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[Sasha's Mama]

I'm 38w 3d and I think this will be my last week at work, even though it's just half days. Last pregnancy I worked FT until 41w3d, but I just can't do it this time. The baby is really low, my midwife could just feel his shoulders and not his head at my last appointment. It doesn't help that it has started snowing and I really hate being out on the roads. I just want to be home and get my house ready for the birth, but I'm kind of worried about going to 42 weeks again and being home for so long without a baby.

[mommy55]

I'm always a bit jealous of moms-to-be who get to take a break leading up to delivery!  I'll be at work until I have to head to the hospital.  My maternity leave pay is non-existent and I'm our primary breadwinner, so I need to keep going as long as I can.

Someone at work asked me last week (somewhat as a joke) if I'm taking my laptop to the hospital!

[Sasha's Mama]

Yeah, I'm really struggling with the not working thing. My leave will be unpaid except for two weeks, and I'm worried not just about losing out on money that I could be making, but about being at home away from my job. I've worked since I was 14 and it kind of scares me to make such a big transition since I likely won't be returning because my pay = cost of daycare for 3 kids.

[musicmama08]

Yep!  Working until I'm 39 weeks - Nov. 11.  I'm constantly running around on my feet, and I think my body likes the exercise.  I'm just worried that I'll have the kid sooner, as I have a bunch of stuff to finish up!  Still feeling good though.

[Anglyn]

I'm 37 weeks 3 days and still working full time. With babies two and three I worked til the day I went into labor and with number four I took off a week before due to sheer exhaustion. Right now I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm a program supervisor now as opposed to providing direct services so I am able to work at the office or even home as opposed to running around to peoples homes all day (I work in early childhood intervention) so that helps. Right now, dh is the sahp and I have saved up eight weeks of paid time off and any day I take prior to baby is a day I won't have after so I'm trying to hold out til labor starts! I've always taken all 12 weeks of FMLA before but being the only income I  just can't so that's my motivation, I want all eight weeks with the baby!

[SaharaSwims]

Originally Posted by mommy55 

I'm always a bit jealous of moms-to-be who get to take a break leading up to delivery!  I'll be at work until I have to head to the hospital.  My maternity leave pay is non-existent and I'm our primary breadwinner, so I need to keep going as long as I can.

Someone at work asked me last week (somewhat as a joke) if I'm taking my laptop to the hospital!

Wishing you all the best - you've got a tough job being the primary bread winner and not having maternity leave - you must be one strong, capable woman :)

[Krystal323]

Sending good vibes to you all who are still working!  

Err....if I may ask, how is it for you guys who are the primary breadwinners, relationship/emotional-wise (assuming you're not single)?  I was the only one working for most of my last pregnancy, and I was only able to have part-time hours, so we never had enough to make ends meet.  This time, I'm effectively a SAHP (freelancer), and my DH is working a regular job--but again, we don't really have enough to make ends meet.  

Working a minimal number of hours outside the home is generally something of a goal of ours, because it gives us more time as a family, etc.  However, I find in late pregnancy especially, that I get rather resentful and bitter about constantly being thwarted by lack of funds.  

A part of me kinda wishes I was working a regular job right now!  Or, I'm feeling angry at DH for not procuring more lucrative work (even tho we both know "more lucrative" really just means "more hours" at this point in time, which inevitably equals health issues for my DH).  Le sigh.

Just having an introspective whiny moment...sorry guys.    

[jill the pill]

This will be my last week working.  I work in retail and stand all day on a concrete floor so my back and hips are really starting to bug me.  My DH doesn't work in the winter and he will be taking over my hours until I go back to work. 

[mommy55]

I guess I should clarify by saying we're fortunate enough to be able to save for me to take 6 weeks off without maternity pay.  I know a lot of people aren't in that situation, so we do feel lucky to be able to pay our bills while not working.

I took 3 months when my son was born, and I know it's going to be hard to return to work after 6 weeks this time - I'm not looking forward to it at all.  I don't have any resentment towards DP in terms of the length of time I have off - it's more towards our gov't and the lack of benefits for maternity leave.

[mleh99]

Unfortunately, I have to work up until I am in labor, then I can only take 2 weeks off (unpaid).  I guess it's good that I work at home, so I can still take it easy, plus I have someone helping me with the kids 3 days a week.  

[jbk21]

 I work at home too and will be taking off when I go into labor and then going back to work at 4-6 weeks postpartum, depending on how I am doing.  My boss is okay with me taking a full 6 weeks if needed since it will likely fall over the christmas holiday anyway.  

[mamabelle]

I'm 37 weeks and planning to work another 2 full weeks, but recently cut back to half-days.  Last time I worked until the day I went into labor, but I am having a much harder time this pregnancy! I thought with the half-days I could get some projects done, but I am so exhausted that I mostly just rest in the afternoons. I think it has something to do with having a 2-year-old to chase around when I'm not working! Like most of you, I just want to save up as much time to be at home with baby as possible.  I will be home for about 10 weeks before returning to work, and I have the amazingly good fortune to be able to bring baby with me to work until he/she turns 1!

I do like working towards the end of pregnancy as it keeps me from going too crazy about "when is this baby going to born" pacing and wondering, but some days (ok, most days this last week) I just want to clean or get crafty and feel more "ready" for baby. There is a lot on our to do list for this weekend