Is My Hand Forced??

[WackyMumof2]

To the ladies who work during pregnancy, did any of you feel the need to have to throw in the towel before you intended to? I'm 33 weeks and the last 2 weeks we have been full on with getting ready for Christmas, helping people with moving etc, I had gastro at 20-30 weeks so everything is tender still and next week I have a trailer to hire, a dump run or 2, carpets to shampoo and new furniture for the kids to set up. Summer doesn't help because I struggle with the heat pregnant or not. But the Sous chef and the boss think I should take leave earlier than planned - which is currently 36 weeks. I can understand where my boss is coming from as we talked about this last pregnancy that if I didn't make the call and was struggling, he would for the health and safety of me and my baby. Partner and I have talked about it as well but not really actioned anything. I have my specialist appointment next week so will do next week as I'm rostered on anyhow but will talk to my boss as to whether next week or the following will be my last week. If I'm forced to give up work earlier than planned, I won't give it up before 35 weeks. No one sees me making it to New Years anyhow but I'd like my boss to agree that Christmas Eve is my LAST shift if possible.

 

[krissie328]

I was forced to leave effective this coming week due to being placed on bedrest for high bp.

Its so frustrating but its what is best this pregnancy. With my son I was done around 35/36 weeks and honestly loved the last month. I wasn't exactly relaxing as we moved when I was 38 weeks. But it was nice to be able to rest as needed.

If you're ready to stop working at 35 weeks then great, but it seems like you should be able to work as long as you can safely perform the work.

 

[Bonnie11]

I'm finishing next week at nearly 32 weeks, way earlier than I did last time when I worked to 38 weeks but with SPD and another one at home already I'm just finding it so hard! I just feel like I really need to rest and not be rushing around. I would just listen to your body, if you feel you can manage more then carry on but if you feel like you need to stop then don't be afraid to say so. Also try and limit the physical things, none of them will help you feel better! Ask for help whenever you can, you shouldn't be lifting anything heavy or doing anything strenuous, even if it has to wait a while longer then so be it, you don't want to send yourself into premature labour because you're doing too much. I know it's frustrating having to slow down but it's necessary, especially if others are pointing it out that you need to! X

 

[JessyG]

I worked until 36 weeks with my first took 2 weeks holiday so my maternity leave started at 38 weeks which was perfect. This time i have struggled so much with the commute to work and long days that i saved up 3 weeks holiday so i could finish now and take leave at 37 weeks. Ideally id love to have finished later but i just couldnt do it anymore. I am enormous uncomfortable, the commute is awful some days and i have a wee one at home now too.

I think finish when you feel it is your time. 35 weeks is good if you can make it that far but with what you have on just make sure you have some time to rest and take it easy. Do you have holidays to use before hand?

 

[WackyMumof2]

I worked until 36 weeks with my first took 2 weeks holiday so my maternity leave started at 38 weeks which was perfect. This time i have struggled so much with the commute to work and long days that i saved up 3 weeks holiday so i could finish now and take leave at 37 weeks. Ideally id love to have finished later but i just couldnt do it anymore. I am enormous uncomfortable, the commute is awful some days and i have a wee one at home now too.

I think finish when you feel it is your time. 35 weeks is good if you can make it that far but with what you have on just make sure you have some time to rest and take it easy. Do you have holidays to use before hand?

I'm on a permanent casual contract as I do 12 hours a week so my holidays are paid with my wages. I think I've used all my Annual Leave too. I'm hoping my boss will make a compromise and let me do another 2 weeks. He's worried about me pushing myself because at this point in my pregnancy last year I was doing really well and wasn't slowing down. But after 3 years with the company he sort of knows me well enough to know when something isn't quite right. I feel fine but I think with all that's going on and the heat that's the main factor. If giving up work just helps me slow down that little bit then I think that's what he is trying to achieve. I can't sit still. But I don't like feeling like I've let down my co-workers either. All of them keep telling me they will manage but they want me to seriously think about leaving a little earlier than I had planned.

 

[WackyMumof2]

I'm finishing next week at nearly 32 weeks, way earlier than I did last time when I worked to 38 weeks but with SPD and another one at home already I'm just finding it so hard! I just feel like I really need to rest and not be rushing around. I would just listen to your body, if you feel you can manage more then carry on but if you feel like you need to stop then don't be afraid to say so. Also try and limit the physical things, none of them will help you feel better! Ask for help whenever you can, you shouldn't be lifting anything heavy or doing anything strenuous, even if it has to wait a while longer then so be it, you don't want to send yourself into premature labour because you're doing too much. I know it's frustrating having to slow down but it's necessary, especially if others are pointing it out that you need to! X

I know I'm doing a LOT but I honestly feel fine! I don't lift anything at work too heavy anyhow due to an old back injury which isn't helped at all by pregnancy but the guys are always happy to help if need be anyhow. I'm often lifting 20kg+ of meat and putting it away into the chiller. I've forced myself to slow down at work which doesn't sit well because it means everything I would usually have done I don't always get done and it means someone else is picking up the slack. But if they will let me hang in for another couple of weeks then I will happily admit defeat and call leave early just to give them all piece of mind.

 

[annio84]

I've ended up having to go off sick from 32 weeks. In my last pregnancy I worked until 37 weeks and was ok. My sickness ends next week and then I'm on annual leave until 39 weeks when mat leave starts. I know in the uk you have to have a risk assessment and if they're having you do things that put you or baby at risk they have to find you an easier job or suspend you on full pay until 36 weeks. Not sure if anything like that would apply where you are.

 

[Reiko_ctu]

For me personally, I have made the decision to work until I don't feel like I can anymore physically. Mentally is always hard to make it through the last few weeks before going off no matter when. I do think that if you need to go off, that's what the leave is there for, even before the baby is born. Some women need that for physical or mental health reasons. I went off really early with my last, and was expecting the same issues to put me off early this time, but so far so good so I will keep going until I just can't anymore. I don't think it's causing any issues for me, my employer, family or baby!

 

[WackyMumof2]

I had my growth scan today and baby is around the 4lb mark which is right on the average for my gestation. As long as he keeps growing at this rate I should safely be able to expect 7lb 7oz at the most at 40 - assuming I actually might make it that far. But he's on the 55th percentile for weight which is significantly less than all 3 of his brothers who were around the 95th if memory serves me right. I think a lot of what I am feeling is the heat and ligament pain as the result of a 'back to back pregnancy' as my midwife likes to put it. He's in my pelvis but radiology can't tell me if he's engaged because it's apparently quite hard to see on ultrasound? I feel fine but I will wait and see what tomorrows appointment with the specialist brings before I decide if I am leaving at 35 or 36 weeks. I left at 36 with DS3 because I was getting niggles in that week so the chef and I agreed leave was effective immediately just to be on the safe side and I actually had him Oct 2nd - the day that was originally intended to be my last shift. Could have made for a VERY interesting lunch! Hopefully he and the big boss will let me go to 36 again but if not, I'm hoping 35.

 

[jessmke]

With my first I went off at 37 weeks, with my second at 39 weeks. I struggled a bit because I do 10 hr shifts in the evenings in a pretty physical job, so I wouldn't get home until 1 am and then would have to get up at 7 am with my toddler, but I'm still glad I worked as long as I did. Honestly I would have preferred to work right up until my due date but I thought it would be good to take a week off to 'rest' before baby arrived. Turned out being at home with an extremely active 18 month old was harder than being at work, lol. I'd say that if you feel fine then work as long as you can, it helps pass the time waiting for baby and also means more time at home after baby is born.

 

[WackyMumof2]

Obstetrician wants me to keep active for as long as I can as long as I'm comfortable. She sees no reason as to why we need to take early leave because she feels I'm coping pretty well in myself though she did tell me I need to cut back on the heavy lifting and slow down at the same time - which I have done anyway. So, good news for me but it's whether the boss will agree. Might have to bribe him with Banana cake. Reckons that's the only reason after 3 years he hasn't fired me. But I've submitted leave to take effect from Dec 31st. I don't want to leave my workmates short handed at this time of the year. The kitchen is full on between now and New Year.