assuming you have a normal pregnancy, when do you stop working and give up driving?

Question

I was just wondering when women normally stop working and at what point does it become unsafe to drive? I am only 5 weeks, but excted. Also, is it just me and my weird ways, but I wanted to put some earphones playing a selection of music to my baby, once its at the stage when it can hear, has anyone else done this?What stage did you begin? Im sory if these questions are annoying but after been given a second chance(miscarriage 8 weeks ago) I feel I want to do everything right for this baby.I love it to pieces right now and have already given it a name! the bump I me4an.thanks in advance for your replies.Try not to laugh at me too much!lol

The reason why I ask about working is that I have finally been transferred to a different dept and I am loving my job. Not because I think I should start acting like a sick person. Pregnancy is a blessing to us not a disease!

so far all of these answers have been fantastic! Thank you all!

Answer 1

You may drive during pregnancy until you reach the point where you feel uncomfortable behind the steering wheel - ie not enough space for the bump and for you to still reach the pedals. The seat belt may also become uncomfortable during the last month or so of pregnancy. It is advisable to plan to leave work one month before your expected delivery date. You may play music to your unknown baby, soft, calming music - you don't need to use ear 'phones, just play the music into the room as you would normally. Talking to your baby is also important - and let Dad do this too. Let him whisper right next to your bump - after 20 weeks of pregnancy you will often see your baby move when he hears his Dad's voice! Sometimes hold a clicking clock next to your bump. Then, when baby is born a clicking clock in his room will reassure him as it will be a familiar sound.

Answer 2

I was a student when my daughter was born- which is similar to working since I was at school 8 hours a day and on my feet for most of that time. I was planning on taking the last 2 weeks before my due date off and recieve home tutoring but my daughter came early. The day she was born I went to school the entire day, had a prenatal appt and my water broke in the parking lot after that. I never got to take the time off but I really didn't feel like I needed it anyway.

As long as your doctor doesn't say anything and there aren't any complications with your pregnancy you can work up until you give birth if you want to. However, you may want to take atleast a week off before baby to clean up and pack and take it easy so you are rested up for the birth.

As for music, research suggests that it is great for an unborn baby to be exposed to classical music and jazz. You can have your baby listen to whatever you want. Around 20 weeks your baby can hear things outside the womb and headphones up to your tummy will be audiable. I was in marching band when I was pregnant and I didnt' quit that at all so my daughter could hear the drums and the band while she was inutero so she now loves to see big bands! I know there is a connection there. She has also tapped her foot to music since she was maybe 6 months old, music is engrained in her now!

I am young, 18 with a 3 year old, but I reserched and read literature all the time on pregnancy and I was very prepared when my baby came.

Answer 3

I had a normal pregnancy and worked up until 4 weeks before my due date - I could have carried on working up until the birth but I'd had enough :) I didn't stop driving at all - providing you wear your seatbelt around your bump, not over it, driving is perfectly safe (except for the other nutters on the road LOL).

As for music, I'm sure I read somewhere that babies can hear from 20 weeks gestation - I made sure that I listened to music every day from 20 weeks, not sure how much of a difference that made tho.

Good luck with your pregnancy - eat well as this is one of the best things that you can do. Hope it all works out for you.

Answer 4

You can leave work anytime from 29 weeks of pregnancy up until the day your child's born if you want to, it depends on you and how you feel, you have to give your employer notice though (exept if you actually give birth!) Remember though if you leave work 2 months before the baby is born, it will be 2 months less after the baby's born. I try to work as soon as i can up unto the due date so i can have more time with my baby afterwards. If you are having a bad pregnancy though and you are ill near the end, you can also stay off work by getting sick notes from the doctor, and this will give you time off in your pregnancy without taking time off your maternity leave. I hope everything works out well! Good luck!

Answer 5

I think the best thing for you to do is to follow your Dr's advice on working and driving considering that you are probably a high risk pregnancy because of the previous miscarriage. As for the music, I think that is great. I don't think there's any set time to start doing it. When I was pregnant with my daughter I used to put a big set of headphones on either side of my belly and her father would play the song "Stairway to Heaven" for her. Strange thing is, the first time she heard it (which was about 2 years ago) she told me "I feel like I have heard this song before" so I told her about what I used to do when I was carrying her. It's her favorite song now too. I thought that was so interesting. I am happy that you are getting this second chance and I hope that everything goes well for you. I hope that you have a happy, healthy baby!!! Good luck!!!

Answer 6

You never have to stop driving-unless you are put on bedrest by your OB.Driving will not hurt you or your unborn child-I am 32 weeks pregnant and I drive all the time.I also have a 20 month old son and I drove up until the day he was born-and everything was perfectly fine.
As far as working-that is a choice completely up to you.Some women stop in the last month and some work up to the day of delivery.Either is fine.

Answer 7

first off... CONGRATS! okay. I have 3 children, with my 4th on the way. I wasn't working when I had my first two.... But my third, I was put on bed rest at 35 weeks, (early labor) I did continue to work from home though, until the day I delivered! Went back to work when he was only 3 weeks old. This one I work from home full time, so I will be working until the day I deliver. As far as driving, even on bed rest I did drive for short distances... As you near your due date don't go anywhere TOO far away... just in case you go into labor. Also it is a good Idea to have someone with you that can drive also in case you do go into labor on the road! You never know when it is going to happen! As far as music goes... I never did the headphone thing, but we always had a radio or cd going in the house... and believe me... they can still hear it! My children always seemed to prefer heavy metal or alternative music over anything else! Good luck to you!

Answer 8

Your body will tell you when it is time to quit. I worked up until the day before I had my children. I was very tired but as far as the baby is concerned he or she will be fine if you work up to the day of delivery (unless there are complications). I would encourage you (if you can afford it) to quit at least two weeks before your due date. It will give you time to take care of the last minute things that need to be done. (A good idea would be to make up casseroles and place them in meal size freezer bags so that all you have to do after delivery is heat them up). Another thing to consider is that your labor and delivery will be a lot easier on you if you are rested. If you have a job where you are on your feet all day or that is physically demanding you are going to be really tired by the time you go into labor. Rest before the baby comes because there is not a lot of resting for a few weeks after delivery. Try to take those two weeks to have everything organized in your nursery, have some meals prepared and if you can afford it I would recommend hiring a housekeeper for a few weeks after the baby is born. This will free you up to do the most important thing and that is to spend some wonderful time with your baby taking care of him/her without worrying about how behind you are getting on laundry and housekeeping. Make it as pleasant a time for yourself as possible because you can never go back. Congratulations. As far as driving goes there is no certain time you have to quit unless there are complications. My own mother drove herself to the hospital when she was in labor with my brother because my father was at work.

Answer 9

I worked and drove right up to the day I delivered. At about 7-8 months you start to get so tired that it might be better to work less hours, but as for driving, you can pretty much drive until you feel too uncomfortable to get your belly behind that steering wheel!

Your doctor will tell you if there are any special precautions. Usually its best to wait until you get closer - like at 8 months before that starts to be a concern.

Answer 10

I was told you can quit working as early as 8 weeks before your due, but in my case I might leave more like 4 or 5 weeks before, just cause I'm a cashier and my jobs pretty darn easy. But I don't drive so, I'd say it's safe to drive all the way to the hospital in my opinion.