at what stage did you finish work?

Brooke - posted on 01/13/2012

i finished work at 37 weeks. I worked at a coffee shop/restaurant. I was healthy and enjoyed working but during the end i started feeling dizzy and getting pains in my belly so i quit. The main reason i quit though was my boss wasnt giving me the shift i wanted i always workes 6-2 which i liked and she started giving me more 2-10 which were really hard on me for some reason

Liz - posted on 01/09/2012

I worked until my 7th month, but I was a teacher and the academic year ended in July. Boy, was I ready for it to be over too.

Laura Zoey - posted on 01/09/2012

I worked fulltime until I was 40 weeks pregnant. Yup my last day was on my due date. I couldn't have imagined stopping so soon! I only got 6 weeks off and I didn't want to spend any of that time at home without my baby. Second pregnancy I was a sahm so no issues there. But 34 weeks isreally early IMO to be done working! What will you do to keep busy these last 6-8 weeks?

Cherie - posted on 02/02/2010

I'm a paramedic - I worked my shift on Friday and Delivered on Monday. I was full term with no complications. It all depends on your pregnancy and job - I don't think anyone else (except for your obgyn) has the right to dictate how long you work!

Debbie - posted on 02/02/2010

I worked up til my 7th month but that's because I got gestational diabetes so it was getting harder and thharder for me. I really thought I was going to be able to do like you did and work right up til it was time to give birth. Ha.

Trish - posted on 02/01/2010

I have three and worked up until the Doc said no more. First was a hard pregnancy and I had to quit early but with the second I worked up until the morning before I had her and felt great the whole time. Do what you your doctor and other think is best.

Sandi - posted on 02/01/2010

I work as a supervisor in a shop. My boss was very good and made sure I didn't have any physically challenging tasks. I worked up to 2 weeks before my due date (38weeks) and went into labour a exactly a week after my leave started (39weeks). Like you I had a good pregnancy, no morning sickness or complications. I think it's down to how you feel, you know your body best afterall.

Maryann - posted on 01/31/2010

I asked my obstetrician how long I could work. He said that when my contractions were five minutes apart, I should really quit. So I did with both of them.

Danielle - posted on 01/31/2010

I just finished working at 35 weeks and it was a toss up at my job. I'm a chef in a seafood restaurant and it was getting to be too much for me but some women told me stories where there had stopped much earlier or had worked til there water broke on the job.

Jodi - posted on 01/31/2010

LOL Sheree, I have to kind of keep up to date with the IR laws, because we have 10 employees in our business and I'm the one with the legal and HR training, LOL. But I must admit, I haven't really looked at the maternity leave thing that much yet because we've been too focused on the changes to the Federal Awards ;) That's kept us busy. But I do know that women receiving the 18 weeks maternity leave will not receive the baby bonue, but the maternity leave payment will be at the Federal Minimum wage I think, which is currently $14.31 per hour for up to 38 hours per week. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what I read.

Sheree - posted on 01/31/2010

Thats is interesting Jodi, at least that way people wont be able to double up with baby bonus and the paid leave. Isnt it funny how one thing gets introduced, then taken over by something else a few years later. One reason i wish i was still at work, it was often part of my job to deal with the mat leave, i kinda miss not knowing whats going on :)

Teresa - posted on 01/31/2010

I was a housewife...., but was on bedrest at 24 weeks w/ my first pregnancy anyway.

I was a stay at home mom when I was pregnant w/ my son, but was VERY busy in the last month of my pregnancy since my ex came home from a business trip and told me he was leaving us.....

Abbie - posted on 01/31/2010

I worked until the day before I was induced. So I would have been 39 weeks and 4 days. I do massage for a living so it was kind of hard, I kept hitting people with my belly, but most of my clients were very regular so they were ok with that.

Jodi - posted on 01/31/2010

Sheree, I am pretty sure it is 18 weeks, but I am not sure it is all being introduced at once, or if they are gradually bringing it in. It will only be for those who have jobs (I am not sure what the criteria will be), and will replace the Baby Bonus. I know that SAHMs will still receive a baby bonus.

Mary - posted on 01/31/2010

Jodi...life is a bit less friendly here in the the states. Family Medical Leave of Absence is a federally mandated UNPAID leave of absence...it means that your employer must hold your job for that length of time. Where I work, I only received disability pay for 6 weeks, at 80% of my salary...the remainder of that time was unpaid leave. I think you get 8 weeks of disability if you have C/S. I think this is pretty standard for most US employers.
However, I have to say that even if my leave was as liberal as other countries, I woud have continued to work as long as I did. Despite the physica hardships, I like my job, and it was a hell of a lot better than sitting at home wallowing. At the end, I refused to take call if it was slow...I just felt better if I wasn't sitting at home moaning to the hubby about how done I was...it was better to be busy worrying about something other than me!

Sheree - posted on 01/31/2010

I have to say, i do work for a great company. If we return to work, either full time or part time we are also entitled to another 2 weeks pay, at either the full time or part time rate. that wont apply to me though as i wont be returning at the end of my leave unless something drastic happens between now and then, fingers crossed it doesnt :) I will be very interesting next year though when everyone is supposed to be getting some paid leave, i think is is either 12 or 18 weeks that they are introducing, dont quote me on that though, in not positive on how it is working. I know one of my friends was planning on having her 2nd child this year but is putting it off till next to get the payments.

Jodi - posted on 01/31/2010

You were lucky Sheree :) I've never worked for an employer where paid leave was an option, LOL. But then, I am older. Paid leave has only been a recent introduction into many workplaces.

Evonne - posted on 01/31/2010

With my first I worked up until the day I had her!

Mary - posted on 01/31/2010

my doctor pull me off of work at 36 week with my firdt child then at 38 weeks for my second ask your doctor

Sheree - posted on 01/31/2010

I also questioned what it was, as i wasnt sure either, thats when i said here paid leave is up to the employer. Some employer's/companies here even give 2 years maternity leave. in my case i was entitled to 6 weeks paid leave and 2 years unpaid, at which point i can return to my positon

Jodi - posted on 01/31/2010

That's why I asked Mary whether that was the unpaid leave in the US - I wasn't sure what FMLA was, but I thought there was no compulsory paid leave in the US, so I was just wanting to clarify.

Sheree - posted on 01/31/2010

Yes i know Jodi, thats why i said PAID maternity leave, some dont offer any paid at all.

Jodi - posted on 01/31/2010

Sheree, it is not up to an employer whether you get maternity leave or not, everyone is entitled to 12 months unpaid maternity leave as long as they have worked for that employer for 12 months. Paid leave is a different thing altogether, and is employer dependent.

Sheree - posted on 01/31/2010

As i said, i agree that its not a disabilty to be pregnant and i can imagine all the lifting you had to do, i know lifting 50kg- 80kg bbq's had a toll although i was lucky that my boss put a stop to me lifting them when he found out i was pregnant.
As for FMLA, guessing thats your maternity leave? In Australia, its up to the employer as to if you get paid maternity leave or not. A lot of women save up their annual leave for when they do fall pregnant, and a lot of women want to be home and preparing the nursery, and them selves in general for when a baby is born. It is one if life's biggest life changing events and a lot of women want to plan for that. Not everyone sits at home focusing on how uncomfortable they are, maybe the ones that are confined to bed rest may, but most prepare for their new bundle of joy coming along and using those last few weeks to themselves.

Casey - posted on 01/31/2010

i worked until i was 36wks.. disability allows 4wks before due date and 6-12wks after depending on how you deliver :)

Jodi - posted on 01/31/2010

Mary, just out of curiosity, is the FMLA to which you are referring unpaid Maternity Leave?

Mary - posted on 01/31/2010

Sheree, I concede that there are SOME people who cannot work...pre-term labor, placenta previa, pregnancy-induced hypertension...all of these are medical complications that would force a woman out of work. As for being on your feet for 12 hours, heavy lifting...as I said, I'm and L&D nurse...my job is exceptionally physical, and talk about heavy lifting....there are some BIG girls out there having babies, and holding up one of those mammoth legs for 3 hours while they push, or transporting them on a stretcher...trust me, my job is more physically demanding than most. I just see a lot of woman whining about the normal physical discomforts, and thinking this is a justifiable "disability" that prevents them from working. Sorry, but it's not.

As for taking time off before the baby comes...call me crazy, but here in the states, you only get 12 weeks of FMLA. I didn't want to waste one second of that being off WITHOUT my baby...I wanted the full 12 weeks to be with her, not sitting at home, focusing on how uncomfortable I was. It boggles my mind that anyone would.

Paige - posted on 01/31/2010

I worked until I was about 6 months pregnant..my job was very demanding and I was stressed all the time due to working by myself, and I was expected to do A LOT of work that I couldn't complete by myself. There was a lot of cleaning that they expected me to do which I wasn't able to because of the chemicals. I would work the last 4 hours by myself waiting on customers, making their orders, taking phone orders while dealing with people yelling at me, trying to do all the paperwork and close the store! I was there 2 hours after closing time trying to get things closed down sometimes even more than that. I asked numerous times for someone to be able to work with me past then and they wouldn't do it. I asked my doctor to put me off and he did, no problems asked!

Sheree - posted on 01/31/2010

Mary, i do agree with you that pregnancy is not a disability, but some people cant work up until the end. I was unable to even though i wanted to. I had complications at the end and i had to finish up early. I was going to work until two weeks before i was due and that was a job doing 12 hours a day, up to 6 days a week, on my feet constantly with an hour travel each way. I was a manager and working more then 12 hours wasnt abnormal either, there was a lot of heavy lifting involved, not to mention everything else. Unfortunately for some people it just isnt possible. I also think that it is nice to have a few weeks at home before the baby arrives to finalise everything. Most people i know left work with 6 weeks to go.

Theresa - posted on 01/31/2010

With my first and second I was waitressing. I worked up until about a week before the due date. The only reason I stopped working then was so I didn't leave them in a learch when I went into labor. I felt good enough to keep working thoug. With my third I was luck enough to be a stay at home mom, so I guess you could say I worked up until I went into the hospital with that one. :)

Cyndi - posted on 01/31/2010

i worked until the day before my 2nd was born! i had a check up that afternoon & he decided to take her the next day. of course i had an easy office job which makes a huge difference.

Sapphire - posted on 01/31/2010

I worked up until 36 weeks, when my doctor required me to give birth due to kidney failure. I am a teacher, and was in the middle of a parent/teacher conferrence when my husband & principal yanked me out of that meeting. I had 1 hour to report to the hospital so they could induce labor.

Dawn - posted on 01/31/2010

It all depends on you. If your feel comfortable enough to keep going, do it. I worked right up to the end with all 3 of my pregnancies. In fact, with my last one, my boss called me aside, told me I'd done enough, it was time to go home, relax, and have the baby. My son was born later that afternoon! I still tease him that no other employee listens to him as much as I do! But seriously, don't push yourself, you know what's best for you. I also worked half days for the last month. It gave me a chance to get out, and help with finances. It's great if you can do that too.

Mary - posted on 01/31/2010

Ummmm...pregnancy is NOT a disablity.

I find it odd that you would stop work this early.

I am an L&D nurse. I was 38 when I had my daughter. I worked, full time (3 12hr shifts/wk) up until 2 nights before I delivered at 39 4/7 weeks.

I'm not unusual, all of my friends and co-workers did this as well. Unless you have complications with pre-term labor or other serious issues, there is no reason NOT to work until you deliver.

Jess - posted on 01/31/2010

I left work at 33 weeks and flew from UK to Australia when I was 33.5 weeks pregnant (cut off for flying on international flights is 34 weeks with doctors certificate). I wouldn't recommend doing a 24hr at 33.5 weeks unless you fly business or first class (I flew economy)!! I would of kept working if I had stayed in Uk.

Danielle - posted on 01/31/2010

i finished when i was about 6 months pregnant ( i think around 24wks) ...i planned on working til about 2 weeks b4 my due date as i wanted my maternity leave to last till her birthday but unfortunaly i developed whats called a "separated symphysis"..where my pelvic bone separated from the cartillage...pretty much 2 days after i developed it i had to stop work..i was in retail so i was standing up all day...
However i dont seeanything wrong with working for as long as u can :)

Dianne - posted on 01/31/2010

thanks everyone, its nice to see that its only a few people that think im odd lol im really looking forward to some time to look after myself before i have a new little person to look after and know im really lucky that im able to use some annual leave ive been saving up (specifically for this) before using my maternity leave
also i didnt even know that its fairly standard here in aussie to leave about now either

Erica - posted on 01/30/2010

I work in pharmacy, which is standing and running around all day and I planned on stopping work at 38 weeks, but I got pulled out of work at 37 weeks and induced at 38. Up until my 37th week I had a hassle free pregnancy as well, other than the aches and pains of being on my feet all day. So personally I feel it's okay to work as long as you feel comfortable and are healthy and your doctor says you can work.

Sheree - posted on 01/30/2010

Im pretty certain the new maternity payment start next year, as i know someone who is now going to have a larger gap then she wanted between kids so she could get the payments. I dont know that much about it either as it wont affect me but im pretty sure all working mum's will be entitled to it from next year. My maternity leave for my 1st child (keep my postion open for me) doesnt end until may next year, but im only keeping my options open incase anything were to happen between now and then as i dont plan on returning to work (will be a stay at home mum for my little one and hopefully if things to go plan eventually another)

Marianne - posted on 01/30/2010

I didnt' work with my first boy, couldn't find work. with my second boy, I worked until the day before I had him. put in a full day - right til 4pm when it was time to leave and had the baby at 0135 the next morning. I called my boss at 0800 and told him I wasn't coming to work that day, cuz I was in the hospital! LOL

Nicole - posted on 01/30/2010

My first pregnancy I worked up until the end. The day I was admitted into the hospital I was spposed to work. With my second I stopped at 37 weeks but that was because I was very stressed from work and having a three year old at home.

Belinda - posted on 01/30/2010

With my daughter, I worked all the way till the end. I actually went to work Monday morning, (primary school teacher in small rural school). I was in heavy pre-labor as a I arrived and was very excited to tell all the mum's at school I had had a show that morning at 4am so fingers crossed it wouldn't be too much longer!! I ended up having to leave by lunch time so I could drive myself home, then labored all night and had my daughter early Tuesday morn - on her due date!

With my son I had returned to 'school' work one day a week and worked again right up until he was born, but of course the hardest work when having your second, is looking after your first child! We had Grandma and Pa stay with her as we left for the hospital to have number 2. and were back 6 hours later with baby in toe!

Mel - posted on 01/30/2010

I'm in Australia & I finished fulltime work with my first child at 34.5 weeks. I had a list of things to achieve before I had her and then theoretically have a nice quiet few weeks. I managed to get everything done with 1 day to go, but didn't get the nice few weeks of feet up relaxation that I was looking forward to - she came 4 weeks early!

Susan - posted on 01/30/2010

Hi Dianne, I hadn't actually finished work when I had my first child. I was three weeks earlier than the dr had said but right on time for my calculations when I finished my work day at 4:30pm and had 1 day left before official maternity leave. It's up to you, if you feel ok.

My second child I had 3 weeks at home before the birth as with one aged 2 & 3 months and another on the way I was pretty exhausted and knew that I wouldn't be getting a decent rest for a long time!

There are always those who like to give advice whilst you're pregnant but just listen to them get it off their chest and go with what feels right to you. Gut feelings (literally) are best in such matters. Good luck with your birth, you will be just fine. Susan

Charlene - posted on 01/30/2010

I worked until 37 weeks.

If I had of had a different job I may have worked longer, but the one I was at was 11:30pm-8am in a warehouse on my feet sorting mail and packages, which could get pretty heavy. I was actually supposed to work just up until the end of May (33 weeks) but my manager was in a really tough spot with people just not showing up ever again, so I agreed to help him until I just couldn't do it anymore.

Work as long as you like and don't let anyone make you feel guilty for not working longer or for not quitting earlier. It's none of their business! :)

Jodi - posted on 01/30/2010

Sheree, I was quoting Fiona.

Wasn't the Maternity Leave sarting as at 1 January 2010? I thought it was, but I don't know who qualifies, or much about it to be honest - I past having any more kids, so it will never affect me, LOL.

Allison - posted on 01/30/2010

I think it is great that you've worked as long as you could. Doesn't matter what other people think it's your pregnancy. Your making the baby !

I had my first child on my day off ! The other three pregnancys were different and I took more time off.

Cathy - posted on 01/30/2010

I worked until I was 41 1/2 weeks pregnant! It was in my family business (cafe bar). I was on my feet for 8-10 hours, 4-5 days a week. I went back for 2 days a week about 4 weeks afterwards as I was lonley at home on my own all day! Luckily my daughter slept well while we were busy at lunchtime and also my family were around to help out. I think if you feel good then you should work as long as you can. I had bad swollen ankles and wrists and that was very bad from 20 weeks onwards but that didn't stop me. But if I had known how long my labour was going to be and how tired I was going to be I may have had more time off before.

Helen - posted on 01/30/2010

i had to stop at 36 weeks due to very high blood pressure

Candice - posted on 01/30/2010

i worked till i was 7 months. i stopped becuase i could barely stand for my shift ( i work at winners :) ) so it made sense for me to just take off early.