I'm due on September 12 and was originally thinking that I would simply continue working until I delivered. However, with two weeks left in the waiting game, I'm finding that I'm looking more and more forward to taking time off work and beginning life as a family. (Not to mention being super tired, swollen and achy!) I was thinking of just making my due date my last day at work....if I last until then!
How much time did you take off before your little one arrive?
2006-08-29 07:55:54 · 31 answers · asked by Mom-to-Sophie 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Most people I've known do wait until they have their baby (unless you have a great maternity leave program--my sister had 2 months full pay, 2 months 3/4 pay).
I have known one person who took her maternity leave early, and then really regretted it--she ended up being 2 weeks overdue. I'm not really sure how that worked out for her in the realm of paid-maternity leave, but I can't imagine it'd be good.
I'd wait until the last possible moment, but maybe you could work out a deal with your boss, working half days until you have the baby without affecting your leave.
Good luck, and congratulations!
2006-08-29 08:00:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I told my employer that I would start my maternity leave the day I was due, November 30th. If you are like me and are having a healthy pregnancy and are feeling okay physically, then there is no reason to take off earlier than that. Also, even if you don't go into labor you would most likely be induced by the doc before 42 weeks, so feel safe starting your leave on your due date.
Otherwise, make it one week before your due date and give yourself some time. I'm just worried that if you made it too long before you were due, you might end up waiting four weeks for nothing and the time would move by so slowly.
GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS ON THE BABY!!
2006-08-29 08:00:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I left 4 weeks before my due date, to be honest though I had a lot of trouble with my back and hips and my feet were so swollen I couldn't physically sit still long enough to work.
Your body will tell you when you've had enough, I would have liked to have worked longer as I was so bored at home, but then when I went into labour my waters broke first, and even being at home for this wasn't very comfortable.
Also you really need some peace and quiet before the little one comes along because you certainly don't get it when it arrives!!!
Relax and put your feet up!!
2006-08-29 08:04:15 · answer #3 · answered by Smoggy Wogg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5
2006-08-29 07:57:08 · answer #4 · answered by elvin_9203 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked until my water broke at work. I only got 6 weeks from the day that I went into labor for maternity leave. They were seriously calling me the day it had been 6 weeks to come back to work. I went back for a week and then quit. If you feel up to working then work....if you are super tired and need some rest before the baby comes then stay home if you can afford it. I am pregnant again and plan on seeing how I feel with this one. Good luck!
2006-08-29 08:20:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With my first son, I took off two weeks before because I was so tired and had swollen feet. The next son I had I worked up until the day before I had him, I felt great! My last son I was fired two weeks before my due date, because they didn't want to wait for me to come back and hired somebody else. If you plan on just taking an FMLA you only get so much time, and if you plan on going back to work, you might want to save as much time off as you can to be with your new baby. But if you aren't going back to work then listen to your body and stop working when you feel you can't.
2006-08-29 08:02:22 · answer #6 · answered by silver 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I can't answer from a womans standpoint, but I can give an answer from when my wife was pregnant. She is a school teacher and stands on her feet all day. I think she could have toughed it out but we agreed, I encouraged her, to take the last week prior to her due date off and just relax!! It's so hard there towards the end, it's nice to be able to enjoy some downtime before the big moment, things will never be the same afterward!!
Congratulations!
2006-08-29 08:01:51 · answer #7 · answered by Brad B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was pregnant with my first, my due date was November 3rd. I was going to work until October 20th. this was going to give me 2 weeks to get the last minuter things right, and to chill out a little bit before the baby came..( I think you should go on leave now)
I didn't get the chance. On October 13th, I got up to go to work, and my water broke.. had a baby by 7 that night. SO.. I didn't have any time to prepare or get the last minute things.. and it was hard having worked up until the baby came.
2006-08-29 08:08:14 · answer #8 · answered by Imani 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With my first daughter I lost my job when I was 6 months pregnant and my husband and I decided that I could try being a stay at home mom instead of trying to get a new job, get used to it and then having to leave on maternity leave.
I am glad I stopped working when I did, I was sick with walking pneumonia from about 4 months on in the pregnancy and not working allowed me time to rest and get better before the baby came.
2006-08-29 07:59:00 · answer #9 · answered by S. O. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to take 4 weeks off before my baby was born...I had planned to work up until my due date...but I still had 1 yr paid maternity leave to look forward to...Spet 12 is a great day!! Its my birthday
2006-09-01 12:04:55 · answer #10 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋