I'm just past 35 weeks pregnant, and I will finish work at the end of this week so I will be 36 weeks when I give up work.

My obs yesterday said it was definately time to finish and other colleagues are surprised I haven't left before now (I'm a teacher so on my feet lots with 32 very noisy and active 10 year olds!) I have to admit, I am struggling big time this week But I thought that 36 weeks was the average for stopping work, although I know it differs for everyone (example: my sister was 22 weeks when she finished due to extremely high blood pressure).

Just out of curiosity, when did you finish up?

38 weeks with Keira - had her around 3 weeks later. Finished up when the R/E closed for Christmas.

39 weeks with Liam - had him 2 days later. I didnt actually finish up work with him I had worked on the Thursday, had him on the Saturday and was back at work when he was 9 days old.

Both jobs were in an office so I got to sit down lots

I finished at around 32 weeks, as my contract was up and I didn't want to to renew it. You are doing well to still be at work and on your feet alot!

I was 32 weeks with the boys!
I would have worked a few more weeks however i was travelling just over an hour each way on the train so was getting very uncomfortable..............

I worked up until 25 weeks, then went on about 5 weeks holidays, had 3 shifts to do (Which I did one of) and then was officially on maternity leave at 30 weeks. My work requires you to finish at 34 weeks.

i finsihed just before 33 weeks. I was travelling an hour each way, doing shift work and on my feet for 10-11 hour days. Plus my job is very high stress, and my BP was getting higher and higher, so for bubs safety, i finished up then, i had bubs 8weeks later.

I worked until 25 weeks but I will explain further................

I am a teacher & had 3 weeks long service leave planned already for the last 3 weeks of schooln(before being utd!). I then had the 6 week Christmas holiday break, and my maternity leave oficially started at the end of January. I took the 6 weeks lmaternity eave from then. DS then ended up being 10 days over so it was even longer!

34 weeks both times. I had taken advice from various people and decided that having some time to rest before the birth was a good thing. Even though I had a desk job I spent the last week of work standing up doing my work on a filing cabinet because sitting gave me terrible rib pain. The hour long car trip each way was the worst part of my day!

With R my blood pressure went up at 35 weeks and I would have been told to stop anyway, so I was glad I had finished and didn't have the added stress of an unexpected departure with no handover.

same here although i only had one on board

I work in Child Care so i know now how you feel. I finsihed at 36 weeks.

At around 34 weeks i stopped working in the babies room as it was too hard with the lifting and bending into cots ( our cots done have drop sides!!!)

For the next 2 weeks i did 8 hours shifts in the older classes. ( I was up till then doing 11 hour days ) For my last 3 days i again did 11 hour days. I also had a few maybe 5 in 3 weeks office days so that helped.
To be honest i was physically tired and that made me grumpy which wasnt fair for the children. I was meant to work one more week but i couldnt do it.

I had prelabour from as early as 34 weeks, lost some fluid at 28 weeks, lost abit of my plug at 35 weeks - i went 12 days over! It was a long wait but not a wait i could have done if i left work any earlier, i was already bored day one of mat leave!

Ofcourse 1st day home i felt 110% and like i could have worked another 2 weeks - what a difference it makes getting up when you want to.

#1 - 38 weeks, gave birth 3 weeks later & she was 10 days past due date.

# 2 - 39 weeks, gave birth 1.5 weeks later & she was 3 days past due date.


I was in a high-stress job but desk bound for both pregnancies. Not being active for the time I had off drove me up the wall though, so I was thankful that I could push it out that late

I worked till 36 weeks with Will.

I'm hospital based physio so on my feet a lot and doing physical work. I found the last week hard, but I think would have found the last week hard whatever stage I was at just 'cause I had the end in sight.

I went into labour 2 days past my EDD so had 4 weeks home which was plenty.

This time I finished up earlier for different reasons and the time has certainly gone more slowly!

ETA - I needed a certificate (as per my award) to work past 34 weeks. The obs and midwives were more than happy for me to still be working if I felt up to it. My BP was fine (low if anything) and I had no other complications.

I worked til 37 weeks. Was supposed to last til 38 weeks but I had a massive fight with this total MOLL at my work so I cracked it and got a doc's cert for the extra week off. That last week though I still worked from home marking and what not so I count it!

I had Cate two days before my due date so I had around two weeks off. Hubby was also on school hols at this point so it wasn't very relaxing!

I am a secondary teacher and if I had my time over again I would have finished at the end of my 36th week when I finished directing the school production. That week I was doing 16 hour days and I was a messy basket case by the end of it. To get up and go to work on the Monday nearly killed me and I knew I was 'done' as such. So when the horrible woman at work had a go at me I very quickly threw in the towel and never looked back!

I stopped work at 12 weeks.

We had severe complications following our successful IVF (was hospitalised for a few weeks) and the repercussions from that were still causing issues, then a threatened miscarriage at 15 weeks, diagnosed as high risk for chromosomal abnormalities at the 12 week NT scan, then my dad passed away at 20 weeks.
I kept intending to return to work but with all these endless stresses popping up it was just too much, plus I'm a florist so my job involved a lot of heavy lifting and standing on my feet constantly for 10-12 hours a day.

It's been hard on us financially, but my husband and I decided it was the best thing to do for the health of both me and the baby. I opened a store on Etsy selling jewellery which has helped a bit.

Several of my friends worked right up to their due date - one even did a shift in the morning and went into labour that afternoon!

I worked up until 36 weeks and did struggle in the last two weeks. This was the time that Charliese started to really stack on the weight and I got really heavy and uncomfortable. Plus little things were starting to bother me so I was looking forward to finishing.

I then had four weeks at home and was starting to get a bit bored... and then Miss C arrived and there has been no time for boredom ever since!

Plan had been to work to 37 weeks (desk job and all that) but complications meant I had to stop at 28 weeks. Baby arrived at 30 weeks so I had no chance of getting to 37 weeks after all.

Well I wish I finished last week!! My last shift will be on Thurs and boy its tough! I work in retail and looong hours on your feet.

I'm the same as you Kat, my collegues and customers cannot believe I am still there!

To answer your question I will be 36 weeks (and the rate the sept mummies are going I hope I don't go too early!! )

I worked from home for the last 4 weeks of being pregnant with Ash. I actually went a week overdue and worked up until midday the day I got induced (was induced at 5pm that arvo). Yes, I am an idiot I was far too uncomfortable driving for long distances in that ast month and work was a 45 min drive away so it would have been go on leave early, or work from home which my work was happy to do.

my last day was at 37 weeks, although i was only doing average 5 hour shifts by that stage, and only twice a week.

I worked full-time until 36 weeks with my first and had her 3 weeks later.

This time I'm working part-time (3 days/week) until I'm 35 weeks. I'm counting down the weeks already and could easily finish up now (28 weeks) but it's better for us financially if I stay a bit longer.

I would love to be working but when the pregnancy was confirmed I was told not to continue in my current role.

I was doing cleaning and bar work in the mines, so it was very physical and exposed to some interesting weather.

I worked till 38 weeks with Gwen and it was too long - even though I had a desk job, it was the last two weeks that nearly killed me!

This time I'm working till 36 weeks, though work is only part-time so hopefully it won't be too bad. The at-home freelancing I sort of don't plan to stop, really

I'm hoping to work right up to 36 weeks, just before Christmas. I work in an office but do over 10 hour days so will more than likely just drop my hours to 8 per day and finish up the year... though in saying this, you never know how the pregnancy will go, but as of now I'm feeling good.

I worked up until 35 weeks, I had a desk job but it still involved some lifting and they had a condition that if I wanted to work after 34weeks I had to get a doctor's certificate and then you cannot work beyond 38weeks.

I could have quite easily worked right up to 38weeks but as there was a possibility of being induced at 38weeks and I knew that hubby was going away for 14weeks 1week after my due date, I thought that 35weeks was a good time for us to have some time at home together..

Bubs was then born 5days after my due date..

With Nate i was suppose to work up until 36 weeks but due to a baby that loved kicking me in the ribs and forty minutes drive to and from work i left at 35 weeks, i was exhausted and just couldnt do it anymore. I spent the next 6 weeks reading a book a day on the couch with my feet up.

Last time I worked to 37 weeks (desk job with running around). I planned to use a lot of sick leave as I never used any to have some extra days off in the last few weeks but we struggled to find a replacement for me that I only had a 1 week hand over with her so didn't get to chuck any sickies. I ended up having almost 5 weeks off as Finlay was 11 days over.

This time, I am only working 2 x 6hr days a week and they are relaxing days away from my little monster! i'll finish up in November at about 30-32 weeks.

A friend of mine is a primary teacher and she worked right up to her due date (think it was the last day of school for the year) and went into labour in the evening of her very last day of work!

36 weeks...I couldnt balance up a ladder anymore Also had to fly out at 36weeks to have bubs Im a comms technician by trade so ladders unfortunately were a necessity of the job

Flew out the afternoon of my last day at work and Kaia arrived 4 weeks and one day later

Needed everyone of those days

I worked until 36+6 (Friday) and Nathan was born 37+1 (Sunday). So I had 1 day at home before my waters broke. I wish I'd left work a week or 2 earlier, I was struggling in the last week training my replacement.

I'm planning on staying at work until 37 weeks- I have a fairly easy desk job, and as I don't get any paid mat leave wanted to round out one last full month of work (October). I also can drive to work, which is only 15 mins away so it's not too strenuous.

Will be interesting to see if I last the distance though- at 27 weeks now I'm already huge, and I get tired!

1st time around 38.5 weeks and 2nd time 37 weeks (which was lucky because I was put in hospital on the following Tuesday).

With my first I worked up to 36 weeks. I was so ready for maternity leave by the end, but it was a desk job that was located 5 minutes from home (on foot!).

This time I have the same job but I live 2 bus rides away. I now work part time but I have a toddler so am infinitely more tired. I will be finishing just shy of 31 weeks and I already can't wait.

First time I worked until 37 weeks. Desk job so not too bad although started to get very tired towards the end.

This time around I will finish at around 34-35 weeks. Feel I just need that bit longer to rest this time given I am running around after a toddler too. Just hope the bub doesn't decide to come too early.

I was 36 weeks when I finished, and was feeling ok. Was hoping to have four weeks off, but bubs came early.

I had planned to finish at 36 weeks and then changed it to 35. I was admitted overnight at 34 weeks on a Wed. By the time I got home Thursday afternoon, I couldn't be bothered going back for 1 day. I called my boss and told her I wouldn't be back. My replacement had been there for a good 2 months by then and I wasn't doing anything productive anyway.

It's a good thing I finished then because I was admitted again the following Tues and delivered Emily that night.

I finished work at 33 + 6, and was admitted to hospital the next day after my baby shower! I was studying at uni and wanted the six weeks before Henry was due to finish up assignments and have a bit of a rest. I worked in an office but travelled on public transport nearly an hour each way - I was getting pretty uncomfortable!

My time off consisted of four days in hospital on bed rest before Henry was born! I will be teaching when we have our next child and I will have six weeks off before then as well I hope. Bet I go over for the next one

I'm due to finish up at 34+2. That's when my current contract is due to finish, and it's also Ed Qld policy that you finish 6 weeks before you're due. Maybe I'll have to finish at 34 on the dot then, no idea. In that case, I'll get 2 days maternity leave! ROFL! Still, I'd love to know if I have a job to go back to...

I stopped working at 34 weeks - i have an office job, but i have to admit i was very much ready to chill out & relax for a while. It didn't take much for me to feel uncomfortable by then.

Aaahh, i still reckon that was the best 6 & 1/2 weeks of my life.
My time was mine & i have to admit, i don't know when - i'll ever have ownership of my time again.

HA ditto! Well, nearly. I finished at just nearly 36 and Hamish came at just nearly 37 weeks. I wish I had more time off before he arrived because the week I had off I went into work and I was busy cleaning and catching up with people! I never just relaxed!

I'm planning on working until 35 weeks (the end of this school term). I dug out a stool from somewhere, which means I can sit a lot more while teaching but am still higher than the kids iykwim? All this is provided I don't fall down the stairs again, because I'm pretty sure my boss won't let me cmoe back if I do that again!

I was 36 weeks, but in a cushy office job (tho it did involve 45-60min commute)

K

I would have been 38 weeks as I was scheduled in the following week for my c-section at 39 weeks.

I stopped working at 35 weeks.I was in a retail job that saw me constantly on my feet.

I was at work at 32 weeks on a friday. Left at 3:00pm and went into hospital at 6:00pm. I went downhill fast and Had him at 32 weeks prem via CS the next morning. Didn';t know what hit me. Would of loved to finish up and have time to relax

I was on my feet alot as a research scientist so I finished in the lab at 35 weeks - I worked from home for another two weeks. Elka didn't arrive until smack on her due date so I got some rest and relaxation in

I worked until i was 20 weeks..
Reasons were that i was temping in an office so didnt find another job after that one. Twice i had spotting/bleeding and was told to rest for a few days, then BP was getting higher and i also had weekly appointments with the diabetes educator during my pregnancy (would have needed an afternoon off weekly the way they used to run late!). On top of that i had hip/pelvis issues where i could barely walk some days. It would have been unfair had i got a new job the time off i would have needed so DH & i decided it was best to stay home and focus on keeping healthy. It was hard living on 1 wage but we got there

Our work closed for the year when I was 4 weeks off my due date, so it worked out good timing.

37w+3d. He was born two weeks later. Turns out I could have easily worked until 39w but enjoyed those few days off. Could have used the money however!