At what stage in your pregnancy did you start your materninty leave?

Misty - posted on 03/14/2009

I left 3 weeks before my due date so I could clean, get ready for the big day, and just relax a little. Friday was my last day of work and the baby came 3 days later.  Good luck

Heather - posted on 03/14/2009

Oh how I wanted to stop working months before I was due. I would fantasize about ways I could quit and still have health insurance. But sadly, i had to work until the very end with both my kids. I went to work on the very same day I had my kids. It sucked but my job wasn't very labor intensive...no pun intended. If you are able, I would recommend stopping around 36 weeks. It gives you some time for yourself before baby arrives.

Serena - posted on 03/14/2009

I worked for 5 days past my due date then I decided I would finish on the Friday and I was then induced the following Wednesday it worked out really well. i worked as a PA in an Office and my boss even allowed me to purchase a $4,500 maternity / fat person chair so that I was more comfortable while I was working it was awesome and once I left the girl down the hall borrowed it It went around the office for all the pregnant women!

Nicole - posted on 03/14/2009

I was due aug 4th (a thursday) and I stopped working a week before that.

Sara - posted on 03/13/2009

I got induced on January 24th (my due date--my doctor was going out of town the next day), and i worked until January 23rd. I didn't want to waste one single day of leave before my baby got here...

However, my job changes per the season, and the winter season I did a lot of sitting, so I wasn't on my feet that much.

Rebecca - posted on 03/13/2009

I took my maturnity leave at 35 weeks. My job was to physically demanding with a few of the complication I had. I was a banquet chef. I had a lot of great co-workers wjo really helped. I had my daughter at 38 weeks. The weeks in between were nice. I was able to get the babies room ready and relax. I couldnt sleep at night while I was pregnant so it was a relief to be off so I could sleep during the day. i had wanted to work as long as I could before taking my leave but medically it wasnt possible.

Carol - posted on 03/13/2009

I was actually put on sick leave at 26 weeks due to high blood pressure (I worked at an inbound call center for tmobile) so I was off for a long time before my little dude came into the world

Jennifer - posted on 03/13/2009

Like everyone said...every situation is different....I worked right up to my due date. I was having MAJOR contractions my last day at work. My boss ended up having to call my Husband to come get me cause I wouldn't leave! I had my Daughter 2 days later....P.S. my boss would not let me come back to work, she said I needed as much rest as possible before the baby....BOY WAS SHE RIGHT!

Michele - posted on 03/13/2009

I am a hairstylist, and i am on my feet ALL day, rarely getting a moment to sit.

i took my maternity leave 2 weeks prior to my due date. i was due oct 26th. in keeping with my nasty habit of being late, my daughter arrived 1 week late after my water breaking with NO contractions! i ended up being induced! i went back to work after the new year, and only part time!

if i was to redo maternity leave i would have pushed through an extra week!

Aimee - posted on 03/13/2009

I worked two days past my due date (April 16th 2008) and on Friday the 18th it was going to be my last day which is good since my water broke Saturday morning!  I worked at a bank as a teller and it was great plus I wanted to make all the money I could while I could instead of sitting at home probably spending money on more baby stuff!!

Dorota - posted on 03/12/2009

I was working as a pharmacist intern at the hospital so I was on my feet a lot - but I could also sit down when I needed too. I was due on September 2nd, and scheduled to work until August 29th, however my little boy decided to come early. My water broke on August 26th as I got out of bed to get ready for work that day! I ended up calling in to the pharmacy department from the labour and delivery deparment to tell them i wasn't going to be coming in that day or for the rest of my shifts!

Desiree - posted on 03/12/2009

I worked in the laundry department at the hospital so I was on my feet all day. My Dr. told me I could work as long as I did not lift heavy stuff. Well i worked till 5 days before I had the baby, and I was just taking a few days off...or so I thought. He was born 3 weeks early, but thats ok, I was ready for him to come out.

Ashley - posted on 03/12/2009

i was put on sick leave when i was about 7 months along. i worked retail so i was on my feet all day and still climbing ladders. by the end of the day i was getting severe cramping and my back was so sore i could barely stand so my dr put me on sick leave. so technically my mat leave didnt start until the day my son was born.

Jillian - posted on 03/12/2009

I am currently pregnant with twins, and I am still working as a bartender. I am almost 35 weeks and my feet are starting to swell, so I don't think I can do it much longer.

Sarah - posted on 03/12/2009

I work in daycare so I am on my feet ALOT!!! and my feet were soooooooooooo swollen you wouldn't even believe!!!! so anyways my Doctor had put me on bed rest 3 weeks before my due date and I gave birth a week early. I was due on a monday and I was planning on my last day being the friday before.

Colleen - posted on 03/12/2009

I worked as a checkout chick and had to stop work at 6 months because of sciatica. I couldn't stand for more than 10 minutes without severe pain down my legs and they couldn't give me a job where I could sit down. Very frustrating to have three months of waiting and not much to keep me occupied!!

Alisha - posted on 03/12/2009

I choose to have 4 weeks off, working full time was too tiring and i wanted to get myself organised at home and catch up on things. Its been about 4 weeks now and I'm still waiting for bub! It can get very boring and daytime TV isn't that great! Try and work as far as you can but try and have a rest before so your prepared... 

Maleasha - posted on 03/12/2009

I had to start my maternity leave early, due to complications. My little guy was due on May 5th and I started maternity leave when is was 34 weeks. I was planning on working up till a week before I was due.

Becky - posted on 03/12/2009

I was put on bed rest when I was 29 weeks. I had Marcus at 30 weeks, 5days on Nov 9th If everything would have gone normally I would have worked till our Christmas shut down since I was due the 11th of Jan.

Heather - posted on 03/12/2009

I was due on the 10th of january...and I started my maternity leave on the 22nd of december.   I took off early bc my doc told me "oh you'll definitely have this baby by the new year"  yea she was fooling herself...I was 6 days late with my son...and to top it off I had to be induced!  

Ashley - posted on 03/12/2009

My job made me go on my maternity leave 10 days before I was due. I was due on Aug 11, but my daughter didn't come until Aug 24th. I was on leave until Oct 17, due to having a C-section. :(

Elizabeth - posted on 03/12/2009

I worked until I had the baby.  Taking an early leave just cuts into the time you have when you actually have the baby. 

Stacey - posted on 03/12/2009

With my son I gave myself a week because he came late I was just getting to big to wait tables. With my daughter I was at work the day before and had her on my day off!

Charlotte - posted on 03/12/2009

i took mine mine 3 weeks before i had my first but he was early it should have been six and 2 weeks with the second i did plan to go till the end i know the earliest you can start it is eleven weeks before

Becky - posted on 03/12/2009

Both my babies were due in January two years apart. Jessica was due on the 9th of Jan 2006 i worked until Chirstmas Eve 2005! Jessica arrived Jan 23rd!

Oliver was due 24th Jan 2008 and i did the same sort of thing i saved holiday and took 3 weeks holiday (work let me carry it over) starting from Christmas Eve 2007 and my maternity leave technically started on the 21st Jan. Oliver arrived on the 4th feb.

I wanted as much time with my babies after they were here rather than waste time at home. Of course as my pregnancies were smooth and uncomplicated it was ok to do that and if it had been best for me to finish work sooner i would have. However, i found it much harder working that late into my 2nd pregnancy and having a 23 month old child! Hard work!

Stephanie - posted on 03/12/2009

I worked up until the minuite my water broke (at work), but every pregnancy is different. My ob said it was perfectly fine for me to work until the last day, i wold ask yours to see what they say. If they say you can work until you go into labor, i would.