When do you plan to take a leave from your job?? - Page 2

[new york momma]

The Divine Mrs. M, I work for a private school--we make about $12,000 less a year than public school teachers but I prefer the working conditions--lot's of support and resources.

DH and I were trying to conceive so the baby would be born in the spring, but it took us 8 months of trying so this is a November baby--not as convenient for school breaks.

The thing I'm struggling with, is how hard to push myself. I feel a lot of pain in my pelvis, right about where my tail bone is and also my great trochanters. I'm not able to sleep long before the pain wakes me up. I've been taking a lot of Tylenol and it does seem to help, but I'd prefer not to use so much pain medicine. I'm also still having nausea and am gagging a lot during my commute and while at work, which consequently makes my eyes water a lot. I look and feel like a hot mess, trying to step very gently so the shooting pain in pelvis is lessened. I feel ridiculous talking to parents while I'm hunched over gagging with big tears dripping down my face.

I've been working on little exercises to help ease the pelvic pain and use positive affirmations and meditation anytime I get a break. Should I just try to endure it for another 7 weeks? My coworkers have been pretty understanding and supportive.

[MyFullHouse]

Every woman and every pregnancy is different.

When I worked 8 hour shifts in retail, I stopped at 34 weeks b/c I just couldn't handle it anymore. My sister worked 12+ hour shifts in food service and went to 38 weeks, despite 9 months of hyperemesis.

If I was working when I was pregnant with #4, I bet I would have been able to work right up to 42 weeks, when he was finally born! Right now, I'm 25 weeks and can't even keep up with my laundry. I'd be useless in a job.

Whenever possible, listen to your body!

[kblackstone444]

I have to work until delivery. I have no savings left and my work's maternity leave is unpaid. I only have about 2 weeks left of vacation I can use, after that, it will be all unpaid. I will also have to go back to work immediately when the baby's 6 weeks old.

[asobakabosa]

am planning to stop somewhere around 6th month. Want to have some free time for me. To relax, to walk, to paint and i don't know, write a poem ^)))

i know that baby will change my life, so want to get some freedom before it happens.

[OkiMom]

With my first I was in the miltiary. Way my command worked it was different than most commands because our Battalion commander had issues with a Marine going into labor at work (it had happened to him quite a few times I guess). Starting at 28 weeks per medical I started 40 hour work weeks (8 hours/day). Starting at 32 weeks female marines/saliors in my battalion started 6 hour work days. At 36 weeks it went to 4 hour days. At 39 weeks until after maternity leave you didn't work. DD1 was born on her due date so I wasn't working for the week before I gave bith.
With DD2 I was a SAHM.

[gummibears]

I probably won;t take much leave at all before labor. Working from home has those advantages where you can rest as needed and plow on through delivery and not miss too much of a beat in the meantime.

Otherwise, if I wasn't at home I'd play it by ear. If all went well, I'd go as close to delivery as possible. If complications, I'd leave sooner if it was suggested by my doctor or I felt I couldn't handle it anymore.

[Lucy&Jude'sMama]

I'm taking off a month early.... Sept. 30th is my last day!!!! I've planned it all out financially since I'm not covered through maternity leave or disability or anything other than my own savings. I'm hoping I wont have to return to work full time. That however depends on if my partner can get a second job or a raise to fully support us. This is my second. With my first I took off 2 weeks early.

I never wanted to return back to work the first time, but was forced to when things went badly for us $ wise. My daughter was 2 months old at the time and I was fully breastfeeding. It sucked! Big time! The longest off of work I've had since then was 1 week when I went to visit my best friend. Anyways, so I'm really happy and excited that I'll have a month with my daughter before baby boy arrives. Of course he could come early but I doubt it since my daughter was on time. I expect this one will be also.

[anne1140]

I hope to work right up until I go into labor. I'm due May 10, and school ends June 1 (if there are no snow days), so I want to be able to get as much pay in there as I can before summer vacation. I don't know if I am able to use sick days as leave, but I only have 24 saved up, some which I know will be used before, so we shall see.

[DanielleT]

with my first i was in college and i went until i went into labor and then took from spring break up until september...with my second i was entitled to 52 weeks mat/parental leave so i left 24 days before labor and went back just shy of her 1st birthday...with this one i run a small dayhome in a small town so i will probably work until my due date...i dont' get mat leave as i'm considered self employed so i think i'll start taking kids back as soon as i can get at least a 5 hour block of sleep at night...

[Annemarie42]

You sound like you are feeling miserable. I think every pregnancy is different, and obviously jobs are, too. I am feeling a huge difference in this pregnancy (most of job involves doing home visits) versus last pregnancy (primarily desk-focused job in heath care facility). I am really, really uncomfortable most of the time and feel it is impacting my health as well as my ability to do my job. I didn't feel this way last time until around 38 weeks (I am 34 now). I do have the option of cutting hours without stopping completely, so that is what I am doing-- that is probably not an option with teaching though. Are there other things you could do that would lighten your workload a little?