Maternity Leave - advice needed please

[Fiona]

can anyone give me some advice....

I am 40 and expecing our first baby. At the moment I work in a busy shop and am on my feet about 9 or 10 hours a day, often without a break- ususally 6 days of the week.

I actually run my own business and tend to be one of those people who keep going and going until I drop. but have to be honest I have found the last week or so exhausting and just about manage to get through the door at night before I collapse into a chair for the night.

I don't want to do my baby any harm and everyone around me is telling me to slow down... problem is that we are about to enter the 3 busiest times of our year, Christmas, Valentines and Mother's Day (yes you have guessed it - I'm a florist)

Just wondering when everyone else felt it was the right time to give up work and how they coped working full time towards the end of the pregnancy ?????????

 

[nathanmum]

as a nurse i too spent alot of time on my feet i planned to leave at 34 weeks but at 30 i became more and more exhausted i eventually went off at 32 and i was glad i did i was more knackered than i realised i was doing the work of two unpregnant people at the time i am going back to work jan 8th dreading it!!! that means i would have had close to a year off which has been lovely.nathan was obviously fine but i suffered alot with pelvic pain probably cos i never sat down! take it easy

 

[Dee1985]

i found working sooo hard. my job was the opposit. i sat down all day 8am - 5pm and it killed every bone of my body ached my back was in bits. then going home to a 6month old baby!!! it was a nightmare i couldnt make it past 35 weeks. but then again i had no choice as LO came early any ways.

i do feel sorry for you yhough hun x x

 

[Alfiesmummy]

I was a bar supervisor and i was working 11am - 7pm back on at 9pm - 4am, then bk the next day i was absolutley exhausted and im sorry to say that by wk 25 it was too much, i left and claimed maternity allowance, i could go bk to work there once that runs out but since av left its quite a distance and i couldnt cope with those shifts especially with alfie, i am looking forward to returning to work once iv found the right job but i had alot of problems during my pregnancy too so i was advised to rest up now im glad i did as i have a bouncing healthy beautiful baby boy

 

[Lyndsey]

I am a nurse and I had to be on my feet a lot of the time... I found that I couldn't work after 28 weeks due to pelvis pain. When I went to the GP he said some women just have to concentrate on their babies and you can't be a super hero and do everything...

I work in Occupational health and we are always advising people to look at alternative ways of working..... is there any possibility you could sit down to do some of your work or work alternate days or half days? At least if could try to adjust your role then you may be able to stay in work for longer but without being in pain or too knackered....

If you would like any other suggestions or advice then please feel free to PM me... I am not an expert in floristry but could shed some light on adjustments for yoU!


Lyndsey

 

[claire893]

Hi fiona
im 33 weeks and i finished work last friday. Im a hairdresser so like you i was on my feet for 9-10 hours a day, often without a break!
I was the same when i got home from work, and my feet/ankles were so swollen ALL the time, i was in agany most days.Im SO glad ive finished work now, its such a relief. Although people always make you feel guilty by saying things like "well i worked right up until i was due". You have to do whats right for you, everyone is different and it also depends what kind of work people do!
Im sure you will know when the times right (your body will certainly tell you!)
Goodluck
x x x

 

[maybebaby]

I work normal office hours at am sat at a desk all day and I'm starting to find it too much so can't imagine what it would be like doing longer hours & standing all day. I'm actually stopping work on 20th December, I'll be nearly 27 weeks but have to move house etc so couldn't work any longer.

 

[rusks]

i am a nurse and am planning to work till 36 weeks!! i will just have to see how i go as i must admit i am getting more and more exhausted already, the only thing is on my days off i make sure i do nothing and completely rest as much as i can, luckily i have lovely people to work with and are very understanding so far.