How long am I going to be able to work?

[jodied]

Hey ladies

Just wondered how many weeks you were when you have or will stop working?

I'm a criminal barrister and love my job and want to work as long as possible and then have my time off when baby is here. I'm on my feet a lot if I'm in a trial but not so much if I'm doing sentence cases or other small hearings. At the moment I feel very well in myself and I'm not finding work a struggle at all but I'm wondering how long that's likely to last? At the moment I'm very happy still working and couldn't imagine stopping any time soon!

Ideally I want to work until about 38 weeks (unless baby makes an early appearance!) but I'm thinking of just cutting out trials or cases further away at maybe 36 weeks. What do you think? Am I crazy?

Thanks

Jodie

 

[Mrs.s]

I went on leave at 33weeks but I hate my job so that contributed a lot to the fact that I wanteto finish earlier and I am glad I did!

If you enjoy your job you will prob be ok

 

[jardiggle]

I think you'll be OK.

I worked all the way up until both deliveries. My first came early (36w6d) but I worked 12 hours then pretty much walked straight over to delivery. My second came at 39 weeks, I worked through the day before she was born. I was to be induced the next day but she came on her own. I also wanted to save all my time to be with baby! I'll do it the same this time too, if I'm able.

 

[jodied]

Thanks that's really encouraging as a lot of people are pulling faces and looking shocked as if I'm crazy when I explain my plans/hopes xx

 

[stumpyjoe]

I think that sounds perfect. I'm a teacher and packed in at 37 weeks and near the end it was hard but certainly manageable. If I could have cut down on stuff like you can I would have probably worked another week or two, much to the amusement of the kids who were obsessed with the thought of me going into labour while I was teaching them! If you find things get a bit difficult later on you can always change your mind and or you could alway have one or two sick days to help you get to the end. I had one day off sick about 7 days before I left and it was enough to help me keep going to the end. It's difficult to know how you'll feel later on. I'm on my first week of maternity leave now and I'm really glad that I'm off, I'm snapping a lot and finding everything hard work so work this week would not have been good. I hope this helps.

 

[Countrybumpkin]

We have our own business, plus horses and dogs, so i was working, mucking out and power walking right until the contractions started. Everyone had told me to take things easy last few weeks, but i didn't, but to be honest i wish i had listened.

I guess it is up to you, but my advice would be, give yourself a few weeks of chilling and getting organised for the baby. It is such a big change in life when your baby arrives and you want to be able to enjoy it as much as possible.

 

[Jones]

im a nurse and working till 37 weeks- im finding it difficult now though.............being on my feet all day and dealing with shift pattterns...when lack of sleep is an issue, depends how ur pregnancy is treating you =)

 

[Kandle]

I've got 5 weeks left at work and to be honest, I'm starting to struggle. Not with the physical side of working (I've got quite a small bump at the mo and am feeling pretty good). However, I'm a child protection officer (chair meetings for children at risk of significant harm and suffering abuse) and have really lost my mojo for work. All I can think about is feeing up my mind and emotions to concentrate on my own baby and to do that, I really need to be away from work. Not sure that this will be helpful for you!

 

[rainbow dancer]

im a nurse and worked up till 36 weeks, prob could have worked a bit more but caught a terrible cough etc so had to finish as it was really hard work with my breathing etc, think it just depends on you and how u feel xxx

 

[jodied]

Thanks for all the replies ladies that's really helpful! Think I'm gonna stick with the plan - I can always change it and stop earlier if I feel like it (that's the advantage of being self-employed!) x