How long did you work while pregnant?

Published

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 until 7 months pregnant, but this was in an office setting and in the UK.

I'm so blessed I never was pregnant in the United States.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I worked as an aide in LTC until a week before I delivered. I had pre-eclampsia so the doc made me go on leave. I was off at the very end of October. Delivered early Noember and went back in early January.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.

Until the morning of 40w3d. I worked a night shift on the nights of being 40w1d and 40w2d. i would have worked more, but I think they didnt want to put me on the schedule for fear of me going out and creating an unexpected hole to fill.

12 hour shifts, too. 36weeks (occasionally more) right up to the end. I loved being pregnant. Sure I had fat ankles and was tired. the last month, I was more pregnant than many of my patients. One lady was going natural, and I was helping her get out of the shower. She had a contractoin, grabbed my shoulders and squatted, pulling me down into a squat, too. So here we are, belly to belly squatted on a floor in a tiny bathroom.

When I was 40weeks, had an antepartum pt, and I come back the next day and she delivered preterm and says to me "you're still pregnant!" LOL.

So I went out on a Tues. morning, after working that Monday night shift, and still didn't go into labor until Sunday night! Had teh baby at 41w2d, all 10 1/2 pounds of him.

Sure, time off beforehand would have been nice. I was using PTO though to pay for my maternity leave, and I wanted all I could get afterwards.

Sure, its hard work. If you dont' have to do it, and dont want to do it, then don't. Not everyone has a rough time, though.

Good luck and congrats!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What happens if you are pregnant only a few months after beginning work somewhere? Do you get paid? Can they just can you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

worked until 3 hours before i delivered my first at 36 weeks( not intentional i was young and naive and t hought it was going to take much longer!! ) and till my due date for the second who decided to be stubborn ..42 weeks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No they can't fire you here even if you are only working a few months before announcing your pregnancy. Now you need a certain number of hours to qualify for paid mat leave but you are entitled to the full year no matter how long you've worked. The nurses I know who didn't get there hours in before delivery simply came back to work early (like after 6 months) if they and their spouse couldn't afford to take an unpaid year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rural Health.

With my DD I worked up until 39 weeks, she was due Nov. 5th, so I just took off starting from Nov. 1st. With only working 3 days a week I was able to have the last few days of Oct. off too. I think working probly helped me get exercise and I had a very easy delivery.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Practice.

I'm due this weekend and still working:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion