Who's still working and who's on maternity leave?

[*MamaJen*]

Just curious. What's your status? I'm still plugging away. I'm going to try to work through the 19th, or maybe the 21st, provided I don't have any other pressing engagements, such as childbirth. If the baby isn't here by the 27th I MAY put in a few more days as well. I feel like stuff around the house is pretty well taken care of, so it's not like there's tons of baby stuff I'd rather be doing. I almost wish I had a few baby projects left--I was really enjoying them.
We have a magazine and two holiday issues left to put out. I also badly need to clean my work desk, which appears to magically repel my nesting impulses. I also have to try to train my replacement some. Jeez. Actually, train him a lot. At least I know I will be missed when I'm on leave.

[wake_up]

Everybody probably already knows this because I've been posting the countdown, but I'm just working through this week and then I'm DONE FOREVER!!!

Gotta hunker down and file all this junk that's been piling up on my desk for the past few years...

[mom2liv]

I'm still working. Will be here through end of next week (21st) unless by chance baby comes first. Then after the 27th, if still no baby, we'll see. Playing it by ear. Glad to hear I'm not the only one whose desk has magically repelled my nesting instinct! I'm so swamped trying to get things done before I go out it looks like a bomb went off in here! yikes.

[LaLibertad]

This is my last week. This week will be a play it by ear as well. I've gotten most of my work done, the rest can be handled by my co-workers.

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by wake_up

Everybody probably already knows this because I've been posting the countdown, but I'm just working through this week and then I'm DONE FOREVER!!!

I would say we should go get drunk Friday night and celebrate, but I could see a flaw in that plan.

[wake_up]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

I would say we should go get drunk Friday night and celebrate, but I could see a flaw in that plan.

Yeah, the pregnancy police would be all over us for that one. Maybe we could meet and get cheesecake drunk or something instead.

[brooklynbabymama]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

We have a magazine and two holiday issues left to put out. I also badly need to clean my work desk, which appears to magically repel my nesting impulses. I also have to try to train my replacement some. Jeez. Actually, train him a lot. At least I know I will be missed when I'm on leave.

I walked out last night, as scheduled, with an entire issue for my coverage to ship this Friday...not my problem, I offered to work from home while I was out but they didn't want to pay a consulting rate. I'm just over it, today's my EDD and even though I've brought a change of pants in my bag for the last week, it would really suck to break water in the office. Bad enough I spent the past two weeks arriving at noon in Roxy yoga pants, in all my belly 'neath-age glory.

[mama2rey]

I'm taking things day by day. My maternity leave officially starts on the 21st, but if I'm still pregnant I'll probably go in after that.

I don't have pressing stuff to do-everything is handled or can be handled by someone else. I really am putting in time now so that I can take off as much time as possible after the baby is born.

[Kharen]

Well, my plan was to work up until the baby's birth, but my blood pressure had a different plan. It skyrocketed early last week, so my doctor took me out of work at 36.5 weeks. I officially started my maternity leave on Dec. 5. Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. As of about week 35, I was SO uncomfortable physically and mentally working full-time. I was swelling horribly by the end of the day (that has since decreased dramatically), and I was having a really hard time concentrating. I wasn't really sure how I was going to get through the entire month of December if I made it to my due date.

Due to my blood pressure issues, I have an induction tentatively scheduled for Monday (Dec. 17). Assuming we make it to Monday, I'll technically be forfeiting about a week and a half of maternity leave time with my baby, but I'm going to work part-time for a couple of months after I go back to work at the beginning of March, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Good luck to everyone still at work!!!
K

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

I've been on maternity leave since October of last year. But when I worked I worked the Friday before my first was born on the Monday and then a week before my ds2 was born.

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by brooklynbabymama

Bad enough I spent the past two weeks arriving at noon in Roxy yoga pants, in all my belly 'neath-age glory.

Yeah, I sometimes look presentable, but if I have no interviews with important people scheduled, then I am really starting to stretch the boundaries of professional office attire. Fortunately reporters are allowed and even expected to look kind of weird. Every morning I go through the "heels, flats or flip flops" debate, and about four days out of five the flip flops win. Hey. This is Austin.

[mama2rey]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

Yeah, I sometimes look presentable, but if I have no interviews with important people scheduled, then I am really starting to stretch the boundaries of professional office attire. Fortunately reporters are allowed and even expected to look kind of weird. Every morning I go through the "heels, flats or flip flops" debate, and about four days out of five the flip flops win. Hey. This is Austin.

I am wearing the same four pants and alternating them over and over again. I am also stretching the boundaries of professional office attire. Hey-I am stretching the boundaries of professional office behavior-since I am no longer seeing clients-and all my work is done-I pretty much go to meetings, play on the 'net-and stretch out the little work I have. Yesterday I spent the entire day writting a letter of recommendation for a former student........

I know I would not be getting away with this is if I were somewhere else!

[*MamaJen*]

I wonder how much this DDC owes our various employers for lost productivity?
Well, it's not like I'm taking smoke breaks anymore.

[LaLibertad]

Originally Posted by expectantmami

Hey-I am stretching the boundaries of professional office behavior-since I am no longer seeing clients-and all my work is done-I pretty much go to meetings, play on the 'net-and stretch out the little work I have.

Me as well. I've been wearing demin overalls to work and not apologizing for it.

I decided it would probably be better if I wasn't scheduled to see any students in December, so honestly I stopped trying.

[Belleweather]

Still working... for some value of 'working' that involves nothing more difficult than showing up.

The going theory is that I will work all the way until the end of the month. But between just us chickens I'll be begging my midwife to put me on some sort of restricted schedule at my appointment on Friday. I just CAN NOT do this anymore, I'm constantly exhausted and it's contributing to my panic and anxiety problems. Also, I'm terrified that I'll either get stuck at work in labor due to weather -- it's been snowing almost non-stop all week -- or will go into labor after an exhausting day at work and have no reserves.

And yeah. I wore PJ bottoms to work this morning. No one could tell, since they were plain and black, but they were also the only thing that fit.

[brooklynbabymama]

Originally Posted by expectantmami

I am wearing the same four pants and alternating them over and over again.

You're like Posh Spice compared to me! I found one pair of Gap maternity cargo pants I could stand to see myself in, paired them with a long American Apparel wife beater (I call it my Sarah Connor look, as in Terminator), and wore that every single day for about three months to my office on Park Ave.

[Beppie]

I've been on maternity leave since July 2005 when dd#1 arrived. But it isn't easy being a SAHM ... I feel I work harder now than I ever did in an office.

[wife&mommy]

Well I work at home so still working and probably will be still when the baby comes but I can do it when I have time, no set hours.

[PGinthe612]

Luckily I only work part time, but I have one day left (tomorrow). Then I'll be grading papers for a few days and then I'll finally be done! Being at work isn't too strenuous, but getting there is getting harder and harder (30 min. drive, 100% highway time--yuck!).
Since I am a college English teacher, I don't have to really dress up, but since I have only got one pair of non-sweatpants that still fit semi-decently, resisting the sweats urge is getting harder and harder. I wish I could wear flip-flops, but with all this snow on the ground, it's probably unwise. My feet have grown two full sizes!

[mom2liv]

Okay, just need to have a work vent for a minute: If one more person adds something to my to-do list or asks me to lead a meeting, spearhead a last-minute project or do something else that requires mental acuity (which I seriously don't have right now) I'm going to scream.

Hello, I'm already seriously doubtful that I'm going to get everything wrapped up that I need to prior to baby coming--I don't need more stress and more open tasks!!! Ugh. I'm working as fast as I can! (Okay, minus the time I'm on here writing this.) Do people have any idea how distracting it is to try to focus on a task let alone make intelligent strategic decisions when you're having BH all day, can't find a comfortable position to sit in and half your body is swollen beyond recognition? Not to mention all that isn't done for baby and my two-year-olds newfound love for being awake all night. :

Sorry, usually not nearly this whiny or incapable, I'm really not, but just feeling very stressed today and really, REALLY needed to vent. Thanks for tolerating my pity party!

Phew! I feel better now. Back to the grind...