When did you finish work?
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Category: Pregnant
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21736
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Topic: When did you finish work?
Posted By: Mrs_B
Subject: When did you finish work?
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 11:48am
Just wondering how many weeks you were when you finished work? I suppose it depends on what kinda job you have. I was thinking I would cut back my hours to 4 days a week from 28 weeks and finish around 35 weeks? This is my first baby so I guess I will have to see how things go.  One of my collegues came to work in the morning went home with pains and had her baby at 3am the next day at 31 weeks! So I guess that goes to show not anything goes to plan!-------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 12:44pm
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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 ------------- 
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Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 12:48pm
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Hi Mrs B
It really does depend on your job and your pregnancy - both are different for everyone. Go by what feels right to you and hopefully you will have an employer that is happy to 'go with the flow' and accomodate changes as needed (eg. let you decrease your hours, finish sooner, finish later etc). I worked right up until 3 days before my first - but only because I loved my job and didn't see the point in finishing earlier. It also meant I got paid and accumulated leave right up to that point too. This time around I'm finishing at just over 38 weeks - but could happily finish now if it wasn't for the money and/or leave arrangements.
Hope this helps a little. -------------  
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 12:53pm
| 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! |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 12:53pm
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I'm due to finish about 34 weeks. It's starting to get hard already as i'm a rep and running around all day. If I had the choice, I think i'd finish around 30 weeks as i'm really sore by the end of the day. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
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Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 1:04pm
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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. -------------
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 1:22pm
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I had planned to work up until 34 weeks, I am an electrician so the job was quite manual although part of my work was doing drawings which I did from home which made things easier on me. I got sciatica around 28 weeks though and ended up taking my holidays and leaving at 32 weeks. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 1:52pm
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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)! ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 3:10pm
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I worked full time standing for most of the day. I planned to leave at 36weeks but left at 34 and found that it was just the right time, I couldn't have gone any longer! It may have been different if I could cut down to part time for a while though. -------------   
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Posted By: LG
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 5:12pm
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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 -------------  Angel Baby Aug '12, Feb '13 |
Posted By: Panda
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 5:38pm
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i plan on finishing work at 35 weeks - i just hope baby is not too late as i don't want to be bored out my tree - but i am sure i will find something to keep me occupied.... ------------- 
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Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 5:41pm
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 17 October 2008 at 8:02pm
I think whatever you feel is right for your situation is good. I finished studying (both at uni and on teaching placement) at 32 weeks as that's when my degree finished lol which was way too early but I had no choice. I kept my part time job going (10-15 hours, standing and writing) right up until I gave birth and then had 4 weeks off (no cover so the work was piling up :( ). It worked well for us but like I say, I was so so bored from 32 weeks even though I struggled when I was doing something it kept me a bit more sane (and I found i had way too much time to tidy the whole house and even arrange my cans in alphabetical order )
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Posted By: mellybelly
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 4:57pm
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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 ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 5:04pm
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I am planning on finishing up at 37 weeks, but will play it by ear. -------------   
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Posted By: kmarie
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 6:16pm
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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! ------------- 
twins in heaven Oct07 Is 40:11 "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 6:32pm
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I finished up at 38 weeks and coped with that ok, although I was quite tired during the last month or so. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 6:40pm
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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! -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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). 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!Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 18 October 2008 at 9:44pm
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I worked full time - on my feet most of the day but could sit down - I planned with rhyley to work till 38 weeks - when I found out I had gd and baby could be early I changed it to 35 weeks - best thing I did - gave me time to rest when the kids were at school and get things sorted at home before having him at 39 weeks.
If we have another one I will probably plan to about 36 weeks to 38 weeks as i am now part time (10 hours a week 3 days a week ideal job in my opinion) ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Febgirl
Date Posted: 19 October 2008 at 9:30am
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. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 19 October 2008 at 9:03pm
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I finished at 28 weeks with Maya as I had SPD and couldn't sit for long periods, but with the gremlins and lil miss I worked till 36 weeks, I finished about a week before I had the gremlins. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 October 2008 at 1:41pm
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I was 39 wks and 2 days on my last day of work. I left early because I was in labour and had Michaela that evening. I had an easy office job, a great pregnancy and was only taking 5 mths off so I'm happy that I chose to work right until the last minute however this time I am planning to stop work at 37 wks and I'm hoping DH will take some time off too so the 3 of us can have a wee break together before baby comes. -------------  
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Posted By: Spirals
Date Posted: 21 October 2008 at 2:43pm
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Wow, I feel quite lazy now compared to all of you!!
I'm finishing just before Christmas - baby is due mid-Feb. But, I really dislike my job, and would be leaving anyway if I wasn't pregnant. So I thought I'd make the most of the Christmas/New Year Break and then make the most of not having a wee demanding person around! 
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Posted By: Genie
Date Posted: 21 October 2008 at 3:06pm
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I'm finishing next Wednesday when I will be 30 weeks. I can't wait as I work in a supermarket putting stock on the shelves, the lifting and bending is getting really difficult now. Add to that I work a crazy combination of days and nights to get about 32 hours a week, I am just knackered all the time! ------------- 
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Posted By: Spirals
Date Posted: 22 October 2008 at 1:15pm
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Hmmm....after a long and convoluted meeting with my boss this morning - I might now be working til mid-Jan - to train my replacement.
So that'll be up til about 35 or 36 weeks I think. |