If you started ML before your due date/baby was born...

[sometimesrunner]

When I was 37w, 6d I told my boss I wasn't working FT anymore. I was going to come and go as I pleased. (it was a slower time of year for us, so he was fine with that) I went into labor less than 12 hours later.

Could you possibly do a PT arrangement for the last couple of weeks? I really wish I had a least a day or two at home to do nothing.

[zarapipe]

I'll answer

My last day was my due date, last Monday. I wanted to work until then because the way my vacation time went, upcoming holiday time that I'll be paid for I will be able to stay out until January 5th- paid (I've been hoarding vacation and sick for years). I originally planned on working a bit last week in order to come back with a few days vacation but I said screw it. I was done.

It's been fantastic. I drop DD off at preschool and pick her up (8am-3pm), come home, clean, rest, watch tv, run errands, got a pedicure, etc. Our house is also for sale and we had three showing last week so I got to clean for those really well. I also had a doctors appointment, DD had a dr appointment and she was actually off of school last Friday for an in service day. With a child already I don't think you will bored. With DD1 I worked up until I delivered her and would have been bored at home but with another LO at home to get ready, clean up after, night time duties I'm not bored- I'm relaxed.

[Brie]

With C I worked up until my EDD. Actually, my EDD was a Sunday, so my last day was 39w5d. I was induced at 41w1d.

I had a ton of PTO banked so it was great. I cleaned the house, stocked up on freezer meals, nested, and took naps.

I would do it this time, but I don't have as much time banked so I need to save it.

[mmmomof2]

In CA it does not affect your time at home. I went out at 36W, which is standard here. It was awesome!

[ktw]

I was written out on disability a month and a half before G was born, because my carpal tunnel was so bad I couldn't work any more. Once I stopped working, it was so much better, and I was actually able to enjoy my time off. It was summer, so I spent a lot of time at my parents' pool, and hanging out in my air conditioned bed room. Honestly, it was amazing, and I'm so glad I had that time to relax and just do whatever I wanted to do.

Obviously, if there wasn't a medical reason, and I had to cut into my ML time, I never would have taken so much time off. In your situation, I'd think 2 weeks before your due date might be nice. I was going to say 1 week, but then reread that your son came 5 days early.

[Velar Fricative]

My employer has a policy that people cannot work past their EDD. My last day was my EDD and I was induced 10 days later and that waiting period was torture, but I didn't have a choice. My boss didn't want me doing any work from home and I didn't want to go that far from home in case something happened quickly. Nursery stuff had already been done by that point too. My fun adventure every day was walking two miles for Dunkin' and then I just fucked around on GBCN the rest of the time. At least this time you have your son to keep you busy if you keep him home at least sometimes!

[hocus2]

My official end date for both pregnancies was 41 weeks. I had 5 sick days saved up both times so I could use them until I went into labor OR was induced at 42 weeks. I went out before that both times.

Overall when planning your exit date I suggest consulting with HR. If you plan to use FMLA to go out early you'll need a doctor's note and you'll loose time after birth (except in CA and NJ I believe) so that is a consideration. 

I'm sure being home would have been helpful but overall I was fine working right up until labor because my job was a desk job and didn't require any sort of physical demands.

[jackie011]

My due date was April 3, a Thursday. The plan was for my last day to be March 28, a Friday. Had a dr's appt on Thursday the 27 and my dr freaked me out by saying that I had a lot of amniotic fluid and when my water broke, it would "be pretty epic." So, I called in on the 28th and that was last day. DS was born on April 1.


I'm a teacher and my sub had already started, so I was really not needed at all. I was very uncomfortable, not sleeping very well, and just ready to have this baby. It was a nonissue to start my leave early. I actually only worked partial days that whole last week.

ETA: OB broke my water in the hospital- no epic public display!

[AmyRI]

I was due NYE. My first day on ML was at 39w0d, but that was a Monday, so the last day I actually worked was 38w4d on 12/21. I did in fact go overdue, but she came at 40w6d (January 6th). I would have been induced on the 8th. Total leave was 12 weeks.

I only got 10 weeks alone with DD, but honestly, it was enough the second time around. I did not have any of the FTM crazies about pumping enough at work, pumping schedule, work schedule, etc etc etc. Basically going back to work was not a huge deal. I was ready by 10 weeks. Sure, another 2 weeks would have been nice, but I am SO glad I did not try to work any later.

I did a combination of projects, being lazy, and keeping DS home. When I was on ML before DD came, DS was home from daycare for 4 days because of holidays anyway (1/2 day xmas eve, xmas day, dec 26th, 1/2 day NYE, new years day). I did send him normally every other day. He does better when he has the structure and activities of daycare. I had a hard time keeping up with him at that point (and I had an awful cold) so it was nice for both of us when he was at school.

[hermione]

I had a scheduled CS at 39w 1d. My last day was the day it was scheduled which was 38w 2d. I napped, went to the movies, cleaned... Mostly lounged. It didn't effect my leave at all because I had to use all but 5 sick days before STD kicked in.

[bananapancakes]

I was due April 5 and my last day of work was March 28. I went 9 days over so I was actually off of work for 17 days before he showed up. It was lovely! My H was off too so we watched a lot of Netflix, went on long walks everyday, hung out with friends, went out for lunch. I'd do it again that way.

[catsarecute]

I was due on the 17th and planned to work until the 11th. But by the 9th, my feet were so swollen and sitting at my desk all day was getting very uncomfortable. I made that my last day and I had the baby on the 13th. So it worked out well! I got 3 days to relax before going into labor!

[SJ]

I picked a defined date (5 days before due date) and my water broke the next day!

[rugbywife]

I worked until week 35 but that week was a holiday so technically I started my leave at 36 weeks. There were physical aspects of my job I could no longer do and my anxiety was brutal.

This time it will be the same but mostly because DHs leave ends April 7th and I am due May 12th. No point in finding child care for a month.

[bowies]

My doctor induced me the day before I was slated to start leave (9 days before EDD). Worked out great for pay and time off, but really wish I'd had some time just for me.

[purplecow0206]

My boss needed a firm date so we could get the temp in and trained before I went on leave. My last day was 39w 1d (Friday), and I had A at 39w 5d (Tuesday). I had every intention of making some freezer meals, but only got as far as buying the ingredients. My mom and H worked on them while I was nursing A after we got home from the hospital, lol

[chickadee77]

I started ML two weeks before my due date. I had so many plans - finish hanging art in the nursery, get a pedicure, run some errands, have a few nice lunches on the beach with H, organize the baby stuff a little better...

Yeah. My water broke at 7:18 on my first day of leave, lol. So, no regrets here, because that would have been right as I was getting to the office, well before all of my coworkers (who all get there at 8-8:30).

[galaxy8227]

With DS I worked until my due date--I was induced two days later so I only had one day off. With DD I worked until my RCS. If I had more time I would have loved to take a few days off to rest, clean, prepare but I wasn't already taking some of my leave unpaid and couldn't' afford to do more than that.

[mrsp7309]

My plan had been to go out just before my EDD (a Monday, so my last day would have been the Friday before). My midwife ended up pulling me from work a few days before that. I got a pedicure, worked on picking music for my labor play list, and planned to just putz around the house doing the more 'fun' old wives tales (like eating pineapple, or spicy food, or eggplant Parm, taking my dogs on long walks, etc). I ended up going into labor about 2 days into maternity leave.

[humpforfree]

I was supposed to have two weeks off but then the baby had to be born a week before I was to start ML. Bwaaa bwaaa. I wish I had that extra time to catch up on my lists but oh well..

[Deleted]

I worked until 40 weeks and 1 day with DS. I was induced at 41 weeks and 2 days. I watched TV, drove around to look at real estate and got my drivers liscence renewed that week.

[starlily]

My plan was 38 & 36 weeks respectively with each pregnancy.

Both girls arrived at 35 weeks.

I'm still bitter about not having my pre-kid(s) alone time.

[thejen626]

It was standard at my office to go out at 38w. So I stopped working at 38w. I spent my days having lunch with friends, taking naps, shopping, relaxing, etc. Well, DD1 wasn't born until 41w3d. So I ended up having almost a month lol... Luckily for me it didn't cut into my time off after the birth, so it wasn't an issue for me. I ended up going back to work part time when she was 10 weeks old.

[natablue]

I was due on a Wednesday (January 22nd), so I worked up until the previous Friday. It was nice to end out the week, plus have a date in mind that I could have things wrapped up at work. I ended up giving birth five days late, but it was really nice to have that extra time off before the baby came, though it ended up being very stressful for me for other reasons.

[linz]

Havent had babies yet but I'm stopping work at 36 weeks. I wont go past 38 though. I'm so uncomfortable already at work so wanted a set date I'm leaving and returning. I'm taking 13 weeks leave. I plan to sit home and relax if I can. I'm sure I will be huge and misserable....I already dont sleep good. I'm hoping they come soon after I stop working but who knows. If I get bored I have tons of books I can reread and might even do early christmas shopping online since it'll be beginning of November.

[noodleskooze]

I didn't technically take time off (I was a teacher with a July due date). I was off for the summer by 33 weeks. I must admit that was a looong time to sit around before the baby came, but it wasn't like I was losing leave time or anything.

[vmars]

I stopped working at thanksgiving and had DS on 12/21. I didn't do a lot mostly relaxed, slept, ran errands, went to the doctor. I was never bored and I am glad I had that time to myself before DS was born.

[nonsenseabound]

I worked until I gave birth with both of em. With DD, I intended to stop working on my due date and went into labor the night before!

With DS, I went early (36w6d) so I was not prepared at all. I was in my hospital bed calling all the courts to reschedule my hearings. Luckily, they were all understanding! My DH was annoyed because I was working and I was recovering from a surprise Csection but it all ended well.

This time around, I'm stopping at Christmas for 12 weeks. I'm self employed and I'll gradually start back up at around 12 weeks but it normally takes at least a month to really get a full caseload again. I'm due Jan 11 but I really doubt I'll make it that far. I figure that Christmas is a good time to be able to be home with my two other kids and not worry about running around.

[catbus]

I planned on working up until labor. In reality, I ended up "calling it" on Friday, the day before my due date. I was lucky enough that I could make that decision fairly late in the game--I brought my projects to a good pause/hand-off point, and decided to take things day by day for the last week before my EDD. Then that last week... I was just done. I ended up having a solid week off before my induction, which was great. If I have a second pregnancy, I'll do the same.

[pescalita]

I left at 38wks both times. My first was induced and 4 days late. My second was an RCS at 39wks on the dot. With my first, 38wks was perfect. I was slowing down physically and mentally, it was right before Thanksgiving. I napped and got stuff done around the house. The last few days when I was post-due where aggravating, but they would have been no matter what.

I wish I had stopped earlier with my 2nd. He was much bigger and sat lower on my hips, and I was much more uncomfortable, plus it was August. I only had a few days at home before he came and I could have used more napping and productivity time.

I'm in CA where pre-delivery time does not cut into my STD post-delivery, which makes a huge difference.