How long did you work up until you had your baby?

I have about 6 weeks left to go.  Wanted to poll people to find out how long they worked up until their Maternity leave.  I only get 12 weeks; so obviously will try to work as much as I can.  The problem is; is that I'm just so tired!!  I can't see myself making the 1 hr 15 min commute twice a day for the next six weeks.

Your comments are appreciated.

With both my boys I worked up to within one week of the due date, and I dealt with a 45 minute commute each way.  Got kind of lucky on the first one - he was born only 2 days into my leave.

As for being tired, have you considered carpooling so you won't have to drive all the time (and save some money in the process)?  Is it possible, or would your employer allow, telecommuting and working from home a couple a days a week?

thanks for your post.  I take mass transit, the LIRR and then the subway to work, since I work in the city.  I try to telecommute once a day on fridays' when our office closes at 1pm for the summer (how great!!)  recently my DH has been driving me to the train; since it's been so hot here.  I'm hoping I have the baby very early on in my leave-  i just don't want to go into labor at work and have to take the train home (not fearing I'm going to have the baby on the train; it would just be uncomfortable)

Original Post by vanessa1031:

i just don't want to go into labor at work and have to take the train home (not fearing I'm going to have the baby on the train; it would just be uncomfortable)

 If you go into labor at work, shame on your co-workers if they even let you walk out the door to take the train home.  At that point, you either call your DH to pick you up, a cab, and if the contractions get really close together, an ambulance.

There are certain things you can do to make the commute more comfortable - are you taking any kind of cushioned seat and/or lumbar support for your back?  There are also portable cooling gel packs you can use when it gets too hot.

Ooooh - the last 6 weeks.  At that point I was counting the days till leave...

Good luck!

Wow. You'd make the news with that one! I doubt it will happen that fast though. I worked until the day before my daughter was born, but she came early due to gallstones and I didn't have a far drive either. I woke up, felt contractions and called in that day. Maybe you should plan a week before your due date in order to rest and prepare some. Couldn't hurt. 12 weeks is a long leave. Are you having C-section?

Worked a midnight shift and my water broke just after I got home from work.  But I never had a long commute, just rotating shifts. 

good luck

I worked up until the last day before my induction!! I was 39 weeks pregnant.  I had pregnancy induced hypertension and doctor felt it was best to induce me since i was already dilating a bit then.  I had to work that long, we were trying to pay bills off before i went on maternity leave. 

 

 

Clarice

Well, my boy was due on the 3rd of  April, and actually came on the 16th of April.  I worked all the way to the 14th, as I recall.  I figured it would be best to maximize maternity leave, and not waste it puttering around the house playing the waiting game.  I'm glad I did it this way!  Also keep in mind that many/most first babies are 5-10 days late rather than early.

I worked until 2 days before I had my son.  I worked all day Thursday, but I hated my job, so I took all of Friday off to go to the doctor.  I had my son the next day (Saturday), and I never went back to that job. 

I was also worried about going into labor at work, and my co-worker used to just laugh at me.  She was pregnant as well, 4 months ahead of me, so we had a pact that we'd take the other one to the hospital if that happened.  Luckily it didn't happen to either one of us.  :) 

Just be careful and have a plan.  My son decided to show up 2 weeks early.  And as soon as my water broke, my contractions were 5 minutes apart.  By the time I got to the hospital 30 minutes later, they were about 2 minutes apart.  I never expected labor to progress so quickly since it was my first child.  You just never know when they'll come, so be ready for anything.  :)   

with my first he was due mar 9.   I work until the friday before, mar 3, had him the next morning!!!  I wasnt even feeling anything my last day of work.

my 2nd was put on sick leave so much different and with last stopped home business(home daycare) 1 month before

I worked up until a month before I had my son, when I was fired for missing so much work for doctors appointments due to my high risk pregnancy.

But, I am glad that I was fired, because I was exhausted all the time. I would work 6am-10am nap until 1:30 and work 2-6pm again. Then I was always in bed before ten....just...so....tired... :)

I know how you feel, and that commute must be maddening! Are you planning on working until the day you go into labor?

Up to the day before with both! Well, the first was a planned cs, the second an induction that ended up in a cs.  Plus, I work in the family business so my Dad was great with appointments, scans etc.  I was back at work 9wks after no. 1, and 12wks (at my Mums insistence! LOL!) with no.2!

Original Post by kelleigh:

I worked up until a month before I had my son, when I was fired for missing so much work for doctors appointments due to my high risk pregnancy.

Your Boss would have been done for Unfair Dismissal in the UK if he'd done that here! Thats shocking! 

Original Post by irishmum:

Original Post by kelleigh:

I worked up until a month before I had my son, when I was fired for missing so much work for doctors appointments due to my high risk pregnancy.

Your Boss would have been done for Unfair Dismissal in the UK if he'd done that here! Thats shocking!

Yeah, I went through the process....unfortunately I depended on my mom to mail out my paperwork while I was at the hospital giving birth and somehow it didn't get postmarked by the due date : \

Oh well, what goes around comes around....

Thats awful- is there no appeal procedure?? As if you hadn't enough to be worried about! Ah well...as you said, what goes around...lets hope its slow & painful! LOL!

My husband and I waited until we could rely on one income.  Then I quit my job at 5 months.  I was getting cramps if I was left alone on the job and I didn't plan to stay there.  My OB told me every appt. that I could work up until labor and would raise his eyebrows when I told him I had already quit. 

Anyhow, I ended up having a high risk pregnancy (PIH) and had my son almost 2 weeks early anyhow.  I gained 50 pounds with him (I was already 30 pounds overweight), mostly water.  So, I would have had to stop working at least 2 months before due date. 

I worked up to the day I had both of my daughters. I was also very scared that I was gonna go into labor at work, but thankfully that didn't happen especially because I work with ALL men LOL.

For both of my pregnancies my water broke around 5 a.m.

Wow, kudos to ALL of you who have done that.  I couldn't have even imagined working while preggers.  I could barely get up to go to the bathroom.  DH made me quit my job when I was 4 months pregnant because being a young (and married) mommy, I was getting a lot of hassle from the 'ladies' I worked with.  One was about 42 with 2 kids, another almost 50 with 1 daughter and one who had no children but was also in her 50's.  They don't look at a preggo 20 year old who is married and happily going to be a stay-at-home mom very well. Hubby decided he didn't want me to come home every day from work crying, so he asked me to quit so I didn't have that kind of stress on our daughter.

Seriously, I commend you ALL!

Thank you so much everyone!  My due date is July 20th; although I really don't think I'll make it that long.  I've been so exausted-  like droopy eyed; heavy fingers/can't tyope exuasted.  While I can work from home once a week; I end up taking a two hour nap!!  I just want to get as much time with her as I can; but as my mom reminded me; I have to give myself some time to prepare for labor.  So; I'm thinking that I will go out a week before my due date.  I don't trust getting in taxis; since NYC taxis drive horribly and the last thing I need is to get into an accident!!!  I commend all of you for working up until the day you went into labor; as well as those who took a break before the big day.  I guess you just have to listen to your body.  I have a doc's appt on Sautrday; so I'm going to ask him what he thinks.  I'm also so attached to muy work; so I need a few days to "come down" from the work highs and detach myself from this place so I get used to being home without working!!  Or; I can just try to swing working the last week from home; although the women here have literally come in bragging they were 4 cm dialted already!!  That I just couldn't do!

I stopped one week before my scheduled C-section.  I too had a long commute to work, but I had to drive.  It took me an hour to get to work.  That last month was the hardest.  I was sooo tired.  My boss was great, he let me telecommute 2x a week, and after my son was born I stuck with that 2x a week plus cut back to part- time.  When I was in my last month of pregnancy, I was driving home and fell asleep behind the wheel at 50 mph!  Thank God I went to the shoulder.  When I hit the gravel, I immediately woke up.  People wouldn't let me back on the road.  They probably thought I was drunk! Oh no, just pregnant! LOL  Well after that, I would go to a girlfriend's house at lunch (close to work) and take a nap.  That made all the difference.

Poor thing!  been there done that.  You need to do whatever is best for you and the baby.  If your feeling really tired at work, maybe you should consider cutting back on hours, I know that doesn't help with the commute.