Work - Careers - ThinkBaby

Sophie Miller

22/07/2005 at 12:07

Hi,
Just wanting to get an idea as to when most of you stopped working (when pregnant)? I love my job and would ideally like to carry on with it as far down the road as possible (if I am physically able that is!)..but I also want to have enough time to get myself and the nursery organised before the baby arrives..
Thanks!

Karen B

22/07/2005 at 12:21

Good idea to be thinking ahead Sophie. What job do you do? A lot depends on the sort of job - a friend of mine who's a teacher had maternity leave that went into summer holiday, so she had about 9 months stright which suited her well. I work for myself, so basically got back to work quite quickly after my first, which was a bit of a mistake.

Zoe Cameron

22/07/2005 at 15:42

I stopped work when I was about 28 weeks! Which actually suited me fine because I then had quite a bit of time to sort myself out and squeeze in all those pamepering sessions!! Looking back though -I could probably have gone on for longer. Karen is right though - it does depend on what job you do so it really is up to you -just see how you feel..

Sophie Miller

28/07/2005 at 15:06

Thanks girls! I am a chef! So it gets pretty exhausting standing on my feet all day! But perhaps I could start doing some freelance stuff and work from home! Although I don't have the kitchen for it - wish i did! And also eek, prob gona put on soo much weight with the cravings and all this food all around me!

Julie Robinson

28/07/2005 at 15:10

I worked rather late, until 39 weeks, but as I just sit behind a desk as an accountant that was ok. In the event Michael arrived nearly a week late anyway. I was having real trouble sleeping, just through discomfort, not stress I don't think, and so would spend quite a few hours in the nighttime getting things ready. To be honest I needed another distraction apart from the baby preparations or I think I would have driven myself and my partner mad.
That said work was very understanding and didn't mind at all that I took things a little easier at work - I didn't go in early and I never left late - but I think if I were worried about putting on a good show for tough bosses than I might have thought it better to stay at home. It's not that I wasn't doing a good job, I just couldn't manage as much as I could earlier. But it's a small company so I think they were glad to have me around longer.

Next time I'd consider finishing earlier, especially if I worked for a less flexible company that expected you to pick a time and stick to it.

Toni Barton

05/08/2005 at 18:53

Sophie, I worked until 35 weeks and then I was really ready to stop. I was finding the thought of all the stuff I still had to do really distracting anyway. And we'd moved house not too long before, so there were still cardboard boxes that needed to be unpacked! I also wanted to get the nursery fully sorted out before the baby arrived, even though she would be sleeping with us for a while. I also used the time to do a bunch of personal stuff, like catch up with friends, write to relatives etc. all the stuff I knew I wouldn't have time for later. I could have actually done with another couple of weeks but managed ok in the end.
When I was deciding I thought I would miss the office, but the business at home was more than enough and I didn't really miss it at all. It was good to get back to it part-time later though.

Georgina Soper

12/08/2005 at 09:30

sophie i was expecting to work until at least 35 weeks this time as it was my second and i waas working full time last time but as i work in a hospital there is not much time for sitting down so i am finishing at 30 weeks this was suggested to me by my midwife it all depends on how you feel i suffered with high blood pressure last time so will be watched carefully this time and quite honestly i can not wait to finish now i am shattered much harder second time i have found good luck to you

Sophie Miller

12/08/2005 at 11:34

Thank you! Guess I'll just have to see how it goes then - I definately don't want to feel like I don't have enough time to get things prepared and sorted out. Work's pretty quiet at the moment which is a relief! Georgina - out of interest, what have you found harder the second time around? Im sure it must be loads harder with a toddler around - is that it? I saw how my friend struggled during her second pregnancy because of having another one running around - she was really very tired and had no time to herself at all. Hope you are managing ok! Good luck to you too! xx

Georgina Soper

12/08/2005 at 13:38

hi sophie yes you are right it is having a pre-schooler around that is hard work he is nearly five and very energetic plus it is five years since i was pregnant last time and that five years older makes all the difference belive me.
plus with the school hols dont even get a break while he is at play school though he is agood boy and i work evenings so from eight in the morning until ten at night i am on the go pregnancy itself is fine though hard now at 6 and a half months plus i also had a major op four weeks before i fell pregnant so body not had of a rest really your body will tell you when it has had enough xxx

Michelle Russell 2

07/11/2006 at 16:27

hi to all well i work in a cafe which is really busy as we are getting into christmas im only 7 to 8 weeks at the mo and already ive had two weeks off work as i cant handle 10 hors a day on my feet.and have also been abit poorly so wen do u think i should give up work.

sarah jane

02/12/2006 at 14:07

See how you feel later michelle - those first few weeks of pregnancy are exhausting and if you're suffering from nausea too it will be hard. For most people it gets alot better after 12 weeks and for me i was positively blooming by 20 weeks.

Sarah x

Michelle Russell 2

02/12/2006 at 15:12

hi sarah well im 12 weeks now and ive been so poorly i thought id stopped being sick but its all started up again. so for the past 12 weeks i havent really been at work.thx for the thread tho so how far are u now sarah.x i recieved an anatomy scan today is it anything to worry about

sarah jane

02/12/2006 at 19:40

i had my little boy on 5th November, so if you have any questions fire away. sorry you're feeling so poorly... it should get better soon. have you spoken to your doctor/midwife about it? i'm sure you know the usual home remedies - my grandma says she swore by a glass of lemonade and ginger biscuit bought to her in bed before she even contemplated getting up. i was really, really lucky and didn't get sick at all, i was just totally exhausted until about 12 weeks.

is it your first scan? it's just to check that everything is ok so far and to give you a definate due date. most places give u a second, more detailed scan at 20 weeks which checks for any abnormalites - it can pick up things like spina bifida and downs. obviously the scans serve a serious medical purpose, but i loved all of my scans and saw them as an opportunity to 'meet' my baby - it's a great bonding experience!

JULIA KELLY

02/12/2006 at 20:33

Hi all,
I have a 2 and a 1 year old and am also due in 10 weeks, valentines day. I have just set up my own business i am running from home, as i havent worked since 14 weeks pregnant with my first. I needed to get back in the saddle and when all the kids are at school hoped to have developed into something big enough to provide a decent second income, at the mo its just pocket money and going straight back into buying more stock. As im selling luxury chocolates valentines day is going to be big, so getting everything organised. I know its going to be a challenge which is why we havent ploughed everything into it this year just getting a taster and taking one day at a time, which is all you can do.

Michelle Russell 2

03/12/2006 at 10:11

hi sarah well ive already had two scans was sent to the eau department as i have had two miscarrages in the past, then was sent for another to make sure every thing was ok which thay used this for my dating scan which i should b due on the 20th june. it will b my boyfriends birthday also.so i were just wondering what they were sending me another scan for wen i have had a datig scan. but will b ringing in the morning to see if i still need to attend the appointment.

im also hoping we have a boy ive got a name for a boy but my boyfriend and i cant agree on a girls name. got any ideas? thx for ur advise i dont really have any one to talk to ather then my mum so its nice to share problems with people who have been through the whole pregnancy thing.

david rose

19/12/2006 at 16:14

hi everyone,
just a quick question....i'm very early on in my preg(just reaching 3 months). I work long hours as i'm a junior doctor in a moderately busy hospital. I'm just getting over the vomiting. But i'm eternally exhausted and tired. Smells get to me. Feeling low about it. I work 12 hour shifts and night shifts,etc. What do you girls think about working....? I can't afford to stop working due to the finances. gp suggested to just take off sick until i'm ready. it's been a month now since i've been off work. can't do it indefinitely. maybe i should until i'm 16-18weeks, as then things change i hear. love to know your thoughts.Thanks

sarah jane

29/12/2006 at 21:12

See how things go david,you might feel better after 12 weeks which is often when the nausea starts to subside and you start to have a bit more energy. Every pregnancy is different and you just have to do what is right for you. If you really are off sick for a long time you might be able to receive incapacity benefit?

Michelle King

29/05/2007 at 09:39

Ithink it depends on the type of job you do with been a nurse i intend to stop two months before.I restrain from pushing and lifting.

Sarah Gunn

05/06/2007 at 21:32

Hi eveyone. I'm having my 12 week scan tomorrow and am both very excited and very nervous! I am hoping to work up to as late as possible simply because of the money side of things. Although, it's difficult to know whether to take time for yourself before hand or whether to save up the time to spend with your baby before you go back to work?! I guess you just have to see what your body says nearer the time. I'm a primary school teacher so don't really get a minute to myself all day!!

Eva Ellehammer

29/12/2007 at 01:28

Hello there, so great with this site. Have had this question in mind as well but have not been able to find an answer anywhere else. I will be working until my 38th week. Of economical reasons I have taken the first two weeks off as holidays and then the rest as maternity leave. Hopefully I will be able to stick to this plan!

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