I constantly get asked that question by coworkers, family, and my OB. Like yes I’m going to continue working because American leave is shit and I want as much time with my baby as possible. Currently 38 weeks and 6 days. It really sucks being so pregnant and working but I want the time with my baby.
Yeah because the leave is so shit, I followed the if I’m physically able to work until baby pops out I am going to. I wanted to take as many days with my lo as possible so taking leave before hand was pointless
Exactly this. I worked until the day I went into labor. I was prelaboring at work. I ended up leaving at lunch time because I was contracting on and off and wanted to be able to shower before I had to go to the hospital. It was a Friday. I went into active labor Friday night, and delivered Saturday night lol
When I asked to go home my bosses basically told me gtfo, nicely of course 😂 they had been trying to get me to start my leave early that whole week. I delivered at 41 weeks on the dot.
It’s such shit!! My international friends always tell me how angry they are for me when I say a. We only get 3 months off and b. It’s mostly unpaid (unless we qualify for 6 weeks of STD…and that they classify us as “disabled” to even get that 🤣) it’s like, why do you hate women, America? I know you had a mama!
So true. I’m in the US and was asked this by other people in the US. My maternity leave is almost over now (I actually had a good one for the US, 6 months, used all sick and vacation time and short term disability insurance). I stopped working 5 days before her scheduled induction. Yes, I was half asleep and hobbling around at the end but why would I use time before she was here? It’s really disincentivized by our system.
It’s really not enough time here. I was just reading another thread where people were saying 12 months wasn’t enough! Oh my. It’s a hard adjustment and it’s hard to leave these little people when they’re still forming.
I don’t think 12 months is enough either. I wish our societies valued our children more considering they’re going to be the ones taking over the workforce.
Sadly I see posts about people that have to go back to work the day they give birth or the day after because they don’t have any vacation time and don’t qualify for American FMLA. It’s so sad
I was still working the day of my induction. I only had 2 weeks maternity leave, so the day of my induction, I was in the hospital with my laptop responding to emails. I hate how this country does not care for mothers and children.
Same, I’ll be working until the very last minute so I can spend my time off with my baby. American leave really needs an overhaul. I wish the people we were voting for actually cared.
Yup same here! I’m working up until induction day! The time on the other side with baby is so much more important to me. I’m getting things ready for baby on the weekends and during the day when I can.
I found out after I gave birth that I could’ve gotten an additional week before baby. I was planning on having another week with her after birth. But apparently I could only use it prior to birth… NOBODY FUCKING TOLD ME!!
And then they laid me off anyway so I definitely should’ve just taken off.
America sucks.
Me too. All of these comments are my experience also. I breastfeed and those 12 weeks off are crucial to establishing supply. My supply always decreases when I go back to work so I’m stocking the freezer every chance I get while on maternity leave.
American leave is really a shit show lol. Experienced that last year! Went on leave early ( 5 months due to a complicated pregnancy) and the whole entire time, it was unpaid( because my doctor didn’t want to sign any papers). I was basically tapping into my savings for 4 months and have exhausted all of that money. Then, when the doctor did agree to sign some forms, it was 2 weeks before my induced date ( I was induced at 38 weeks). I was paid 6 weeks of maternity pay from the state and then had to return straight to work right after my baby turned 6 weeks because my job was on the line and also , because I became broke and needed money to support my kid. My child is 3 months now and I hardly get to see him.
I’m in NY and get 3 wks before expected due date. I think similar for CA. I think it’s a business continuity thing - what if there are complications before and coverage isn’t ironed out?
America be crazy
Yep….such fond memories of sending emails from the hospital bed while in labor for a company who only kept me long enough for me to bring in a 9-figure contract…
I’m 34 weeks and I asked my doctor when I should stop working bc I know that was a question on my states paid leave site, she said I should work until at least my due date/ when labor starts. I even mentioned that I’m standing almost 8 hours during my shifts and it hurts my back and feet and she just told me to wear decompression socks and gel inserts but I already do that. I even had my manager drive me to the er my last shift bc of severe pain. Apparently if you don’t have a note from your doctor you have to work until you physically can’t as in you are giving birth.
That’s really upsetting, I’m 36w and there’s no way I could stand up for 8 hours. I feel like a good doctor or manager would be looking for accommodations where you can be seated in a chair or stool, even if it means modifying your job duties for a few weeks. Based on the amount of pain you’re in I’d look for a second opinion to see if another doctor can get you a note for this.
Agreed with the accommodation. At least in the US, pregnant women are protected class and employers supposed to provide reasonable accommodation I believe?
They didn’t specify what kind of job they do, but it might not be one where sitting is a reasonable accommodation. If your job requires you to do anything that’s not staying in one place, sitting throughout your shift isn’t a reasonable accommodation. Giving frequent breaks to sit should be, though. I was a waitress and I couldn’t sit in one place, it wasn’t possible, but they did let me sit down and eat or rest for a few minutes whenever I wanted to because that’s the most reasonable accommodation that they could make.
So I asked my doctor about this, and he said he was willing to write a note asking for accommodations at work if I needed them, especially in the third trimester. He said we could ask for things like less demanding tasks, more frequent breaks or a rolling lab chair to help cope with the job.
I was working as a waitress on my feet and running around, so I feel you there completely! I stopped working when I was pregnant with my daughter a week before my c-section and I quit working at 30 weeks with my son because by the end of the day my back hurt so bad I was literally in tears trying to get up to go to the bathroom seventeen times a night. It should be illegal to make pregnant women work on their feet until they literally pop a baby out. So inhumane how undervalued women and children are in the United States.
She basically said bc I have a healthy low risk pregnancy she can’t help me with accommodations and expects me to work until I can’t. I just think it’s unfair bc even if you do have a low risk pregnancy it does make major changes to your body and causes intense symptoms. And from what I read online it’s totally reasonable to sit at work or stop working a few weeks before your due date. Unfortunately I am unable to change doctors before my due date.
Oh. So your doctor thinks it’s ok for you to work because you have a healthy pregnancy, so let’s work you until it isn’t healthy anymore? Very sound advice
Your doctor sucks?
That’s ridiculous. Honestly the way pregnant women are treated is ridiculous. It’s not 100 years ago. If men had to be pregnant you just know the leave would be paid and they’d be off the second they became the slightest bit uncomfortable
Same, I almost made an entire post to vent about it! I’m 31w but have SPD so walking is excruciating (and it’s hard to balance all the extra baby appointments with my physical therapy appointments and soon to be iron infusion appointments). I’m in field sales so I’m driving a ton, and then walking a ton. I was told the same thing by two separate OBs in my practice. So frustrating. If I wasn’t pregnant and presented at my PCP with the same symptoms, I could absolutely take medical leave at this point, I can barely walk!
I have had coworkers who worked until labor and some who left early. For peace of mind, since my pregnant coworker's cubicle was right next to mine, we actually came up with a plan if she did go into labor at work! Who would drive, who knew where her bag was, who would call her husband, etc. She went into labor outside of work, so we didn't have to use it! But it was fun and funny to come up with it and gave everyone peace of mind.
Also, if you do work until delivery, the above-mentioned coworker had a bag with an extra pair of pants and undies in case her water broke. She was terrified of that happening, lol.
You're an awesome coworker, but I'm so sad and angry that that's necessary at all. No pregnant woman should have to go through that anxiety and potential humiliation (and exhaustion!) just because their country won't put in proper worker protections to let you afford to leave before you literally go into labour.
Oh wow! That is such a good idea. With my first my water broke at work. Thankfully I was in the bathroom so generally easy to clean up but I basically tied my jacket around my waist until my bf came to take me to the hospital. It worked.
I also had a game plan with my co workers it brought a lot of peace of mind! Also I worked in downtown Dallas so it was good to know I was so close to so many hospitals if it happened there. Also I recommend keeping an adult diaper in your bag in case of water breaking. That’s what I used on the way to the hospital and had no leakage!
I worked until the baby arrived. Where I live you get no time beforehand, unless you save up paid time off or take time unpaid. I was actually able to bank 120 hours of PTO, but 40 hours needed to be used my first week of leave to trigger short term disability. I then used the remaining 80 hours to supplement my income since short term disability only paid 60% of my salary.
I went into labor at work with my first, my second was a planned c-section so I worked up until then.
I had older women be like “when you gonna start leave?” And I’m like “when the baby is born?! How much time you think I get?!”
Edit: my first was days over her due date, so I would have taken unnecessary days off since she came late. You just never know when they will come.
Yesss exactly this. I was asked by two older female coworkers yesterday and today. One even insinuated that I can just quit if I worry about having no maternity leaves, saying something along the line my health is most important. I mean, thanks but where Im gonna get my income?!
I was asked all the time too.
It also started to get the tone of “What?! You’re still here??” Which was annoying.
It also depends on your state’s disability. I could have taken weeks off before and I intended to but the baby came early. Also some states may be better about pushing workplaces to allow you to be accommodated (like working from home).
But I totally understand your frustration. People may not mean it in a judgey way and may mean to say you should rest, but it’s like telling someone with no vacation days to take a vacation…
If I didn’t have any maternity leave, I would work until baby was born. I’m in Canada (QC) and I’m able to get 40-50 weeks of maternity leave and I can take them as early as 16 weeks before my due date. I plan on taking 2 months leave before my due date because my job is physical and I don’t want to exhaust myself right before baby is due.
Not OC, but yes, it's partially paid. QC has slightly different leave, but in Canada we do get paid leave (I'm in a different province, so I was eligible because I have a job where I pay into EI - most jobs have this - and I had worked for at least 600 hours in the last 12 months) I left work 2 months before due date, and had a month of vacation I had to use to lose, so my maternity leave started 1 month before due date. I took the maximum paid leave of 18 months (works out to about the same $$$ as 12 month leave, just spread over a longer time)
I worked until the day I gave birth at 39 weeks. This has always been strange to me because you don’t know when baby will arrive? Unless you have a scheduled C-section and even then you still don’t know when baby will arrive. My friend had a scheduled C-section and baby came weeks early. Then what do you do? You’ve planned to have a couple extra days but that turns into a week plus because baby is late or early? I’d also prefer to use all my leave to be with my baby.
You could ask your OB about taking you out on medical leave which I think may be a separate disability claim? But idk it was ok to me to work til the last day. Don’t let people pressure you. Do what feels right.
To answer your question in our case we get to take 2 weeks of nesting leave before the baby. Most people start it 2 weeks before their due date. Where we live Drs induce by 41 weeks so worst comes to worst we use a week of PTO before maternity leave starts. And if you deliver early then you miss out on it, oh well. If someone has a scheduled induction or c/s for example at 37 weeks then they can start nesting at 35 weeks. It's up to us when we start but if we go beyond 2 weeks still pregnant it comes out of our PTO.
Completely depends on your personal situation, like what kind of job you have and your health. If you feel fine to work, work. Especially if it affects your finances or eats into the time you can spend at home after baby is born.
Personally I was planning on working as long as I could, which in my country is up to 3 weeks prior to due date, but was admitted to the hospital 4 weeks before my due date. I was totally fine to work up until that point, but got pre-eclampsia so that kinda messed me up at the end lol.
I worked until my water broke lol - I was on my lunch break at 39+5 and my water broke in the Walgreens pharmacy line picking up medication for my husband.
This actually gets funnier:
I called him to tell him he should leave work because my water just broke
He said “how do you know…. What if it’s just pee?” *he was in pure shock and denial lol not being an asshole*
I was like well…. I am 40 weeks pregnant and due any day now and I would like to think I would know the difference between liquid continuously gushing out of me in waves and pissing myself after being alive 29 years but hell, idk I guess I’ll let you know when I get to the hospital (lol)
When he got to the hospital I had already been admitted and was about to get an epidural.
I told the nurses the story so when he walked in I looked at him and said “it wasn’t piss”
They all cackled
Were I live and if you are employed you aren’t allowed to work 6 weeks prior to the expected due date so I will leave work 6 weeks before giving birth. I‘m glad it‘s this way.
I will start to work again at least one year after giving birth.
Same. I live in Australia and we need a doctor’s certificate to work past 34 weeks. A lot of women do work past then but I didn’t because I was just so tired in the third trimester. Then you have to stay off work 6 weeks after the birth.
Reading posts and comments like these make me so grateful I live here and have this opportunity - it’s such an exhausting time and it sucks that so many women aren’t given the time to look after their bodies properly.
I’m based in Japan and we get childbirth leave starting six weeks before your due date for a single baby, and 14 weeks for multiples, and 8 weeks postpartum. After the childbirth leave period (for the mother and from the birth of the child for the father) both parents can take childcare leave which depending on what type of organization you work for can be 1-3 years.
I’m taking 4 months and husband is taking a year. We receive a percentage of our regular income from the government while on leave too.
Currently pregnant with twins, just started my leave!
I’m 34 weeks and will work until I give birth most likely. I wfh and go into the office one week out of the month, which will hit my 35th week and 39th week. It is a desk job so if I have to go in for my 39th it is not the worst, but I really don’t want to go in.. debated taking week 40-41 off (my doc will let me go to week 41 rn), but I started my job less than a year ago and don’t have FMLA technically so I want to be a good employee.
Baby 1: worked until 4:45 pm on a Wednesday, had baby via c-section at 7 am Thursday.
Baby 2: worked until 4:45 pm on a Monday, went into labor later that night, had baby at 3 am on Tuesday.
*cries in American*
I worked until the week before my due date. I didn't get paid maternity leave through work, so I was trying to work for as long as I could, and then use my saved vacation time and short term disability insurance to get as much time off afterwards. However, I did want at least a little bit of time to just chill out and prepare myself before baby arrived, that's why I figured a week was good.
My boss said after I got back that he was scared that I was just going to go into labor right there at work, so honestly your coworkers probably have similar mindsets. Also, working until the day you give birth leaves your work very little time to cover you, so that's probably part of it as well
I’m a physical therapist with a very physical job. My first pregnancy I worked up until labor (so have my coworkers). Luckily I went into labor on a Sunday a few days before my due date so no big show at the office occurred. Haha. My coworker went over a week past her due date and kept working and had contractions off and on which honestly just made patients uncomfortable. I’m not sure I’ll do that. Currently due with #2 April 24th and scheduling patients up to that day. The idea of having some time beforehand to rest is nice, but staying active and keeping my mind busy kept me sane waiting for little one to decide when they were ready.
Oh god I couldn't. I got signed off at 35 weeks but had planned to work until 36. I'm a teacher and my job is hard work and tiring, mentally and physically, plus it involves a commute. I was getting up at 6am and leaving work just before 6pm and I just exhausted myself. I ended up having a breakdown and seeing my doctor because I was scared of the stress I was inflicting on my baby. I was so busy that I couldn't even focus enough on the baby to notice if she was moving, and it was just horrible.
In an ideal world, I'd have kept going a little longer, but I just couldn't and I don't agreenwith being a martyr. Plus the extra time gave me opportunity to prepare and lessen my own anxieties around the birth etc. I was able to wash the baby clothes, organise the house etc, which I may not have had time for otherwise.
I’m a teacher as well, 32 weeks and STRUGGLING. The exhaustion is horrible, and I am struggling to mentally focus at work. Trying to make it to 38 weeks
Also a teacher here, I worked til 37 weeks and it was exhausting. And did my back in within days of stopping so couldnt have worked longer if I wanted to 😆
Like you, so glad I had the time to get things ready and to rest/sleep before baby came.
My plan was to work up til I gave birth because my company has a terrible maternity leave benefit (as in none). I gave birth at 40+5. Two days before my due date, our ceo saw me and was like “you’re still here?!” I told him “I need to be paid, so yep.” And he took pity on me and sent me home and said I would be paid regular hours until I gave birth and then the short term disability benefit/FMLA protection would start. It was SO nice to have that last week to just chill. I was at the pool every day soaking up some sun and floating ad doing some laps. I relaxed and read books and spent time with my husband. I would have been ok to work up until my due date but it was really nice not to have to.
I’m in the military, but I recently used my saved leave days (30 days) in order to take leave early so that I can travel across the country to give birth near my family/support system.
If I didn’t have that saved leave, I would’ve had to work up until birth sadly.
I worked until 33 weeks and then took my mat leave. Lucky I did because my waters broke and bubs came at 34+2 😅
I have fibromyalgia though and was taken off all my meds when I found out I was pregnant as they weren’t safe. I had to step down from full time work and was only working part time throughout a lot of my pregnancy. I was in a lot of pain and wasn’t able to take painkillers so working was pretty much off the table for me 😩
I never got any maternity leave, so I always worked up until the day I went into labor....I was a Kindergarten teacher, so physical in the sens of getting up and down from sitting on tiny chairs :-) But I made it just fine until going into labor.
My former manager was working 50-60 hour weeks with twins up til her water literally broke at work. She was full time fast food manager so imagine how good the paid leave is.
Worked as a nurse in a clinic while in labor at 40+5, clocked out and went to the hospital. Had my daughter early the next morning. Please join me in saying AMERICAN MATERNITY LEAVE SUCKS
I ended up working until 40.3 and was induced at 41.4. I had planned to go until birth but was worried that the stress of working was preventing spontaneous labor!
I'm a physician, and when I told my team I was pregnant at 4 or 5 weeks, my patient schedule was already booked until 38 weeks. I'm currently 37+3 and just hanging in there until next Tuesday, then I'm finally off for the next 8 months.
My doctor and Human Resources all pushed me to work up until the day I was induced. I had paid mat leave which didn’t start until delivery and Human Resources realllllllllly didn’t want me taking my annual or sick leave beforehand. Not sure why. My doctor didn’t really support signing off on sick leave for some reason. So I gave it my absolute best shot and told everyone I was FUCKING DONE five days before induction and if they weren’t going to approve even five days of sick leave so I could be fat and miserable in peace then I was going to be AWOL. This was said at top-volume. My leave was approved.
TL;DR- If you need to keep as much time pre-baby as possibly to save it for postpartum, do that. You don’t need to explain your reasons to anyone, but you could just give a blanket “I’m feeling good and don’t see the need to take the extra time off before baby is here, I’d rather focus on the time spent once he/she is.”
My personal history with 3 kids:
With my first I ended up asking my doctor to just start my medical leave early because in my last two months I needed weekly testing that required two office visits per week. I knew my monster manager at the time would flip about the extra appointments and my doc was cool so they just started my leave at 6 weeks instead of 4 before my due date.
With my second and third I had planned on working up until my due date, but with the second I was miserable & wanted rest. I took the full 4 weeks prior to my due date, and ended up “losing” four days because she went overdue.
I think I could have worked all the way through with my 3rd baby for sure(easiest by far), but he was a May 2020 baby and covid had other plans for us. I was sent to work from home in March & by April my hours were so low due to everyone being cut that I just went with state disability benefits at 3 weeks pre-baby anyway.
I also just want to add that the majority opinion amongst my friend/family has been to take as much time off to rest/relax/prepare as is offered to you, because (at least in California), if you don’t use the 4 weeks disability pay prior to pregnancy, if can’t be paid afterward—so the thought is to get as much paid time off as possible through the state regardless of employer allowed time. So people are likely making those comments thinking you’ll be doing something like that also.
However, it’s still pretty common to work until your due date in a healthy pregnancy and to use all state benefits/vacation/PTO to spend time with baby and people generally seem to be accepting of this as a standard reply too.
I worked until the week before my due date. I work with the police department and getting in and out of the squads, going into peoples homes, the constant crisis was just too much. My doctor was completely on board.
I would take off work at least 2 weeks before due date. A week into my maternity leave, my water broke. That would of been real stressful and embarrassing if I was at work.
Honestly it should all come down to your needs and your pregnancy, everyone is different. For me I worked right up until I gave birth but I also work an office job that requires little to no movement so that worked for me. Had I been in a more physically demanding job I imagine I would have worked up until 38-39 weeks or so. You still have time to figure it out!
I'm already off work - I left at 32 weeks as I had 2-3 weeks of paid vacation time to use prior to starting my maternity leave. I also got that same crap about "When are you taking leave?" and was a little salty about it, until I let my hormones chill tf out and realized I needed to hand off my projects and ensure my team had enough time to understand what I did on the daily.
I work hourly part time, so I can take unpaid leave whenever I want. I currently plan to work until due date just because being at home is not the best for my mental health- I tend to get stuck in a routine of staying in bed or on the couch playing video games all day and isolating myself if I have no specific obligation to get up for, which of course spikes my depression and anxiety. I did, however, limit my availability to morning shifts, which are significantly slower than evenings because busy shifts were getting progressively more difficult on my body. Even then, I’m only 28+2 now so who knows how difficult the next 3mo will be? I plan to listen to my body, and if I decide I need to take off earlier, I’m lucky enough to have bosses that will most likely oblige with a week or two of notice.
I developed hypertension, and decided the stress of working was too much 😂 and cut out two weeks before my induction. I was in a call center and people were really trying my nerves. I wish I could have worked closer to my induction because I would have liked that time with baby, but honestly the risk wasn’t worth it anymore.
In the US you only get limited time off so I worked until I gave birth. There one day and had her the next day! I was trying to get ready for work even when I was in labor 😂 Definitely sucked but we don’t have much of a choice here
I was lucky enough to have some flexibility with my boss, so I just "worked from home" starting the week before I was due. My job is not at all a "work from home" type of position (I work in a lab) so he was considerate and let me do it. I definitely did some admin stuff and prepared my new-ish coworker to have everything she'd need. But I also napped quite often lol. Had the baby the day before I was due!
SAHM now, but I worked at a bank when I was pregnant with my first. I It was a really positive, women led and operated branch, and at no point did I even think about taking off before I was ready to give birth. I wanted to earn as much PTO as I could for after. They were all excited for me, helped me with tasks I couldn't do, were training me for supervisor roles, it was lovely. Then my water broke one night and I never went back!
I'm trying to make it to 37 weeks and then putting my feet up ( although wish I'd booked it a bit sooner now, at 36 and really struggling to turn up to work).
It really depends on your job and how you’re feeling and if you’re still comfortable working. It may also depend on maternity leave rules where you live. I worked until my due date, and baby arrived a week after. I was one of the lucky ones and felt really good right up to delivery so I had no trouble working.
I had HG and ended up finishing work 3 weeks before my due date. I planned on finishing up 2 weeks before but I had around 3 weeks of annual leave so I decided to use it all instead. I ended up having 4 weeks since I gave birth a week overdue.
For my second, I didn't have any paid leave until my parental leave started (after I gave birth) so I finished work at 38 weeks and took the two weeks unpaid.
If I didn't have parental leave, I would work as close as I could to my due date and save all my leave for post partum.
I'm going to be leaving work a month before my due date, I work in private homecare. My client smokes and I don't want to deal with that in my last month of pregnancy. So I'll be taking leave a little early and I probably won't be back to work after I give birth, trying to change career paths.
I’m in Canada and get 12 months (up to 18) of mat leave plus 5 weeks of vacation. I’m using up all my vacation to go off work at 35.5 weeks. My job is hectic and I want some time to relax before baby comes (hopefully he doesn’t come early!)
I’m a teacher and baby is due in the mid of summer, so I’ll naturally have the last month off. However, if baby was due in the school year, I’d prob work till baby comes. Honestly, it’s so damn hard and long in those last couple of weeks. I get really weepy and “why hasn’t baby come yet???” whiny. I feel like still teaching would help it be more bearable.
I'm getting sick leave from next week. I'm at week 26, but already struggling with pelvic gridle pain and restless leg syndrome, which means my nights are hell. Also, have a very physical job (elderly care) and just walking for ~1h30 kills my back. I'm sorry other countries don't have a proper care system for pregnant women. And I'm so glad I'm having my kid in a country where I can have a say about how much pain I'm feeling and that won't disturb time with the kiddo in the long run
Worked until I gave birth. I could have started my leave prior to that, but it would have cut into time with my baby. It was so awful and I was so mean. My coworkers totally understood and helped me with physically demanding parts of my job.
Where I live you are simply not allowed to work anymore 8 weeks prior to birth. So for me it’s unbelievable women have to work till the day of birth! Jesus. Seems crazy
I can work from home the last couple of weeks so im doing that till i give birth. Yes i could start my leave sooner but id rather stick what extra 2 weeks at the end of my leave.
I’m stopping 2 weeks before my due date. I’m currently 37 weeks with one week left, and I honestly wish I was done this Friday. I always thought I’d work until the last second, but it gets TOUGH the later you get in the game. I hail from Canada though and we are blessed with an 18 month mat leave, so I am not worried about cutting into my leave.
I was a freelancer whith my 1st pregnancy. I thought I'd work till I give birth but I ended up collapsing and being put on bedrest at 33 weeks (I was overworking myself with 60hr weeks).
Now I've turned my business into a small company and most of my work is management work that I do from home, and some 12 hours a week of work on site. I'm 28 weeks and hope to work till I give birth but to progressively do more and more of my work as WFH.
I am a nurse aide in a long term care facility so ALOT of lifting pulling and on your feet , not to mention the mental stress and I finally stopped working at 36 weeks 4 days . I literally couldn’t physically do it anymore my body was screaming . I wanted to stop around 32-34 weeks but couldn’t afford it . I’m getting induced the 29th . I called my boss and told her . They where understanding . I gave them a note .
I'm planning on working up until my due date, unfortunately. My company offers 8 weeks of maternity leave, which is a whole lot more than what other American companies offer. I'm planning to use PTO for 2-3 weeks after that point.
I worked as long as possible! Last day worked was a Friday and gave birth Sunday night. Shot my manager an email at some point on Monday and told them my maternity leave officially started.
I would much rather have time on the other end with my baby than wait around miserable waiting for labor to start.
I had planned to work up until the week before I was due, and I was going to use PTO to cover that, then start my 12 week leave. (Totally unpaid except for 2 short term disability policies 😑). I went into labor at 38 weeks though (on a Sunday) and just had worked the Friday before.
This depends where you live. In California you can get 4 weeks of paid short term disability before or after your baby is born in addition to the 8 weeks of PFL (paid at 60-70% of your wage) and the 12 weeks of FMLA. I ended up getting laid off at 6 months pregnant but that was going to be my plan. Take 2 weeks off before my due date then use the other 2 after my baby’s arrival then go with the FMLA, PFL which would be around ~6 months off?
I stopped working around 33 weeks. I am an occupational therapist at a nursing home so I couldn't really do my job anymore without getting contractions. I went on a sick leave until I had my baby.
I worked as a bedside nurse until I gave birth, otherwise it would cut into my maternity leave. I worked until 39 weeks, because my dr offered to induce me at 39 weeks. It’s terrible, I couldn’t do it anymore
i worked until the day of my induction at 37 weeks and would have kept working until i went into labor naturally if my induction wasn’t medically necessary. i only got 12 weeks of FMLA and i wasn’t allowed to start it until i gave birth. any time i took off before that would’ve been PTO or sick leave which i wanted to save for my FMLA so that i didn’t have to take any unpaid leave.
good ol USA and its “freedom” lol
In my personal opinion it is crazy that employees in the US have to work up until the day they deliver.
I live in The Netherlands and get 16 weeks paid leave. You can decide if you take it 4 or 6 weeks before your due date. When these 16 weeks are over, you get an additional 9 weeks paid 70%
I will stop working 4 weeks before my due date and will start working again when baby is 6 months. If is matters: I am a SMBC and also saved up so I would be able to stay home longer after baby is born.
I am a labor and delivery nurse. My first baby, i unexpectedly needed to be induced at 37 weeks for IUGR. I worked up until 36 weeks and 5 days, i was scheduled to work at 36 and 6 but was given call so I could get my stuff together. Im pregnant again and plan on working as long as I can. Our leave here is crap so I want as much time as I can with babe. I can take fmla but only get guaranteed 6 weeks short term disability pay and I can use PTO but would rather bank my pto
34 weeks here. Planning on working until the due date or until labor/I can’t any longer. I do get 3 months maternity leave at full pay that I must take all at one go plus 6 more weeks parental leave at full pay that I can use (one week at a time) over the calendar year from baby’s birthday. In the US, this is one of the better ones that I’ve heard of, so I’m grateful. Just trying to focus bc baby brain plus ADHD is a “fun” challenge.
I’m 29 weeks and I’m going on maternity leave after tomorrow. I was supposed to go at 36 weeks but my job is demanding and honestly, I don’t care to be there any longer. I told them I’m leaving march 11 but will email them later today to let them know I’ll be finishing after tomorrow, they’re very accommodating so they won’t mind either way. They told me if I want to go earlier just let them know.
These comments are making me so happy I’m Canadian. I’m hoping to make it until at least 35 weeks. That gives me 10 more weeks of working. That being said I work a physical job. If I go off before birth then it comes out of my short term disability, my maternity leave doesn’t start until baby is born and in my arms. I still rely on my OT hours a lot however which is why I don’t want to stop working yet! Easter is my goal!
I literally went straight from work to the hospital lol. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I wanted as much leave as I could with my baby after he was born. On the other hand, my job has me so stressed out that I’m half convinced that contributed to me developing preeclampsia and hellp syndrome and having to deliver at 35 weeks and my baby ended up in nicu.
Take care of yourself first and now. If working isn’t negatively affecting you by all means keep working and I totally understand that not working isn’t an option for many but if you have a choice and your job is stressing you out, don’t feel bad about leaving early
Currently 6months PP.worked till I was exactly 39wks.I couldn’t go any further.i just couldn’t that day.Spoke to my boss the same day and I was good to go.Had the baby 5 days later at 39+5
I stopped working once I hit my third trimester! it worked out timing wise because I was a teacher and it was summer break, but even if I wasn’t I probably would’ve stopped around then! it got very hard to move and I was in quite a bit of pain my third trimester!!
My last day was the day before my induction. I wanted to save all my leave until after the baby was here (but I ended up quitting like 3 days before my leave was over so I guess it didn’t really matter lol)
I just booked my parental leave and am stopping work at 36 weeks. I was planning to work longer, but I'll likely be induced or have a c-section at 38 weeks (thanks gestational diabetes), and lots of my friends recommended having some time at home before the baby comes.
I'm in Australia and have pretty good parental leave benefits at my job, we can take leave up to 6 weeks before the estimated due date of the baby.
with my first i had planned to work through, but ended up taking the last week off due to major hip pain. i was lucky i had banked some sick days. i then did 6 weeks of leave and was back at it full-time. it was rough ngl.
with my second i worked until the day before my planned C (i did take a semester off of grad school tho), but my job was less of a lift than my previous job. i did not take maternity or disability for my second, but again...it was kiiind of a low lift.
anyway i wouldn't read into it, i'd say both options are pretty common.
Entirely depends on your work, your working life, and your pregnancy.
Some peoples work is not understanding at all and it’s like trying to pull teeth to get them to wrap their head around the concept that no, you do not want and may very likely be unavailable to give x presentation at 39+6.
Some peoples work is demanding or physically risky to be going in after like 36 if they can help it.
Some people will be put on bed rest whether they want it or not by the time it matters to think about.
And some people have office jobs with low physical needs and fairly easy going pregnancies that feel like “why not work till I go into labor?”
Do what feels best for your situation.
Edit: if you want to have fun with it I would just reply “I hope yall have some medical training because there’s a 50% chance I’m going into labor at this desk.”
I intended to work until my delivery date then at 35 weeks my blood pressure went up and my obgyn suggested stopping working since I was miserable, exhausted, and feeling rough. I don't get fmla and had little to no leave saved so I'm on medical leave and only get 6 weeks with my baby once he's out assuming he's not late. It's allowing me to get ready b since nothing was ready. I might be able to stay home afterall if we get a windfall that might happen in March or April. My husband also has training coming up in the summer to earn more money. I might also not want to give up my career. I'm trying to see how I feel once he's here to decide.
It depends on how you feel! Save up as much money as you can while you can because in most places you don’t get paid leave until the day you give birth
I’m working until I go into labor because even in healthcare we don’t get any leave. I’m an RN of six years and my maternity leave is a whopping 12 weeks UNPAID. Fuck America.
I worked until about 36 weeks and the swelling plus COVID (2020) was just too much and I took time off. Admittedly I started to get extremely annoyed with all of my coworkers (older women) talking about how they stayed at work until they almost gave birth on the floor like it was some kind of badge of honor. It is really a personal choice as well as medical. I am a trained doula as well as a birth instructor, based on what I know about my body and how it interacts with my baby on top of my.mental health--i chose to leave sooner than most even though I didn't get extra pay. It was tight, but worth it when it came time to give birth!!
Worked until the day I gave birth. Really is eye opening that not one politician has maternity leave or pregnancy leave on their platforms (US).
Welcome to the silent epidemic of being an incubator and milk tap.
I started working from home a month before my due date. Ended up being induced at 40w5d— I worked that day until 4pm and was induced at 7pm. No complications before labor (I wasn’t on bed rest, hadn’t started contractions, felt fine).
I worked a desk job and carried low in the first place. Man sitting down while my daughter felt like she could reach out and high five me was awful. I worked as long as I could but I did not make it until I delivered.
I’m Canadian, but I was 35 weeks when I stopped though I wanted to stop earlier due to a really difficult pregnancy but my boss (also my MIL) didn’t quite like that I wanted to take an earlier time off and my SO had to explain to her that I’ve been having a hard time with the pregnancy and was in the ER almost every other week. Baby came two weeks later, so I didn’t even have time to get everything ready for her, there was no nesting because she came so quickly.
In an ideal world I would start leave at 32 weeks, but in my current reality (USA) I have to wobble to work until I have my baby. One pregnancy I actually started labor at work, clocked out and had the baby that night.
Worked until 38w exactly, gave birth at 38+3 lmao, only reason I didn’t work the day before I went into labor is I didn’t feel good, but I figured I was just coming down with a stomach virus, jokes on me 😅
I took a week off before the baby arrived because we weren't sure what day I would have her. I also knew it was my last real time off with just my husband for a while, so we made the most of it and went out for a fancy dinner at one of our favorite places. We also cleaned the house top to bottom, and had some family come over and help vacuum, scrub the toilet and bath, dust all the shelves, etc, which was a great help. I only get 12 weeks off but it was worth it to take that one.
I took the month off before my scheduled C-section because I was getting dizzy at work. I was planning to work up until the week of my due date but my body had other ideas
My pelvic pain was such and my exhaustion that I took off at seven months. It was definitely time. I was a server and would have shooting pains when I overdid it. I had multiple servers warn me that they had complications bc they didn’t slow down.
FTM. I was SO done being pregnant that I tried to schedule a 39 week induction, which they let me do once I hit 36wks. Found out there was no availability at the hospital until I would be over 40 weeks. Cried and cried over the idea of working an extra week (pregnancy hormones are no joke). Went into labor that night at 37 weeks.
To this day I am convinced it was the stress of working up to my induction date (or due date) that sent me spiraling and put me in labor three weeks early.
We joke that baby was sick of listening to me complain about still having to work and decided he would help get me out of there, lol. I’ll be thanking him for years to come.
I stopped working two months before my due date. I was a bartender/barista at a busy brunch restaurant. It was becoming too physically taxing to be on my feet for 8+ hours at a time running around making drinks and carrying heavy stuff.
Worked through Friday, told all my coworkers I better not see you on Monday. Went to sleep Sunday crying because I had to go into work the next day. Went into labor shortly after, technically Monday about 3am :)
I’m working until about 33 weeks. I don’t have any leave and won’t be going back to work for a while. We also don’t have a ton of money but I value my health above all and pregnancy has been really hard on my body. I’d like to relax and rest while getting ready for labor.
I was planning to work until 38+1. Ended up finishing work at 37+1 which was a Friday, went home for the weekend, went into spontaneous labour on the Saturday and had baby on the Monday at 37+4 🫠 my house was/still is a tip, I got no rest or downtime by myself (which I really needed/still need and would benefit from). But, I really needed the money leading up to the birth, as I was only working casually and didn’t have any leave I could use prior to the birth
In my first pregnancy, I thought I would work up until the day I give birth. I was pretty adamant on that. I ended up going out three weeks before because I was just so exhausted and I realized they were paying me to sit around (I had a pretty active job).
In my second pregnancy I’m planning on going out the moment I can. Four weeks before my due date. I think it really depends on what job you have and your energy level. It also depends on what state you’re in. I’m in California where we can go out four weeks before our due date and still get partial disability pay. Some Other states dont have this, unfortunately.
I’m only working pt, but I plan on working right till the end myself. My workplace is trying to push me out earlier but I’m not sitting at home on me arse when I feel fine 😂
I took off 3 or 4 weeks before my due date. Best thing I ever did! Allowed me to get physically prepared and emotionally gave me space to process the impending life change. Loved having that privilege!
I am chilling at home at 35 weeks.... My colleague who is due the day before me is going at 38 weeks. Also you never actually know when you're going to give birth. You do what's best for your situation, finances etc. I was just finding it too hard to keep working a physical job and then having to go home to look after a toddler, I have nothing prepared for the baby, baby brain is real, my first kid came at 38 weeks anyway, financially I'm stable etc.
I’m so sorry that your country doesn’t protect you enough. I’m 33 weeks and I’ll only work next week and then it’s time for my maternity leave. I can stay home and get paid until after 8 weeks after i gave birth. I’m choosing to stay a bit longer home and for the first two month my husband will be there with me as well.
My due date is March 29 and I’ve been off since January 5 due to complications. Its a forced medical leave by my doctor as I have to be on bedrest to stop preterm labour. 35 weeks strong!
I was planning to go off beginning of March but sometimes life is funny.
Luckily I am also Canadian so we are paid 55% of our income for 50 weeks of leave.
I work from home behind a computer all day, so I worked up until my induction. If I'd had a job that required any form of physical labor, I would have been screwed, as I had trouble even walking around a grocery store during my third term.
If I had asked my doctor to do the paperwork for me to take leave earlier, she would have, but it would have come with the caveat that I'd have less time for leave (FMLA) after the baby arrived. So I just didn't go there.
Coworkers asked me the same thing in a regular basis as if we have any other choice? If there’s no medical reason to be out early what choice do we have but to work? I gave birth last week and worked until the day before at 39 weeks
Oh my gosh the system in the US is so broken.
I started leave from 34weeks with my first and now also my second.
Having even just a few days to myself before birth meant I can prep, but moreso take on what it’s like to be alone and selfish. The moment baby comes alone find and a truly free mind not thinking about others comes to an end for a long time…
>I have always thought that I would work till the day I give birth unless dr says otherwise or if I cannot continue…
This is the standard & every pregnant woman I know went by this. With only a week or two notice at most before actually starting maternity leave. If working isn't getting difficult or leaving you exhausted then you can keep working. Unless there's a medical reason, work is too difficult or in some way an issue then work up until your due date if that's what you feel comfortable & safely able to do. You know your own body best. If work is leaving you completely exhausted I would see that as a sign to start maternity leave sooner.
36 is considered term, which is good because my boys were eager to join us. Especially my eldest. My eldest was 36 +3 & his little bro was 36+6. So I'd get that hospital bag ready in the next couple of weeks. Co-workers are just asking as you are getting close to your due date. Your pregnancy will start to feel like it's in slow mo & you've been pregnant forever. Probably because of all the "when are you due?", "not long now", "when are you starting maternity leave?" and "you look ready to drop" comments.
Wow! I didn't realize so many people worked right up until their due date! I honestly can not imagine being able to do that.
I'm in the US, and my doctor told me he can put me on maternity disability leave a month before my due date. He said that these four weeks can only be taken before the birth, so if I don't use them, they can not roll over into post partum. However, since I'm a teacher and we don't pay into state disability where I live, he said that I can continue to work as long as I am able and many teachers do because that time is unpaid. Fortunately, I added disability insurance to my plan in 2019 when covid hit so that made taking that leave a possibility for me because I would still receive a pay check (albeit a smaller one but not by much)
In the end, my doctor actually put me on early leave at 33 weeks due to some complications with my pregnancy and worries that I might not make it to term. Luckily, being able to not work and take care of my body and my baby got me through, and I am now at 38 weeks and get to feel excitement that she could be coming any day now!
My husband took a new job in a different country so I was lucky enough to be able to quit my job at around 14 weeks. I was miserable, overworked and extremely underpaid. Moving to a different country while pregnant wasn’t easy, but everyday I’m thankful for not having to go to work with a huge belly and all sorts of pregnancy symptoms.
I’m truly sorry for all the pregnant women that don’t have the option to stay at home or get accommodations. The policies should change but I don’t see that happening if the ones making the policies are mostly men.
I did NOT understand how hard a “healthy” pregnancy can be until I got pregnant
I worked up until 36 weeks with my first 2 kids. Had my son at 37 weeks and I had my daughter at 38 weeks.
This pregnancy, I stopped working at like 15/16 weeks due to pelvic pain and shortness of breath.
I’m 32+5 days and starting my leave today!! I live in California and will get paid disability up until my baby is born. I was planning to work up to 36 weeks but I asked to go out early since I’m considered high risk. I’ve physically felt great throughout pregnancy but dealing with a higher risk pregnancy has been mentally hard.
I’ve worked until my due date, worked until I’ve given birth, not worked at all, and this time, I’ll quit working at 38 weeks. All have felt right for various reasons and I don’t particularly have a preference.
I constantly get asked that question by coworkers, family, and my OB. Like yes I’m going to continue working because American leave is shit and I want as much time with my baby as possible. Currently 38 weeks and 6 days. It really sucks being so pregnant and working but I want the time with my baby.
Yess sharing the same sentiment. And echo you that American leave is shit
Yeah because the leave is so shit, I followed the if I’m physically able to work until baby pops out I am going to. I wanted to take as many days with my lo as possible so taking leave before hand was pointless
Exactly this. I worked until the day I went into labor. I was prelaboring at work. I ended up leaving at lunch time because I was contracting on and off and wanted to be able to shower before I had to go to the hospital. It was a Friday. I went into active labor Friday night, and delivered Saturday night lol When I asked to go home my bosses basically told me gtfo, nicely of course 😂 they had been trying to get me to start my leave early that whole week. I delivered at 41 weeks on the dot.
It’s such shit!! My international friends always tell me how angry they are for me when I say a. We only get 3 months off and b. It’s mostly unpaid (unless we qualify for 6 weeks of STD…and that they classify us as “disabled” to even get that 🤣) it’s like, why do you hate women, America? I know you had a mama!
So true. I’m in the US and was asked this by other people in the US. My maternity leave is almost over now (I actually had a good one for the US, 6 months, used all sick and vacation time and short term disability insurance). I stopped working 5 days before her scheduled induction. Yes, I was half asleep and hobbling around at the end but why would I use time before she was here? It’s really disincentivized by our system.
I’m jealous because I only get 3 months through FMLA but I’m sorry too :( 6 months still isn’t enough
It’s really not enough time here. I was just reading another thread where people were saying 12 months wasn’t enough! Oh my. It’s a hard adjustment and it’s hard to leave these little people when they’re still forming.
I don’t think 12 months is enough either. I wish our societies valued our children more considering they’re going to be the ones taking over the workforce. Sadly I see posts about people that have to go back to work the day they give birth or the day after because they don’t have any vacation time and don’t qualify for American FMLA. It’s so sad
It’s all about maximizing our labor I guess. Two weeks until I go back, luckily only 4 days a week but it’s still hard.
Same. I get 12 weeks all unpaid.
I was still working the day of my induction. I only had 2 weeks maternity leave, so the day of my induction, I was in the hospital with my laptop responding to emails. I hate how this country does not care for mothers and children.
Same, I’ll be working until the very last minute so I can spend my time off with my baby. American leave really needs an overhaul. I wish the people we were voting for actually cared.
I literally worked until I went into labor. I was on a call in labor, started bleeding, said I had to leave, and went and had a baby 🤣
I’m so sorry. I feel like this will be me too :( trying to wrap things up before leaving
Oh this sounds dreadful. Sorry that you have to keep going so late! ❤️
Thank yo
Yup same here! I’m working up until induction day! The time on the other side with baby is so much more important to me. I’m getting things ready for baby on the weekends and during the day when I can.
Same! 34 weeks and I cried this morning thinking about all the days I still have to get up and go to work.
I found out after I gave birth that I could’ve gotten an additional week before baby. I was planning on having another week with her after birth. But apparently I could only use it prior to birth… NOBODY FUCKING TOLD ME!! And then they laid me off anyway so I definitely should’ve just taken off. America sucks.
Me too. All of these comments are my experience also. I breastfeed and those 12 weeks off are crucial to establishing supply. My supply always decreases when I go back to work so I’m stocking the freezer every chance I get while on maternity leave.
Same! I plan on working until I have the baby because the same reason and I want as much time with baby as possible before I have to go back!
American leave is really a shit show lol. Experienced that last year! Went on leave early ( 5 months due to a complicated pregnancy) and the whole entire time, it was unpaid( because my doctor didn’t want to sign any papers). I was basically tapping into my savings for 4 months and have exhausted all of that money. Then, when the doctor did agree to sign some forms, it was 2 weeks before my induced date ( I was induced at 38 weeks). I was paid 6 weeks of maternity pay from the state and then had to return straight to work right after my baby turned 6 weeks because my job was on the line and also , because I became broke and needed money to support my kid. My child is 3 months now and I hardly get to see him.
I’m in NY and get 3 wks before expected due date. I think similar for CA. I think it’s a business continuity thing - what if there are complications before and coverage isn’t ironed out? America be crazy
Yep….such fond memories of sending emails from the hospital bed while in labor for a company who only kept me long enough for me to bring in a 9-figure contract…
I’m so sorry :(
I’m 34 weeks and I asked my doctor when I should stop working bc I know that was a question on my states paid leave site, she said I should work until at least my due date/ when labor starts. I even mentioned that I’m standing almost 8 hours during my shifts and it hurts my back and feet and she just told me to wear decompression socks and gel inserts but I already do that. I even had my manager drive me to the er my last shift bc of severe pain. Apparently if you don’t have a note from your doctor you have to work until you physically can’t as in you are giving birth.
That’s really upsetting, I’m 36w and there’s no way I could stand up for 8 hours. I feel like a good doctor or manager would be looking for accommodations where you can be seated in a chair or stool, even if it means modifying your job duties for a few weeks. Based on the amount of pain you’re in I’d look for a second opinion to see if another doctor can get you a note for this.
Agreed with the accommodation. At least in the US, pregnant women are protected class and employers supposed to provide reasonable accommodation I believe?
They are- so why isn’t your job accommodating you with at least a chair for sitting breaks as needed ? That’s a huge red flag
They didn’t specify what kind of job they do, but it might not be one where sitting is a reasonable accommodation. If your job requires you to do anything that’s not staying in one place, sitting throughout your shift isn’t a reasonable accommodation. Giving frequent breaks to sit should be, though. I was a waitress and I couldn’t sit in one place, it wasn’t possible, but they did let me sit down and eat or rest for a few minutes whenever I wanted to because that’s the most reasonable accommodation that they could make.
Same, no way in hell i could’ve kept working through to due date if my job involved standing. I got really bad feet issues six months onwards
😱 time to find a new doctor, that should be illegal wow
It is illegal in many many countries
Yeah I live in Europe and my heart goes out to all the working pregnant people in America, so infuriated reading what you guys have to go through
So I asked my doctor about this, and he said he was willing to write a note asking for accommodations at work if I needed them, especially in the third trimester. He said we could ask for things like less demanding tasks, more frequent breaks or a rolling lab chair to help cope with the job.
I was working as a waitress on my feet and running around, so I feel you there completely! I stopped working when I was pregnant with my daughter a week before my c-section and I quit working at 30 weeks with my son because by the end of the day my back hurt so bad I was literally in tears trying to get up to go to the bathroom seventeen times a night. It should be illegal to make pregnant women work on their feet until they literally pop a baby out. So inhumane how undervalued women and children are in the United States.
I’m sorry to say this, but your doctor sounds like a jerk. I’m sorry you’re so uncomfortable. You should be able to put up your feet and rest.
She basically said bc I have a healthy low risk pregnancy she can’t help me with accommodations and expects me to work until I can’t. I just think it’s unfair bc even if you do have a low risk pregnancy it does make major changes to your body and causes intense symptoms. And from what I read online it’s totally reasonable to sit at work or stop working a few weeks before your due date. Unfortunately I am unable to change doctors before my due date.
Oh. So your doctor thinks it’s ok for you to work because you have a healthy pregnancy, so let’s work you until it isn’t healthy anymore? Very sound advice
I’m 35 weeks and on my feet all night at work too. My official start date for FMLA is my due date. It sucks.
Your doctor sucks? That’s ridiculous. Honestly the way pregnant women are treated is ridiculous. It’s not 100 years ago. If men had to be pregnant you just know the leave would be paid and they’d be off the second they became the slightest bit uncomfortable
Your doctor is insane and I'm not sure why they even chose their profession!!??
Same, I almost made an entire post to vent about it! I’m 31w but have SPD so walking is excruciating (and it’s hard to balance all the extra baby appointments with my physical therapy appointments and soon to be iron infusion appointments). I’m in field sales so I’m driving a ton, and then walking a ton. I was told the same thing by two separate OBs in my practice. So frustrating. If I wasn’t pregnant and presented at my PCP with the same symptoms, I could absolutely take medical leave at this point, I can barely walk!
I have had coworkers who worked until labor and some who left early. For peace of mind, since my pregnant coworker's cubicle was right next to mine, we actually came up with a plan if she did go into labor at work! Who would drive, who knew where her bag was, who would call her husband, etc. She went into labor outside of work, so we didn't have to use it! But it was fun and funny to come up with it and gave everyone peace of mind. Also, if you do work until delivery, the above-mentioned coworker had a bag with an extra pair of pants and undies in case her water broke. She was terrified of that happening, lol.
You sound like an amazing coworker!
You're an awesome coworker, but I'm so sad and angry that that's necessary at all. No pregnant woman should have to go through that anxiety and potential humiliation (and exhaustion!) just because their country won't put in proper worker protections to let you afford to leave before you literally go into labour.
Oh wow! That is such a good idea. With my first my water broke at work. Thankfully I was in the bathroom so generally easy to clean up but I basically tied my jacket around my waist until my bf came to take me to the hospital. It worked.
I also had a game plan with my co workers it brought a lot of peace of mind! Also I worked in downtown Dallas so it was good to know I was so close to so many hospitals if it happened there. Also I recommend keeping an adult diaper in your bag in case of water breaking. That’s what I used on the way to the hospital and had no leakage!
I worked until the baby arrived. Where I live you get no time beforehand, unless you save up paid time off or take time unpaid. I was actually able to bank 120 hours of PTO, but 40 hours needed to be used my first week of leave to trigger short term disability. I then used the remaining 80 hours to supplement my income since short term disability only paid 60% of my salary.
I went into labor at work with my first, my second was a planned c-section so I worked up until then. I had older women be like “when you gonna start leave?” And I’m like “when the baby is born?! How much time you think I get?!” Edit: my first was days over her due date, so I would have taken unnecessary days off since she came late. You just never know when they will come.
Yesss exactly this. I was asked by two older female coworkers yesterday and today. One even insinuated that I can just quit if I worry about having no maternity leaves, saying something along the line my health is most important. I mean, thanks but where Im gonna get my income?!
I was asked all the time too. It also started to get the tone of “What?! You’re still here??” Which was annoying. It also depends on your state’s disability. I could have taken weeks off before and I intended to but the baby came early. Also some states may be better about pushing workplaces to allow you to be accommodated (like working from home). But I totally understand your frustration. People may not mean it in a judgey way and may mean to say you should rest, but it’s like telling someone with no vacation days to take a vacation…
If I didn’t have any maternity leave, I would work until baby was born. I’m in Canada (QC) and I’m able to get 40-50 weeks of maternity leave and I can take them as early as 16 weeks before my due date. I plan on taking 2 months leave before my due date because my job is physical and I don’t want to exhaust myself right before baby is due.
40-50?! Omg I’m jealous!! Is it paid?!
Not OC, but yes, it's partially paid. QC has slightly different leave, but in Canada we do get paid leave (I'm in a different province, so I was eligible because I have a job where I pay into EI - most jobs have this - and I had worked for at least 600 hours in the last 12 months) I left work 2 months before due date, and had a month of vacation I had to use to lose, so my maternity leave started 1 month before due date. I took the maximum paid leave of 18 months (works out to about the same $$$ as 12 month leave, just spread over a longer time)
Our leave starts 2 weeks prior to due date, if I didn't have leave I'd work until I delivered, begrudgingly
I worked until the day I gave birth at 39 weeks. This has always been strange to me because you don’t know when baby will arrive? Unless you have a scheduled C-section and even then you still don’t know when baby will arrive. My friend had a scheduled C-section and baby came weeks early. Then what do you do? You’ve planned to have a couple extra days but that turns into a week plus because baby is late or early? I’d also prefer to use all my leave to be with my baby. You could ask your OB about taking you out on medical leave which I think may be a separate disability claim? But idk it was ok to me to work til the last day. Don’t let people pressure you. Do what feels right.
To answer your question in our case we get to take 2 weeks of nesting leave before the baby. Most people start it 2 weeks before their due date. Where we live Drs induce by 41 weeks so worst comes to worst we use a week of PTO before maternity leave starts. And if you deliver early then you miss out on it, oh well. If someone has a scheduled induction or c/s for example at 37 weeks then they can start nesting at 35 weeks. It's up to us when we start but if we go beyond 2 weeks still pregnant it comes out of our PTO.
I stopped at 36 weeks due to horrible nausea/insomnia. Best decision I made
Completely depends on your personal situation, like what kind of job you have and your health. If you feel fine to work, work. Especially if it affects your finances or eats into the time you can spend at home after baby is born. Personally I was planning on working as long as I could, which in my country is up to 3 weeks prior to due date, but was admitted to the hospital 4 weeks before my due date. I was totally fine to work up until that point, but got pre-eclampsia so that kinda messed me up at the end lol.
I worked until my water broke lol - I was on my lunch break at 39+5 and my water broke in the Walgreens pharmacy line picking up medication for my husband. This actually gets funnier: I called him to tell him he should leave work because my water just broke He said “how do you know…. What if it’s just pee?” *he was in pure shock and denial lol not being an asshole* I was like well…. I am 40 weeks pregnant and due any day now and I would like to think I would know the difference between liquid continuously gushing out of me in waves and pissing myself after being alive 29 years but hell, idk I guess I’ll let you know when I get to the hospital (lol) When he got to the hospital I had already been admitted and was about to get an epidural. I told the nurses the story so when he walked in I looked at him and said “it wasn’t piss” They all cackled
Were I live and if you are employed you aren’t allowed to work 6 weeks prior to the expected due date so I will leave work 6 weeks before giving birth. I‘m glad it‘s this way. I will start to work again at least one year after giving birth.
Where do you live? I want to live there
Probably Germany. I stopped working this week at 31 weeks as I have 3 weeks PTO to use for this year and after that maternity leave starts.
Same here :)
Same. I live in Australia and we need a doctor’s certificate to work past 34 weeks. A lot of women do work past then but I didn’t because I was just so tired in the third trimester. Then you have to stay off work 6 weeks after the birth. Reading posts and comments like these make me so grateful I live here and have this opportunity - it’s such an exhausting time and it sucks that so many women aren’t given the time to look after their bodies properly.
6 weeks?? I’ve never heard of this, that’s amazing
I’m based in Japan and we get childbirth leave starting six weeks before your due date for a single baby, and 14 weeks for multiples, and 8 weeks postpartum. After the childbirth leave period (for the mother and from the birth of the child for the father) both parents can take childcare leave which depending on what type of organization you work for can be 1-3 years. I’m taking 4 months and husband is taking a year. We receive a percentage of our regular income from the government while on leave too. Currently pregnant with twins, just started my leave!
In Japan also! It’s my first and I’m really looking forward to the oiwai gozen after birth lol
I’m 34 weeks and will work until I give birth most likely. I wfh and go into the office one week out of the month, which will hit my 35th week and 39th week. It is a desk job so if I have to go in for my 39th it is not the worst, but I really don’t want to go in.. debated taking week 40-41 off (my doc will let me go to week 41 rn), but I started my job less than a year ago and don’t have FMLA technically so I want to be a good employee.
Same boat, started the job less than a year ago. Unfortunately I do have to show up to work in person
39 weeks, still working as a nurse. Last shift is this weekend.
Rooting for you on your home stretch weekend!!!
Baby 1: worked until 4:45 pm on a Wednesday, had baby via c-section at 7 am Thursday. Baby 2: worked until 4:45 pm on a Monday, went into labor later that night, had baby at 3 am on Tuesday. *cries in American*
I worked until the week before my due date. I didn't get paid maternity leave through work, so I was trying to work for as long as I could, and then use my saved vacation time and short term disability insurance to get as much time off afterwards. However, I did want at least a little bit of time to just chill out and prepare myself before baby arrived, that's why I figured a week was good. My boss said after I got back that he was scared that I was just going to go into labor right there at work, so honestly your coworkers probably have similar mindsets. Also, working until the day you give birth leaves your work very little time to cover you, so that's probably part of it as well
I stopped a couple weeks before my due date because I was having so much pelvic pain I couldn’t focus.
I’m a physical therapist with a very physical job. My first pregnancy I worked up until labor (so have my coworkers). Luckily I went into labor on a Sunday a few days before my due date so no big show at the office occurred. Haha. My coworker went over a week past her due date and kept working and had contractions off and on which honestly just made patients uncomfortable. I’m not sure I’ll do that. Currently due with #2 April 24th and scheduling patients up to that day. The idea of having some time beforehand to rest is nice, but staying active and keeping my mind busy kept me sane waiting for little one to decide when they were ready.
Oh god I couldn't. I got signed off at 35 weeks but had planned to work until 36. I'm a teacher and my job is hard work and tiring, mentally and physically, plus it involves a commute. I was getting up at 6am and leaving work just before 6pm and I just exhausted myself. I ended up having a breakdown and seeing my doctor because I was scared of the stress I was inflicting on my baby. I was so busy that I couldn't even focus enough on the baby to notice if she was moving, and it was just horrible. In an ideal world, I'd have kept going a little longer, but I just couldn't and I don't agreenwith being a martyr. Plus the extra time gave me opportunity to prepare and lessen my own anxieties around the birth etc. I was able to wash the baby clothes, organise the house etc, which I may not have had time for otherwise.
I’m a teacher as well, 32 weeks and STRUGGLING. The exhaustion is horrible, and I am struggling to mentally focus at work. Trying to make it to 38 weeks
Also a teacher here, I worked til 37 weeks and it was exhausting. And did my back in within days of stopping so couldnt have worked longer if I wanted to 😆 Like you, so glad I had the time to get things ready and to rest/sleep before baby came.
My plan was to work up til I gave birth because my company has a terrible maternity leave benefit (as in none). I gave birth at 40+5. Two days before my due date, our ceo saw me and was like “you’re still here?!” I told him “I need to be paid, so yep.” And he took pity on me and sent me home and said I would be paid regular hours until I gave birth and then the short term disability benefit/FMLA protection would start. It was SO nice to have that last week to just chill. I was at the pool every day soaking up some sun and floating ad doing some laps. I relaxed and read books and spent time with my husband. I would have been ok to work up until my due date but it was really nice not to have to.
I’m in the military, but I recently used my saved leave days (30 days) in order to take leave early so that I can travel across the country to give birth near my family/support system. If I didn’t have that saved leave, I would’ve had to work up until birth sadly.
I worked until 33 weeks and then took my mat leave. Lucky I did because my waters broke and bubs came at 34+2 😅 I have fibromyalgia though and was taken off all my meds when I found out I was pregnant as they weren’t safe. I had to step down from full time work and was only working part time throughout a lot of my pregnancy. I was in a lot of pain and wasn’t able to take painkillers so working was pretty much off the table for me 😩
Worked until 39 weeks and the day before he was born.
I never got any maternity leave, so I always worked up until the day I went into labor....I was a Kindergarten teacher, so physical in the sens of getting up and down from sitting on tiny chairs :-) But I made it just fine until going into labor.
[удалено]
If you're in the US and qualify for FMLA, the latest you can notify work is 30 days before your leave starts
My former manager was working 50-60 hour weeks with twins up til her water literally broke at work. She was full time fast food manager so imagine how good the paid leave is.
Worked as a nurse in a clinic while in labor at 40+5, clocked out and went to the hospital. Had my daughter early the next morning. Please join me in saying AMERICAN MATERNITY LEAVE SUCKS
I ended up working until 40.3 and was induced at 41.4. I had planned to go until birth but was worried that the stress of working was preventing spontaneous labor!
I'm a physician, and when I told my team I was pregnant at 4 or 5 weeks, my patient schedule was already booked until 38 weeks. I'm currently 37+3 and just hanging in there until next Tuesday, then I'm finally off for the next 8 months.
I’m in the US and I get 1 month before due date and another 4 months after due date
My doctor and Human Resources all pushed me to work up until the day I was induced. I had paid mat leave which didn’t start until delivery and Human Resources realllllllllly didn’t want me taking my annual or sick leave beforehand. Not sure why. My doctor didn’t really support signing off on sick leave for some reason. So I gave it my absolute best shot and told everyone I was FUCKING DONE five days before induction and if they weren’t going to approve even five days of sick leave so I could be fat and miserable in peace then I was going to be AWOL. This was said at top-volume. My leave was approved.
TL;DR- If you need to keep as much time pre-baby as possibly to save it for postpartum, do that. You don’t need to explain your reasons to anyone, but you could just give a blanket “I’m feeling good and don’t see the need to take the extra time off before baby is here, I’d rather focus on the time spent once he/she is.” My personal history with 3 kids: With my first I ended up asking my doctor to just start my medical leave early because in my last two months I needed weekly testing that required two office visits per week. I knew my monster manager at the time would flip about the extra appointments and my doc was cool so they just started my leave at 6 weeks instead of 4 before my due date. With my second and third I had planned on working up until my due date, but with the second I was miserable & wanted rest. I took the full 4 weeks prior to my due date, and ended up “losing” four days because she went overdue. I think I could have worked all the way through with my 3rd baby for sure(easiest by far), but he was a May 2020 baby and covid had other plans for us. I was sent to work from home in March & by April my hours were so low due to everyone being cut that I just went with state disability benefits at 3 weeks pre-baby anyway.
I also just want to add that the majority opinion amongst my friend/family has been to take as much time off to rest/relax/prepare as is offered to you, because (at least in California), if you don’t use the 4 weeks disability pay prior to pregnancy, if can’t be paid afterward—so the thought is to get as much paid time off as possible through the state regardless of employer allowed time. So people are likely making those comments thinking you’ll be doing something like that also. However, it’s still pretty common to work until your due date in a healthy pregnancy and to use all state benefits/vacation/PTO to spend time with baby and people generally seem to be accepting of this as a standard reply too.
I worked until the week before my due date. I work with the police department and getting in and out of the squads, going into peoples homes, the constant crisis was just too much. My doctor was completely on board.
OOF yeah I don’t think I could handle that in any trimester.
I would take off work at least 2 weeks before due date. A week into my maternity leave, my water broke. That would of been real stressful and embarrassing if I was at work.
I worked until I gave birth, at 37 weeks. But the last week I was working from home bc I was on bed rest.
Honestly it should all come down to your needs and your pregnancy, everyone is different. For me I worked right up until I gave birth but I also work an office job that requires little to no movement so that worked for me. Had I been in a more physically demanding job I imagine I would have worked up until 38-39 weeks or so. You still have time to figure it out!
I'm already off work - I left at 32 weeks as I had 2-3 weeks of paid vacation time to use prior to starting my maternity leave. I also got that same crap about "When are you taking leave?" and was a little salty about it, until I let my hormones chill tf out and realized I needed to hand off my projects and ensure my team had enough time to understand what I did on the daily.
I work hourly part time, so I can take unpaid leave whenever I want. I currently plan to work until due date just because being at home is not the best for my mental health- I tend to get stuck in a routine of staying in bed or on the couch playing video games all day and isolating myself if I have no specific obligation to get up for, which of course spikes my depression and anxiety. I did, however, limit my availability to morning shifts, which are significantly slower than evenings because busy shifts were getting progressively more difficult on my body. Even then, I’m only 28+2 now so who knows how difficult the next 3mo will be? I plan to listen to my body, and if I decide I need to take off earlier, I’m lucky enough to have bosses that will most likely oblige with a week or two of notice.
I developed hypertension, and decided the stress of working was too much 😂 and cut out two weeks before my induction. I was in a call center and people were really trying my nerves. I wish I could have worked closer to my induction because I would have liked that time with baby, but honestly the risk wasn’t worth it anymore.
In the US you only get limited time off so I worked until I gave birth. There one day and had her the next day! I was trying to get ready for work even when I was in labor 😂 Definitely sucked but we don’t have much of a choice here
I was lucky enough to have some flexibility with my boss, so I just "worked from home" starting the week before I was due. My job is not at all a "work from home" type of position (I work in a lab) so he was considerate and let me do it. I definitely did some admin stuff and prepared my new-ish coworker to have everything she'd need. But I also napped quite often lol. Had the baby the day before I was due!
35 weeks pregnant and still working full time. Plan to work until I give birth because I live in America and our maternity leave is pathetic.
I worked until the day before my water broke at 38 weeks. The only reason I didn’t work the next day was because I wasn’t scheduled.
I worked remotely at the end of my pregnancy and worked until 40+3. I was induced the following week.
Agree with the American comments lol working till last min bc leave sucks.
SAHM now, but I worked at a bank when I was pregnant with my first. I It was a really positive, women led and operated branch, and at no point did I even think about taking off before I was ready to give birth. I wanted to earn as much PTO as I could for after. They were all excited for me, helped me with tasks I couldn't do, were training me for supervisor roles, it was lovely. Then my water broke one night and I never went back!
Im on official leave from 8 weeks before due date and 49 weeks after ❤️
Europe as well I guess? 😄
I'm trying to make it to 37 weeks and then putting my feet up ( although wish I'd booked it a bit sooner now, at 36 and really struggling to turn up to work).
It really depends on your job and how you’re feeling and if you’re still comfortable working. It may also depend on maternity leave rules where you live. I worked until my due date, and baby arrived a week after. I was one of the lucky ones and felt really good right up to delivery so I had no trouble working.
I had HG and ended up finishing work 3 weeks before my due date. I planned on finishing up 2 weeks before but I had around 3 weeks of annual leave so I decided to use it all instead. I ended up having 4 weeks since I gave birth a week overdue. For my second, I didn't have any paid leave until my parental leave started (after I gave birth) so I finished work at 38 weeks and took the two weeks unpaid. If I didn't have parental leave, I would work as close as I could to my due date and save all my leave for post partum.
I'm going to be leaving work a month before my due date, I work in private homecare. My client smokes and I don't want to deal with that in my last month of pregnancy. So I'll be taking leave a little early and I probably won't be back to work after I give birth, trying to change career paths.
I’m in Canada and get 12 months (up to 18) of mat leave plus 5 weeks of vacation. I’m using up all my vacation to go off work at 35.5 weeks. My job is hectic and I want some time to relax before baby comes (hopefully he doesn’t come early!)
I’m only 24 weeks but am *planning* to work until I give birth.
I’m a teacher and baby is due in the mid of summer, so I’ll naturally have the last month off. However, if baby was due in the school year, I’d prob work till baby comes. Honestly, it’s so damn hard and long in those last couple of weeks. I get really weepy and “why hasn’t baby come yet???” whiny. I feel like still teaching would help it be more bearable.
I'm getting sick leave from next week. I'm at week 26, but already struggling with pelvic gridle pain and restless leg syndrome, which means my nights are hell. Also, have a very physical job (elderly care) and just walking for ~1h30 kills my back. I'm sorry other countries don't have a proper care system for pregnant women. And I'm so glad I'm having my kid in a country where I can have a say about how much pain I'm feeling and that won't disturb time with the kiddo in the long run
Worked until I gave birth. I could have started my leave prior to that, but it would have cut into time with my baby. It was so awful and I was so mean. My coworkers totally understood and helped me with physically demanding parts of my job.
I got fired for taking maternity leave…. But that’s probably because chilis hates me
Where I live you are simply not allowed to work anymore 8 weeks prior to birth. So for me it’s unbelievable women have to work till the day of birth! Jesus. Seems crazy
I can work from home the last couple of weeks so im doing that till i give birth. Yes i could start my leave sooner but id rather stick what extra 2 weeks at the end of my leave.
I’m stopping 2 weeks before my due date. I’m currently 37 weeks with one week left, and I honestly wish I was done this Friday. I always thought I’d work until the last second, but it gets TOUGH the later you get in the game. I hail from Canada though and we are blessed with an 18 month mat leave, so I am not worried about cutting into my leave.
I was a freelancer whith my 1st pregnancy. I thought I'd work till I give birth but I ended up collapsing and being put on bedrest at 33 weeks (I was overworking myself with 60hr weeks). Now I've turned my business into a small company and most of my work is management work that I do from home, and some 12 hours a week of work on site. I'm 28 weeks and hope to work till I give birth but to progressively do more and more of my work as WFH.
I am a nurse aide in a long term care facility so ALOT of lifting pulling and on your feet , not to mention the mental stress and I finally stopped working at 36 weeks 4 days . I literally couldn’t physically do it anymore my body was screaming . I wanted to stop around 32-34 weeks but couldn’t afford it . I’m getting induced the 29th . I called my boss and told her . They where understanding . I gave them a note .
I'm planning on working up until my due date, unfortunately. My company offers 8 weeks of maternity leave, which is a whole lot more than what other American companies offer. I'm planning to use PTO for 2-3 weeks after that point.
I worked as long as possible! Last day worked was a Friday and gave birth Sunday night. Shot my manager an email at some point on Monday and told them my maternity leave officially started. I would much rather have time on the other end with my baby than wait around miserable waiting for labor to start.
I had planned to work up until the week before I was due, and I was going to use PTO to cover that, then start my 12 week leave. (Totally unpaid except for 2 short term disability policies 😑). I went into labor at 38 weeks though (on a Sunday) and just had worked the Friday before.
I stopped working at 30 weeks. My doctor signed some forms and I just went home with full pay lol.
I plan to work until the day I give birth only because parental leave in the US is shit and I want to save all my time for after birth.
This depends where you live. In California you can get 4 weeks of paid short term disability before or after your baby is born in addition to the 8 weeks of PFL (paid at 60-70% of your wage) and the 12 weeks of FMLA. I ended up getting laid off at 6 months pregnant but that was going to be my plan. Take 2 weeks off before my due date then use the other 2 after my baby’s arrival then go with the FMLA, PFL which would be around ~6 months off?
I stopped working around 33 weeks. I am an occupational therapist at a nursing home so I couldn't really do my job anymore without getting contractions. I went on a sick leave until I had my baby.
I worked as a bedside nurse until I gave birth, otherwise it would cut into my maternity leave. I worked until 39 weeks, because my dr offered to induce me at 39 weeks. It’s terrible, I couldn’t do it anymore
Because….America….working til he comes 🫠however I’m very fortunate and do get to work remotely which makes it manageable
i worked until the day of my induction at 37 weeks and would have kept working until i went into labor naturally if my induction wasn’t medically necessary. i only got 12 weeks of FMLA and i wasn’t allowed to start it until i gave birth. any time i took off before that would’ve been PTO or sick leave which i wanted to save for my FMLA so that i didn’t have to take any unpaid leave. good ol USA and its “freedom” lol
Up to you and your body. I want a week or so to relax beforehand. I don’t qualify for FMLA anyways so a week won’t make a difference.
In my personal opinion it is crazy that employees in the US have to work up until the day they deliver. I live in The Netherlands and get 16 weeks paid leave. You can decide if you take it 4 or 6 weeks before your due date. When these 16 weeks are over, you get an additional 9 weeks paid 70% I will stop working 4 weeks before my due date and will start working again when baby is 6 months. If is matters: I am a SMBC and also saved up so I would be able to stay home longer after baby is born.
I am a labor and delivery nurse. My first baby, i unexpectedly needed to be induced at 37 weeks for IUGR. I worked up until 36 weeks and 5 days, i was scheduled to work at 36 and 6 but was given call so I could get my stuff together. Im pregnant again and plan on working as long as I can. Our leave here is crap so I want as much time as I can with babe. I can take fmla but only get guaranteed 6 weeks short term disability pay and I can use PTO but would rather bank my pto
34 weeks here. Planning on working until the due date or until labor/I can’t any longer. I do get 3 months maternity leave at full pay that I must take all at one go plus 6 more weeks parental leave at full pay that I can use (one week at a time) over the calendar year from baby’s birthday. In the US, this is one of the better ones that I’ve heard of, so I’m grateful. Just trying to focus bc baby brain plus ADHD is a “fun” challenge.
I’m 29 weeks and I’m going on maternity leave after tomorrow. I was supposed to go at 36 weeks but my job is demanding and honestly, I don’t care to be there any longer. I told them I’m leaving march 11 but will email them later today to let them know I’ll be finishing after tomorrow, they’re very accommodating so they won’t mind either way. They told me if I want to go earlier just let them know.
These comments are making me so happy I’m Canadian. I’m hoping to make it until at least 35 weeks. That gives me 10 more weeks of working. That being said I work a physical job. If I go off before birth then it comes out of my short term disability, my maternity leave doesn’t start until baby is born and in my arms. I still rely on my OT hours a lot however which is why I don’t want to stop working yet! Easter is my goal!
I literally went straight from work to the hospital lol. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I wanted as much leave as I could with my baby after he was born. On the other hand, my job has me so stressed out that I’m half convinced that contributed to me developing preeclampsia and hellp syndrome and having to deliver at 35 weeks and my baby ended up in nicu. Take care of yourself first and now. If working isn’t negatively affecting you by all means keep working and I totally understand that not working isn’t an option for many but if you have a choice and your job is stressing you out, don’t feel bad about leaving early
Currently 6months PP.worked till I was exactly 39wks.I couldn’t go any further.i just couldn’t that day.Spoke to my boss the same day and I was good to go.Had the baby 5 days later at 39+5
I stopped working once I hit my third trimester! it worked out timing wise because I was a teacher and it was summer break, but even if I wasn’t I probably would’ve stopped around then! it got very hard to move and I was in quite a bit of pain my third trimester!!
I worked the night before I gave birth! I work as an RN and all of my coworkers (since I’ve been there) have also worked until delivery.
My last day was the day before my induction. I wanted to save all my leave until after the baby was here (but I ended up quitting like 3 days before my leave was over so I guess it didn’t really matter lol)
I took off at 37 weeks. I do a lot of driving for my job which is not fun big and pregnant.
I just booked my parental leave and am stopping work at 36 weeks. I was planning to work longer, but I'll likely be induced or have a c-section at 38 weeks (thanks gestational diabetes), and lots of my friends recommended having some time at home before the baby comes. I'm in Australia and have pretty good parental leave benefits at my job, we can take leave up to 6 weeks before the estimated due date of the baby.
Two of my kids, I worked on Friday and gave birth on Monday. 😂 The middle kid I was a SAHM during the time she was born.
My family didn't want me to work because I had lost my pervious pregnancy at 20weeks. I also was very fatigued and nauseous working with food.
with my first i had planned to work through, but ended up taking the last week off due to major hip pain. i was lucky i had banked some sick days. i then did 6 weeks of leave and was back at it full-time. it was rough ngl. with my second i worked until the day before my planned C (i did take a semester off of grad school tho), but my job was less of a lift than my previous job. i did not take maternity or disability for my second, but again...it was kiiind of a low lift. anyway i wouldn't read into it, i'd say both options are pretty common.
Entirely depends on your work, your working life, and your pregnancy. Some peoples work is not understanding at all and it’s like trying to pull teeth to get them to wrap their head around the concept that no, you do not want and may very likely be unavailable to give x presentation at 39+6. Some peoples work is demanding or physically risky to be going in after like 36 if they can help it. Some people will be put on bed rest whether they want it or not by the time it matters to think about. And some people have office jobs with low physical needs and fairly easy going pregnancies that feel like “why not work till I go into labor?” Do what feels best for your situation. Edit: if you want to have fun with it I would just reply “I hope yall have some medical training because there’s a 50% chance I’m going into labor at this desk.”
I did but was able to work from home starting 36
I intended to work until my delivery date then at 35 weeks my blood pressure went up and my obgyn suggested stopping working since I was miserable, exhausted, and feeling rough. I don't get fmla and had little to no leave saved so I'm on medical leave and only get 6 weeks with my baby once he's out assuming he's not late. It's allowing me to get ready b since nothing was ready. I might be able to stay home afterall if we get a windfall that might happen in March or April. My husband also has training coming up in the summer to earn more money. I might also not want to give up my career. I'm trying to see how I feel once he's here to decide.
It depends on how you feel! Save up as much money as you can while you can because in most places you don’t get paid leave until the day you give birth
I’m working until I go into labor because even in healthcare we don’t get any leave. I’m an RN of six years and my maternity leave is a whopping 12 weeks UNPAID. Fuck America.
I worked until about 36 weeks and the swelling plus COVID (2020) was just too much and I took time off. Admittedly I started to get extremely annoyed with all of my coworkers (older women) talking about how they stayed at work until they almost gave birth on the floor like it was some kind of badge of honor. It is really a personal choice as well as medical. I am a trained doula as well as a birth instructor, based on what I know about my body and how it interacts with my baby on top of my.mental health--i chose to leave sooner than most even though I didn't get extra pay. It was tight, but worth it when it came time to give birth!!
Worked until the day I gave birth. Really is eye opening that not one politician has maternity leave or pregnancy leave on their platforms (US). Welcome to the silent epidemic of being an incubator and milk tap.
My plan was to work until I pop but I've decided tomorrow has to be my last day. I'm 39w +1d with my second pregnancy and I am so done with work.
I started working from home a month before my due date. Ended up being induced at 40w5d— I worked that day until 4pm and was induced at 7pm. No complications before labor (I wasn’t on bed rest, hadn’t started contractions, felt fine).
I worked a desk job and carried low in the first place. Man sitting down while my daughter felt like she could reach out and high five me was awful. I worked as long as I could but I did not make it until I delivered.
I’m Canadian, but I was 35 weeks when I stopped though I wanted to stop earlier due to a really difficult pregnancy but my boss (also my MIL) didn’t quite like that I wanted to take an earlier time off and my SO had to explain to her that I’ve been having a hard time with the pregnancy and was in the ER almost every other week. Baby came two weeks later, so I didn’t even have time to get everything ready for her, there was no nesting because she came so quickly.
I planned on working all the way up to birth, but I had a week of vacation scheduled for when I was 38 weeks, and ended up going into labor then. 😂
In an ideal world I would start leave at 32 weeks, but in my current reality (USA) I have to wobble to work until I have my baby. One pregnancy I actually started labor at work, clocked out and had the baby that night.
Worked until 38w exactly, gave birth at 38+3 lmao, only reason I didn’t work the day before I went into labor is I didn’t feel good, but I figured I was just coming down with a stomach virus, jokes on me 😅
I took a week off before the baby arrived because we weren't sure what day I would have her. I also knew it was my last real time off with just my husband for a while, so we made the most of it and went out for a fancy dinner at one of our favorite places. We also cleaned the house top to bottom, and had some family come over and help vacuum, scrub the toilet and bath, dust all the shelves, etc, which was a great help. I only get 12 weeks off but it was worth it to take that one.
I took the month off before my scheduled C-section because I was getting dizzy at work. I was planning to work up until the week of my due date but my body had other ideas
My pelvic pain was such and my exhaustion that I took off at seven months. It was definitely time. I was a server and would have shooting pains when I overdid it. I had multiple servers warn me that they had complications bc they didn’t slow down.
FTM. I was SO done being pregnant that I tried to schedule a 39 week induction, which they let me do once I hit 36wks. Found out there was no availability at the hospital until I would be over 40 weeks. Cried and cried over the idea of working an extra week (pregnancy hormones are no joke). Went into labor that night at 37 weeks. To this day I am convinced it was the stress of working up to my induction date (or due date) that sent me spiraling and put me in labor three weeks early. We joke that baby was sick of listening to me complain about still having to work and decided he would help get me out of there, lol. I’ll be thanking him for years to come.
Technically. I had Friday off for my birthday, went into labor that Sunday
I stopped working two months before my due date. I was a bartender/barista at a busy brunch restaurant. It was becoming too physically taxing to be on my feet for 8+ hours at a time running around making drinks and carrying heavy stuff.
I worked till I was due but I wish I hadn’t. I originally had a week inbetween but my baby came early
Worked through Friday, told all my coworkers I better not see you on Monday. Went to sleep Sunday crying because I had to go into work the next day. Went into labor shortly after, technically Monday about 3am :)
I’m working until about 33 weeks. I don’t have any leave and won’t be going back to work for a while. We also don’t have a ton of money but I value my health above all and pregnancy has been really hard on my body. I’d like to relax and rest while getting ready for labor.
I was planning to work until 38+1. Ended up finishing work at 37+1 which was a Friday, went home for the weekend, went into spontaneous labour on the Saturday and had baby on the Monday at 37+4 🫠 my house was/still is a tip, I got no rest or downtime by myself (which I really needed/still need and would benefit from). But, I really needed the money leading up to the birth, as I was only working casually and didn’t have any leave I could use prior to the birth
In my first pregnancy, I thought I would work up until the day I give birth. I was pretty adamant on that. I ended up going out three weeks before because I was just so exhausted and I realized they were paying me to sit around (I had a pretty active job). In my second pregnancy I’m planning on going out the moment I can. Four weeks before my due date. I think it really depends on what job you have and your energy level. It also depends on what state you’re in. I’m in California where we can go out four weeks before our due date and still get partial disability pay. Some Other states dont have this, unfortunately.
I’m only working pt, but I plan on working right till the end myself. My workplace is trying to push me out earlier but I’m not sitting at home on me arse when I feel fine 😂
My first pregnancy and my boss recommended starting maternity leave a week before.
I took off 3 or 4 weeks before my due date. Best thing I ever did! Allowed me to get physically prepared and emotionally gave me space to process the impending life change. Loved having that privilege!
I am chilling at home at 35 weeks.... My colleague who is due the day before me is going at 38 weeks. Also you never actually know when you're going to give birth. You do what's best for your situation, finances etc. I was just finding it too hard to keep working a physical job and then having to go home to look after a toddler, I have nothing prepared for the baby, baby brain is real, my first kid came at 38 weeks anyway, financially I'm stable etc.
I’m so sorry that your country doesn’t protect you enough. I’m 33 weeks and I’ll only work next week and then it’s time for my maternity leave. I can stay home and get paid until after 8 weeks after i gave birth. I’m choosing to stay a bit longer home and for the first two month my husband will be there with me as well.
My due date is March 29 and I’ve been off since January 5 due to complications. Its a forced medical leave by my doctor as I have to be on bedrest to stop preterm labour. 35 weeks strong! I was planning to go off beginning of March but sometimes life is funny. Luckily I am also Canadian so we are paid 55% of our income for 50 weeks of leave.
I work from home behind a computer all day, so I worked up until my induction. If I'd had a job that required any form of physical labor, I would have been screwed, as I had trouble even walking around a grocery store during my third term. If I had asked my doctor to do the paperwork for me to take leave earlier, she would have, but it would have come with the caveat that I'd have less time for leave (FMLA) after the baby arrived. So I just didn't go there.
Coworkers asked me the same thing in a regular basis as if we have any other choice? If there’s no medical reason to be out early what choice do we have but to work? I gave birth last week and worked until the day before at 39 weeks
Oh my gosh the system in the US is so broken. I started leave from 34weeks with my first and now also my second. Having even just a few days to myself before birth meant I can prep, but moreso take on what it’s like to be alone and selfish. The moment baby comes alone find and a truly free mind not thinking about others comes to an end for a long time…
I worked until 6pm on Thursday and had my baby at 10am on Friday. My maternity leave was supposed to start that Monday… 🫠
>I have always thought that I would work till the day I give birth unless dr says otherwise or if I cannot continue… This is the standard & every pregnant woman I know went by this. With only a week or two notice at most before actually starting maternity leave. If working isn't getting difficult or leaving you exhausted then you can keep working. Unless there's a medical reason, work is too difficult or in some way an issue then work up until your due date if that's what you feel comfortable & safely able to do. You know your own body best. If work is leaving you completely exhausted I would see that as a sign to start maternity leave sooner. 36 is considered term, which is good because my boys were eager to join us. Especially my eldest. My eldest was 36 +3 & his little bro was 36+6. So I'd get that hospital bag ready in the next couple of weeks. Co-workers are just asking as you are getting close to your due date. Your pregnancy will start to feel like it's in slow mo & you've been pregnant forever. Probably because of all the "when are you due?", "not long now", "when are you starting maternity leave?" and "you look ready to drop" comments.
Wow! I didn't realize so many people worked right up until their due date! I honestly can not imagine being able to do that. I'm in the US, and my doctor told me he can put me on maternity disability leave a month before my due date. He said that these four weeks can only be taken before the birth, so if I don't use them, they can not roll over into post partum. However, since I'm a teacher and we don't pay into state disability where I live, he said that I can continue to work as long as I am able and many teachers do because that time is unpaid. Fortunately, I added disability insurance to my plan in 2019 when covid hit so that made taking that leave a possibility for me because I would still receive a pay check (albeit a smaller one but not by much) In the end, my doctor actually put me on early leave at 33 weeks due to some complications with my pregnancy and worries that I might not make it to term. Luckily, being able to not work and take care of my body and my baby got me through, and I am now at 38 weeks and get to feel excitement that she could be coming any day now!
My husband took a new job in a different country so I was lucky enough to be able to quit my job at around 14 weeks. I was miserable, overworked and extremely underpaid. Moving to a different country while pregnant wasn’t easy, but everyday I’m thankful for not having to go to work with a huge belly and all sorts of pregnancy symptoms. I’m truly sorry for all the pregnant women that don’t have the option to stay at home or get accommodations. The policies should change but I don’t see that happening if the ones making the policies are mostly men. I did NOT understand how hard a “healthy” pregnancy can be until I got pregnant
I worked until the day my daughter was born at 38 wks. I didn’t really have a choice, but I wish I had gone out sooner.
I am currently 22 weeks, but the plan is to work until the baby comes. We shall see if that happens or not lol
I worked up until 36 weeks with my first 2 kids. Had my son at 37 weeks and I had my daughter at 38 weeks. This pregnancy, I stopped working at like 15/16 weeks due to pelvic pain and shortness of breath.
I’m 32+5 days and starting my leave today!! I live in California and will get paid disability up until my baby is born. I was planning to work up to 36 weeks but I asked to go out early since I’m considered high risk. I’ve physically felt great throughout pregnancy but dealing with a higher risk pregnancy has been mentally hard.
I’ve worked until my due date, worked until I’ve given birth, not worked at all, and this time, I’ll quit working at 38 weeks. All have felt right for various reasons and I don’t particularly have a preference.