Did you take your maternity leave before you went into labor?

Question

My OB is going to induce me at 41 weeks if I don't go into labor before then.

I have decided that I am going to keep working until I go into labor, if I go past my due date then I think I will take my maternity leave at 40 weeks and a few days so I will have a few days to prepare for the baby and rest.


Did you take your maternity leave before you went into labor? Or did you work until you went into labor?

Any maternity leave advice for a first time mom?

Answer 1

I worked, with each til the day they were born, not by choice, but financial necessity. #1 Induced, so took off the actual day of inducement, #2 went into premature labor @work, #3&4 went into labor trying to get ready for work in morning.
Advice: Do take help, from anyone that offers, even if it's your obnoxious mother in law, nosy neighbor, etc. You need to get rest any way you can and anyone willing to do household chores let'em, while you spend time w/baby.
Best wishes!
PS I have had my share of miscarrages (3) and do not contribute them to working. I now do stay at home, for the first time in my life, as the last two were twins.

Answer 2

My whole pregnancy I was all about working until I went into labor (I only get 12 weeks of unpaid leave)...thinking I'll have more time with the baby after the birth if I wait...

Then I hit my 3rd trimester and I feel so awful and uncomfortable that I have decided to stop working 2 weeks before my due date. It's not that I want time to prepare or anything like that...it's just that I'm so physically miserable that I can't stand working anymore (in fact I'm literally counting down the hours until I get to stop work).

Some woman can go no problem until labor begins...others can't. You just have to listen to your own body!

Good luck!

Answer 3

I took my maternity leave at 36 weeks. I would have kept working right up til labor but at 36 weeks I had dilated 2 cm. and was getting very uncomfortable. I went until 41 weeks and went into labor on my own.

Answer 4

I worked right up until the day I went into labor. Actually I went into labor at work but didn't know it. :) It's really a personal choice. For me it was important to work up until I went into labor so that I didn't waste any of my leave. I only got 6 weeks and wanted all of it with my daughter.

Answer 5

I am in the same boat! I am 38 weeks and was going to work until two days after my due date.But I decided that I'm gonna take off a week earlier. I'd rather be rested and ready for labor. Plus it hurts having to walk around after sitting in my chair all day long.

Answer 6

I worked up until the day my water broke with my first child (he was born less than 2 days later). The way I looked at it was that I would rather have that extra time with my baby than to be sitting around at home waiting for my labour to start. I'll be honest with you, it was very hard at times to do. There were days I just felt like walking out the door and never coming back. But in the end, it was worth the sacrifice.

I plan on doing the same thing with my second child.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I took off work 2 weeks before our daughter was born, but I was really sick and weak. Honestly, after our daughter was born, I never went back to work. Going back to work just to pay someone else to raise my child suddenly seemed like a sickening idea. My husband agreed that one of us should be home with her at all times, and since he makes more money, he kept his job. I started a home business, and its going great. The past 2 years at home with my daughter have been better than the previous 19 years of my life combined!

Answer 8

You are able to take up to 12 weeks-use it! You boss will likely try to question anything over 6 weeks, but don't let them bully you. I used the full time (my doc okayed it and my son's ped did as well since my little one was 5 weeks early). Take full advantage of the time home-nurse, bond, try to rest. My maternity leave was great!

Answer 9

I worked until I went into labor. I do office work so there was no point in me sitting at home doing nothing, when I could be sitting at work make money. I didn't go into labor at work, I went into labor in the morning before work. It worked for me and my work was ok with it. It's gotta be what works for you, your husband, and your job. Good Luck!

Answer 10

I work all the way up to the day I had my daughter. I was having contractions that morning and still went into work... I went to the hospital at around 2:30 and had her at 9:35pm.. I couldnt really afford to take a materninty leave.. (unless I had to)