How long did you work while pregnant?

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I recently found out my husband and I are expecting our first baby next summer. When you were pregnant how many weeks were you when you went on mat leave?

Barring any complication I would like to work up until the end so I can get the full year off with my baby but how hard is it to do a full shift on L&D at near term?

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

A full year?!? Where the heck do you work, I wanna work there!!

I guess it just depends on if you're having complications or restrictions. Some people work up until 40 weeks, some need to get off early for problems.

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

Oh, and regarding the full shift near the end of full term... Yes, quite hard to do a 12 hour shift especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet and/or helping laboring mommas.

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

Oh, and congrats!! :D

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

With my daughter, I worked up until about two weeks before I gave birth. I was an aide on a Med/Surge floor and the fatigue just got to be too much; couldn't handle the workload any more.

With my son, I worked up until a couple of days before I was due. This time I was an RN working the night shift on a psychiatric unit, and so the workload was a bit easier.

Congrats! :yeah:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I'm a CRNA and I just finished my last day of work this past Friday. I am currently 39 weeks.....I worked as long as I could, but it eventually got to be too much. I've had a very healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, but it got to the point where I was just exhausted and being on my feet all day was killing me. I started having major swelling in my feet and ankles and I was just tired ALL the time. Plus, I think it was a lot of mental stress, knowing that I had to be at work everyday. Good luck to you and congratulations on your pregnancy!!

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I'm in Canada, so we get 52 weeks of paid mat leave. It's great to know that I will be able to spend my baby's first year at home, I feel bad for you in the US that have to go back right away.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Man, I am glad that you get so much time off w/ your new baby!!! Going back at 12 weeks killed me. To answer your question, I worked until I was 39 weeks. I worked Friday, SROMed Saturday, and ds was born Sunday. Best wishes!

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I worked right up until I delivered w/my 1st child, and 2 days b/f w/my 2nd-- both came earlier than the due dates! I felt really good both times, the whole pregnancy- other than the n/v in the 1st trimester. The hospital gave 3 mos paid maternity leave, but I took 10 mos off w/each child, and they held my position, which was really nice b/c they didn't have to guarantee your job back on the same unit. By the time I went back they were almost weaned and I was ready to work again!! (I really don't know how people go back after 3 mos!) Good Luck!!

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Specializes in OB.

Congratulations on your pregnancy - 52 weeks of maternity leave is awesome!

I worked until delivery with all 3 of my pregnancies. I actually went into labor with my first at the end of my 12 hour night shift! ( I was only 3cm and ctx q 3-4min, so I went home took a quick shower and came back a couple hours later). My kids are 16-21, so that was back before FMLA. I only got 6wks off for my SVD and 8 wks for my C/S. Therefore, I wanted to work as close to delivery as possible so that I could have the most time off with my babies. I am a pretty active person, so the only issues I had besides being tired and achy, was crash sections - it was difficult trying to hurry and get the pt back to the OR, room set up, etc with my big belly in the way of the sterile fields!

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I worked until 39 weeks with both pregnancies. I was full time the first time around and part time the second time around. The worst part was the feet swelling. I had the worst pitting edema of anyone I have EVER seen. 12 hour shifts on your feet are rough at the end... but it was totally worth it for the time off after the baby came.

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

Congratulations

Ive seen women work up to they actually went into labor. I remeber one whose BOW ruptured in report. That got everyone excited.

Some take their last 2 or 3 months to get ready. Just depends on what you want.

My eggs have never been fertilized. So I cant talk for myself

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