:
Stopping work forces you to consider the change in your life's pattern. I found that I had more time to reflect on the transition to motherhood and prepare myself mentally for the task of labor. You learn how to take naps, how to listen to your body, how to nourish it properly and deal with the discomforts that are inevitable in the 3rd trimester. I believe the time off really helped me in birthing and in the weeks directly after. Post-delivery with my first (a 6 hour unmedicated affair in a birth center), I was slow to stop bleeding, regain strength, and fall into a routine as a mother. With the second, I could stand and walk unassisted almost right after the birth (which took only 2 hours, unmedicated, at home).

You only go through this change from woman to mother once. Why not enjoy it?

I took the last month. I was too tired from pushing myself. Look it at it this way. It's your last chance to nap and take care of just you for awhile!!!!!!!!