How long did you/will you work?
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Topic: How long did you/will you work?
Posted By: Leishamaree
Subject: How long did you/will you work?
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:49am
How long did you (or will you) work while pregnant?
I am currently working (or trying to) full time, end up averaging 32-35 hours (plus 8 hours of driving each week) and am still getting quite tired. However I am too stubborn to admit defeat!
Im nearly 35 weeks, and plan to work til 38w5d.
What did other people do? Or what do you plan to do?
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Replies:
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:51am
I'm finishing work at 35 weeks, I currently work a 30 hour week. The only reason I'm finishing that early is cause we are moving up to Akl. If we were staying put I'd be finishing at Labour weekend making me 38 weeks. I do office work though, so not physically demanding and I'm managing those hours fine.
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Angel June 2012
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Posted By: SquishysMum
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:53am
I worked until 36w5d, and spent the next 3 weeks until DD was born (1 day before due date) plastering, sanding and painting 2 bedrooms!
I was shattered by the end of work, didn't help that for my last 2 weeks I was rostered in an area that required constant standing (despite my specifically requesting not to be, and them agreeing!!! Ah well, life goes on)
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:53am
I worked until 37 weeks. It helped that the last few weeks were over Christmas so I think my last 3 weeks were shorts ones.
Is there anything you can do to make work easier? I was on my feet alot, and had to change that as I just couldnt manage anymore. I also found things like using a slow cooker great, then I could just relax when I got home.
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Posted By: JAFAjaffa
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:54am
I worked through to 39 weeks, full time. I was pretty tired at the end, but like you, I was too stubborn to admit defeat! I also had worked out financially what was going to work for us, and so I was determined I was going to make it!
We moved house the day after I finished work too. I don't recommend that! Luckily DS was 10 days overdue so I still had plenty of time to get bored out of my mind!
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Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:57am
first child I left 4 weeks before due date, 2nd time I left at 33 weeks.
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 10:00am
Andrew I worked until 36 weeks and at 36w3d was in hospital for the rest of my pregnancy till I had him at 38w6d. I had to cut my hours at 30 weeks on medical advice from 40 down to 30. Little did I know that I was developing pre eclamsia at 30 weeks and my MW was trying to get me to slow down.
Josh I left at 33 weeks, I hated that job, so was glad to leave. It was only 14 hours a week but still it frove me mad and they didn't care about the chemical smell being around me.
------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 10:04am
I ended up leaving at 33 1/2 weeks, and I was doing four-day weeks for a while before that. Physically, I would be totally capable of working now, my job was an office job and a good mix of sitting down with a bit of activity to break things up.
I took off so long beforehand because a) I had lots of annual leave to use up, and was told that if I chose not to go back to work I lose that, and b) because I really wanted to have some time at home to get some things done. Perhaps most ladies who work are better at organisation than me, but because I'd been busy working for a while, things round the house just didn't get done. So the spare room had become a dumping-ground (and was a real sight), the garden was a mess, I hardly knew what was in the bottom of the freezer, etc. It's been great to have a chance to do some of that stuff, since I'm assuming I'll go back to having as little time to do it once Bubs is born.
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Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 10:06am
I left at just on 37 weeks and for the last couple of weeks had to work loooong hours (12 hour days mostly) I was knackered I didn't want to let anyone down by finishing earlier than I said I would because it was our busiest period which in hindsight was ridiculous.
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 10:19am
With DS1 I worked till 39weeks as I wanted a week to myself & he was 2 weeks late.
With DS2 I worked till I was put into hospital at 37 weeks. So I went to work in the morning & was admitted that day (I worked there tho)
With DS3 I finished my Sunday shift & was booked for an induction Tuesday (2 weeks early).
So I worked up till the end on all pretty much.
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 11:10am
Lol, I finished work at 15 weeks but that was coz we moved to a new town...very small with no jobs so I just got to be a housewife which was pretty good really....got lots of things done that I would never have done if I had kept on working. not much help for you though is it!
Guess it depends on your personality as well, ie if you enjoy the company of others then you might get bored out of your brain at home. Also if you have things to do at home then it is enjoyable but I can imagine how boring it would be if you didn't have anything to do around home.
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 11:18am
DD1 I worked until 40+5 contractions started at work LOL (she was born on 40+6)... DD2 I worked until 38 weeks but I was well ready to finish I few weeks before that and very nearly did... I was a graphic artist with DD1 so sat at the computer most the day... but with DD2 I had had a career change which involved lots of home visits, playing with kiddies and driving so more tiring...
------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 11:36am
With DD I finished @ 35weeks. It was an easy office sit down job but I had lots of leave and couldn't wait to get out of there
I wasn't working with DS but had DD to run around after and that was much harder than working lol
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 11:57am
I worked till about 30 weeks with Callum because most of my work is during school holidays. I thought I'd be able to fit in another school holiday programme for the Christmas hols but went into labour early and had C at 32 weeks.
This time I have made myself unavailable from now (25w) because I am busy enough looking after Callum! Plus I want to get everything "done" before 30 weeks this time just in case. I will probably be climbing up the walls by 33 weeks and this baby will probably go overdue 
------------- SJ
Callum - Dec 2008
Daniel - Oct 2010
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Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 12:27pm
I finished at 36 weeks with number 1 - was ridiculously bored at home. With number two I worked until 38 weeks which concided with Christmas break - sooo much better working right up to the date because it left me less time to be uncomfortable :-)
ETA - must rephrase that last sentance - less time to THINK about being uncomfortable lol
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Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 12:36pm
I worked till 35 weeks with DS - which was just as well because I ended up having him at 37 weeks. So much for first babies always being late
I never slowed down and I wished I had because I struggled to adjust to being a SAHM with a newborn (mainly feeding for hours on end on the couch).
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Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 12:47pm
I was 37w 4d when I finished work. I was working full time and had him 5 days later Now I wish I'd finished a week earlier so I had more time to do all the things on my to do list and have a wind down period. But it was also kinda cool having my little man straight away too.
------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 1:10pm
I was planning on finishing work at 36weeks but ended up leaving at 32weeks because i was in so much pain & hated the 2hrs travel a day.
I had 3 weeks holiday pay owing however, so i used that then got maternity leave.
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Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 1:22pm
I planned on finishing up work at 36 weeks, but ended up in hospital with contractions and complications at 28 weeks and I did not go back after that. My job involved lots of travel throughout NZ both by car and plane and I was really tired, turned out I had GD so in hindsight I am glad I left when I did as I had so many specialist appts each week that I would have hardly been at work anyway plus the medication I was on had to be taken/injected at certain times and I had to eat at certain times which with my job (IT training in legal firms) would not have been easy.
Oh & I did not get bored at all, I enjoyed being at home and enjoyed the time I had to myself as I knew it would never be that way again.
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Posted By: monkey33
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 1:28pm
I worked till 37 weeks thinking that I would have 3 weeks off (I finished on 23 Dec) but bubs arrived 2 weeks early so I hardly had any time! I did manage to get alot done though and it was just bits & pieces to go once DS arrived. I think I had a feeling that he was going to arrive early as my 'nesting' was pretty insane that week I was off.
I wanted to work as long as possible as a) I would have got bored and ended up just spending lots of $$ and b) I wanted to use my AL payout for after the baby was born. I started the government parental leave (13 weeks) the week after I finished work so I had the AL payout (9 weeks) to use during the time that I have been off.
I had a very straightforward pregnancy though - so would have been different had I not been feeling well.
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 1:33pm
I finished up on Xmas Eve and was 38 weeks. If it wasn't the Xmas period I would have stayed right up till my due date (I went 5 days overdue). But, I was in a very cruisy office job.
In saying that though I was pretty knackered by the end of the week.
It was good because I was able to save up lots of annual leave and use all that before PPL kicked in some time in Feb.
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 7:28pm
I'll work up to my due date but I have a desk job so not on my feet much.
I currently work 50+ hours a week so will start cutting down on hours from about 37 weeks onward and also take a days leave if I just dont feel up to it.
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Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 9:25pm
I worked up until 38 weeks. Jude came at 39w2d. I got so bored at home, I wished I was still at work!
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 09 July 2010 at 10:49pm
Both my kids were born a week early. I worked up til 39w with A & had went into labour early the next morning
With C I worked up til 36 weeks, just cause Xmas was in the way & this time I wanted to make sure I got some me time before #2 came along.
------------- Kel
http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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Posted By: Blankney94
Date Posted: 10 July 2010 at 1:12am
I had lots of leave owing so I took about 7 weeks off before due date. But then Brooke was a week late! I love having lots of spare time (don't we all) but I got cabin fever!
Next time I would just work for as long as I felt comfortable (and cos we already have all the baby stuff don't need to take time to get that organised).
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Posted By: ohanlon82
Date Posted: 10 July 2010 at 7:11am
worked till nearlly 38 weeks and had bubs at 38 5 days - so only got a long weekend really but happy with that would have got so bored otherwise
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 10 July 2010 at 9:54am
I was in a cruisy (but boring!) fulltime office job and was planning to work right up to 38 weeks. But baby had different ideas and was born at 36w 5d
------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs
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Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 10 July 2010 at 11:52am
I am currently a shift worker, we work 11.5 shifts, four on four off. My start times are either 430am or 530am or occasionally 4pm or 5pm, but have tried to swap as many or the nights out as poss...
So I am planning to finish at about 33/34 weeks and use my annual leave to get paid until beginning of Jan...
I hope I last that long!!!
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Posted By: snugglebug
Date Posted: 10 July 2010 at 2:31pm
Im going to be working until 30 weeks. Its not really by choice though as Im on a fixed term contract until the end of term 3 (Im a teacher) so it has just worked out that way.
But my specialist said with the busy and stressful nature of my job it's probably best that I'm not working beyond that.
Im happy with the decision, Ill have some time to rest and get baby's room ready and just take some time to myself. Im sure Ill get bored but Im glad to know Ill be taking it easy
------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 6:41pm
I'm planning on leaving at 34 weeks and using up my months annual leave I will have owing to pay me to the start of January. I am on my feet most of the day and I can see it starting to get too much. I may have to cut my hours back prior to that.
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Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 7:07pm
With DS I worked till 7wks then got struck down by bad MS. I was only working one day a week anyway.
This time I want to work as long as I can, am hoping that the MS stays managable this time. If it does get bad I may just have a month off then go back. Am lucky that the boss is very lenient so he will understand.
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Posted By: blossombaby
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 8:22pm
i will keep working till i feel ready im currently 33 weeks (tomorrow) in a job on my feet etc all day .. but don't have any bothers or reason to finish up yet! in saying that im not 'huge' nor have any medical problems eg swelling etc.. to be honest it will be harder to get me 2 even finish haha!!! i love my job and get soo bored during the days etc if im not working. but im guessing i will finsh up around 38 -39 weeks!!
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 8:32pm
I didn't work as I quit just before I found out I was utd - bugger!
But my mum worked until 39 weeks when she was made to go on mat leave by her doctor but if she could of she would have worked until she popped! She was working 9-6 each day with an hour commute in the morning and at night.
My gran worked until 39 weeks when she had to stop because my mum was breech and needed to be turned and she went into labour. She also did long hours like my mum.
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 2:51pm
So many people say that they get bored at home! Are you guys just waaay more organised than me? I'm kept busy as doing things like (for the first time in five years or so) discovering what's in the bottom of my freezer (it wasn't pretty). Or do you just find stuff like that really boring (I can understand that...) Not, of course, that it matters at all, I'm just curious.
My job is great, I think I'm really lucky to have it, but I'm really enjoying the time at home too!
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 3:44pm
My mum was off for 1 week 5 days (was 5 days late) and she said it was very boring! She hadn't planned anything to do and was so used to long full days working that she found it hard to fill her days!
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Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 4:31pm
well my plans have already changed....my depression has come back and that combined with morning sickness means I have just resigned at 13w4d
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Posted By: MamaMore
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:48am
Posted By: MrsJMcD
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 6:19pm
i'm intending to finish work at 36 weeks, but am dropping down to 4 days a week from 32 weeks. I have a really busy, stressful job that just takes takes takes as much as you're prepared to give...and I'm inclined to give a lot. So if I don't force myself to slow down then stop, it won't be good. Plus I commute two hours a day. I'm overweight and have BP issues and an increased risk of GD and although everything is ging really well at the moment I need to be sensible in case the wheels fall off towards the end. Also, the mw has told me she thinks I'll be induced at 38 or 39 weeks so finishing a few weeks before that will be good. I feel very lucky that I have five week annual leave owing which helps me afford to finish when I do...I really feel for people who have to work right unil the end because of financial pressure, rather than because they want to.
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Posted By: Richie
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 9:44pm
I finished up at 33wks. Only cause that coincided with Xmas :o) I already had my annual leave booked for the Xmas period anyway so it worked out well. My A/L took me up till Jan 19th and went onto my Mat. Leave after that. Isla was due on the 10th Feb but didn't arrive till 24th Feb! So I had quite a bit of time off lol I enjoyed it tho. If it was winter time I would have stayed at work till 38wks but I couldn't resist just relaxing over summer
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Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 9:45pm
Until 39 weeks with number 1 (went 2 weeks over)
Until 39 weeks 5 days with number 2 (part time work only though). She was born at 40 weeks 3 days.
------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley
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