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?

Specializes in Neuro/ Tele;home health; Neuro ICU.

CONGRATULATIONS :yeah: AND wish you best for Christmas and New YEAR, HEALTHY BABY AND ENJOY YOUR PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOOD!!!

I think we need to remember it all depends on each person and uncomplicated vs. complicated/ high risk pregnancy. i was able to work with my babies till the end. first one was born on my second day off from work , my second baby was higher risk pregnancy and i worked 12 hours night shift then had US at AM was called by my MD to deliver right after US was done ... now I'm enjoying my 9 monthes old healthy baby... and i am so jelous off you be able to spent first year with your baby... get best of it as you will be with her/him at the most important steps: first laugh/ smile/ step/ word/ hug....

best wishes :redpinkhe

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

one of my kids i had friday morning and came back to work monday...gotta feed the kid somehow ya know...

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I worked until my contractions were 5 min apart....delivered 4 hrs later.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Dr. Office, Psych.
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?

I worked up until my water broke -------- i know bullheaded, but I worked on Ped's / Maternity, so i didnt have to go far to deliver! ahahha, it depends on your work tolerance! Complications, etc.. take it month by month...

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Specializes in L&D,Wound Care, SNC.

I was 39 weeks and some change. My water ended up breaking on one of my days off.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
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.

In the US, you're lucky if you get paid leave at all. The FMLA only protects you from getting fired for taking maternity leave. Most employers here would prefer for women to squat in the bathroom, have their baby, send them home with a relative, then go right back to work...

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I worked til around 36 weeks with all of mine. First one it just worked out that way because of the contract I was on. The others it was purely a matter of comfort. Lots of ankle swelling towards the end. Congratulations and take good care of yourself.

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I had a great OB who wrote me an excuse at 7 months . . . . my BP was a bit high. I took 4 months off afterwards and then went back part time.

I hated going back to work. I'm a HUGE BELIEVER in staying home with my kids.

steph

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I worked past 40 weeks. I was in early labor in my last shift at work. It was misery, but worth it to get more time home with my little one. Work for me got really really hard at about 38 weeks (I worked 12 hour shifts). But it's doable, you just have to manage your time as much as you can so you can sit as much as you can! I had horrific pitting edema (but no BP problems), so other nurses were fine with me getting off my feet when I could. Plus at the end you are so excited waiting for baby going to work kinda helps to pass the time.

You get a year off?? I'm so jealous! I got 14 weeks (I go back this week) but all were unpaid.

I say play it by ear. Keep going as long as you can, but since you get a year don't push it too hard.

And Congratulations!!!!

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I'm 38 weeks now and still working. I was working 3 8-hour shifts and 1 12-hour shift a week, but my co-workers had pity on me last week and have picked up the extra 4 hours/week until the end of the year so that I don't have to do any more 12's because that was

getting to be awful.

I hope I go into labor very soon! But, like someone else said, I'd rather spend my time off of work with my baby than pregnant and miserable at home. ;)

I get 6 weeks maternity leave. Whoopty-doo.

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.

I was supposed to work the day I delivered. Went into labor early Sunday morning and called off for my shift Sunday night; I was 39+ weeks. My co-workers were awesome at helping me the last few weeks so I could have as much time as possible after delivery. I was given 6 weeks of disability at 70% of my base pay (no shift differential for night shift) and then I took 4 weeks of my vacation time. Total of 10 weeks wasn't bad but I would love to have had a whole year off. Next time I deliver it will be in Canada!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Congratulations. Please take it week by week. I intended to work until my due dates for my kids but preterm labor took me out in each case. Baby comes first from now on! Good luck.

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