When did you finish work?

im in the same boat as you, first child. i have no idea what will actually happen but my plan is to finish at the gym at 36 weeks. ill keep the 2 kids i look after until i go into labour but i get a week off after the birth and them ill be looking after them at my house whichis alot easier. im taking my 4 weeks anual leave before the birth so will hopefully have 14 weeks off afterwards before i go back. im also giving up as a gymnastics teacher end of this term and i have already swapped my hours cos getting up at 430 was too hard.

my sister and 2 of my friends gave up work at 36 weeks which ive heard is the average but there is no harm cutting down hours before then, especially as apparently you get really tired around 27 weeks

I had a desk job and was going to finish at 34-35 weeks but as time went on sitting became really uncomfy, horrible back pain etc and I was always exhausted at the end of the day from the pain. I ended up finishing at 33 weeks but it was great that way. I got to spend some time relaxing before he arrived. Got to do all those odd jobs around the house. It's your last chance to relax!

I'm lucky in the fact I can alter my hours with a few weeks notice but unlucky in the fact my job means I'm on my feet all day and do shift work - blah! So I might look at finishing earlier and make myself available for extra shifts if they need me, I can always say no.

I had intended to work (basically a desk job) right up until about 5 days before my due date, because I expected him to be a couple of weeks late so didn't want to sit around at home twiddling my thumbs for a month. But like Stacey I started to get very tired and uncomfortable sitting all day, plus I got a bit of carpal tunnel so typing got hard too (didn't help I had to sit further back to accommodate belly therefore reach further to keyboard!). So I cut down my hours to 6 a day from about 28 weeks or so, then I eventually stopped altogether at 38 weeks.

I agree with Stacey, you need a little time to do odd jobs and take the opportunity to relax a bit (and in the end he arrived only 3 days late so I wasn't 'sitting around' for very long)!

I go down to 4 days from the week after next and then finish at 35 weeks (so i finish the week before christmas). I would have worked for another couple of weeks if I didnt have such a long drive (im scared im not going to fit behind the steering wheel haha). Work has already said I can start finishing an hour early too so I guess Im lucky they're being so good about it

Edited by LG

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Edited by HUNTD

I'm finishing work at 36 weeks (end of Nov), but have been finishing at 1pm on Fridays for the past couple of weeks - by thursday I am exhausted and can't concentrate. Also for my final two weeks I'm looking at finishing at 1pm each day (3 hours early) - i am paranoid that Bubs is going to come early or worst still my waters will break at work

All depends on what type of job you have. Mine is a mixture of sitting behind a desk and standing, but it is more the fact it is full on with concentration that makes me exhausted.

Only 6 weeks to go till I finish.....a bit freaky really but am kind of looking forward to not having to go in to the city every day - am sure i'll be bored after a few days at home alone though

It really is up to you and what you think works. I'm a teacher and I finished work at 34wks - it wasn't a moment too soon! It was exhausting getting up and down all day to 6-7yr olds! I had friends who taught right up to 36wks but they both said it wasn't quite long enough. It's so hard to predict though - but bear in mind that it's good to get at least some time to rest up, even if your little one arrives early!

Edited to say... I think your idea of cutting back hours from 28wks and leaving at 35wks sounds fantastic!

Edited by kmarie

I want to finish work now lol  

I only work part time two days week but also have a 5 year old plus am studying at uni, which is pretty full on. Think I'll do one more paper over summer then put it on hold for 2 semesters. I admire all you ladies working full time as I just wouldn't have coped being so sick and working those hours....I'm honestly struggling with what I have!  But I guess once the sickness is over (will it end?  ). I'll keep working till 30+ weeks. Hadn't really thought much about it. I seem to have no trouble at all filling my days at home, there's always cooking, cleaning,shopping, washing, housework etc to do!

My plan was to finish at 39 weeks, but DD arrived half an hour before I was due to start work on my last day

I have an office job and had an easy pregnancy with no complications, so decided I was better off sitting on my butt at work getting paid for it, than sitting on my butt at home spending money! I did cut back to 4 days a week from around 35 weeks though which was lovely.