Did you work til you went into labor?

[pugz]

Seems to be the norm now to work until you go into labor right? Unless doc puts you on bedrest or says no more work.

[vanillacourage]

I was due on a Friday and worked from home beginning that Monday until the end (which turned out to be Wednesday if the week after that). It worked well because I'd transitioned almost all my essential work at that point, and had set aside some small projects that had been kicking around for awhile, that wouldn't be a big deal if I was suddenly gone. Being home (but still available by phone or email) also forced my coworkers to at least attempt to solve a problem without just coming to my office to get a quick answer.

[Deleted]

No. I was out for a month on bed rest, went back to work for 2 weeks, then went out for 3 weeks before I gave birth.

[slug*bug]

I worked until my due date both times. In retrospect, I'm glad I did b/c I was 10 d. late the first time around and the last week was excruciating psychologically...I had way too much time on my hands and spent a lot of it worrying unnecessarily.

It actually isn't the norm where I worked, but b/c the staff can't see patients unless I'm present, I had to work as long as I could...but I also couldn't reasonably schedule them after my due date b/c of the likelihood I wouldn't be there. The staff can take off considerably more than I was able to b/c they can cover for each other.

[h]

Yes, both times. With DS1 I worked until 8pm on a Tuesday and woke up in labor at 5am the next morning. He arrived less than 24 hours after I left the office. With DS2 I worked a normal week, then had him on a Sunday morning. I had easy pregnancies and didn't feel like I needed time off before hand.

One of my co-workers was in what she thought was in early labor all day at work and ended up delivering less than 2 hours after leaving the office that evening.

[doctorsbaby]

I worked until my due date but have preferred to work until I had her. However, at least one of my co-workers wouldn't have survived. By the end, I had no filter for my response to stupid comments & at least one of the male supervisors was determined that I was going to go into labor & she would just immediately fall out. They all had kids, most of them my age or older!

I was 13 days late btw & used up 3 days of my FMLA & 5 vacation days waiting.

[UnderProtest]

I worked until two weeks before my schedule c-section. I had hoarded vacation days thinking I would be put on bed rest (twins), but it never happened. My work policy didn't allow for rolling over vacation past year end and my maternity leave didn't end until the next year. Even though I had transitioned most of my work anyway, it was nice to be at home and take naps.

[mie]

Yes. I actually went into labor at work with my second.

[otowngirl]

My water broke at work, so yes.

[tardyfortheparty]

I worked until 39 w 2 d with DS and he was born @ 39 w 6 d.

[6fsn]

I was almost 2 wks late. I worked until the Thursday before they started the induction on Tuesday. The only thing that really kept me home was that the bathroom was on the first floor and my office was on the second.

[Becca]

With DD, she was born on a Wednesday. That Monday my midwife told me - "it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you are in labor - don't go to work". I laughed at her because I wasn't feeling a single contraction. I stayed home all day Monday and Tuesday and nearly went to work on Wednesday. Good thing I didn't, because DD came so quick, that I was in transition before I realized I was in labor. Barely made it to the hospital.

With DS, I knew I was in labor while I was at work, and chose to stick it out for awhile (I will forever regret that choice).

[Girls Own Love]

No, she was due June 17th, I stopped working on June 1st.

[Deleted]

I worked for 4 hours the day my water broke. My water broke around 2am. I went to hospital. They said "yup your water broke" Come back around 2 if you don't go into labor before that.

I went home, send DS1 to daycare, wrapped up things at work and then at 2pm DH and I went back to the hospital to be induced.

[fluff]

I did with #2. I had a planned c-section with #3 and worked until the day before.

[cinco]

I was on bed rest with my first, but worked up until I delivered DS at 38w.

[karinothing]

I went into labor on the weekend adn worked the Friday before. So yes.

[lishie]

I worked up until my due date with both boys, but when I hit my due date I started my maternity leave. I went into labor the next day with my first, and a week later with my second. I was so sick with the flu/sinus infection with my second that even if I hadn't started my maternity leave, i wouldn't have been able to work anyway ( I want to cry just thinking about how miserable I was that week).

[Deleted]

Yes, I went to work and put in a full day. My labor started around 5:30.

[minzy]

Yes, I had a scheduled induction and worked the day before. I had my blackberry with me at the hospital and I sent a few reply emails while I was in labor. (There was no expectation that I would be sending emails, but I basically waited around all day for the action to happen, and it was no big deal to address a few quick things while I still could.)

[pierogigirl]

With DS1 I was put on bedrest at 30 weeks, the day after the last day of school. With DS2 I worked on Friday and went into labor Monday.

[Jem]

I was supposed to have 2 weeks off before DS's due date, but DS came 3 weeks early and my water broke at work. I'm still traumatized by having to email my boss telling her to send facilities to my office to clean up.

[hellzkitten]

Yes. I was due 8/30 & was planning on working until 8/27, but on 8/23 I wasn't feeling well & went home a little early. I went into labor that night.

[kittycatlove]

Since DS came 10 days early, I worked up until then. He was born on a Wednesday, and I worked that Tuesday.

[Deleted]

I stopped work at 39 weeks and went into labor at 39 weeks and 4 days, so almost I would have preferred to work until she came, but I don't have the kind of job where they can replace me without a lot of notice, so I had to give a stop date for scheduling purposes.

[Deleted]

No, I quit in mid Aug & my first wasn't due until mid Oct. She came 2weeks early but I still had over a month off. I was not on bedrest or anything but I was miserable...between itching & the Vegas heat. My DH supported my decision & I was gonna be a SAHM anyway.

[ECB]

That was my plan, but when I hit my EDD, my doctor said to finish that week out and then don't go back to work. So I worked through Friday and was officially done. Ended up going into labor at 3:50 am Tuesday morning. So basically had a 3 day weekend then had a baby. So not too much "wasted" time before I had DS.

[badtzmaru22]

I did. I actually debated driving straight to the hospital after work, since the hospital was one direction and home was the other, but I wasn't sure I actually was in labor, and wanted to let the dogs out. Driving was probably not the best idea, but the drive home helped convince me it was actual labor!

[cjeanette]

You remember my story, right?

[jinnifah]

I worked until 36 weeks. My back and hips just couldn't take the 10hrs/day of being leashed to a chair, and emotionally I just couldn't handle dealing with idiot customers and meeting call handle times. Mat leave has been a blessing that way - my body just feels so much better.

I would have worked until the end though if I were limited to 6weeks off. Obviously having a gov. paid year has a lot to do with being able to quit early. According to my doc most women he deals with stop between 34-36 weeks