I have a question, how far along in your pregnancy can you go and still work? I know it varies, which is why I want to hear your experiences. Was your pregnancy normal? High risk? Any multiples? Um yeah, my DH is a twin! So, there’s a possibility! I like to think of it as making up for lost time if that does happen!
I want to plan TTC but I need to work still and I’m wondering how long I can “plan” for. After the baby is born I probably won’t work for a while or do a part time gig, I’m more concerned about before-hand.
I’d love to hear from y’all! If you’re like me, a not-quite-momberry-yet, but know experiences of someone else, please share too!
I work as a nanny to a ginormous baby, I probably wont be able to lift him after… what point after I’m preggo?
I’m possibly switching to teaching elementary school during the day and nannying at night, starting in the fall. I wanted to know, if I get preggo during the school year, will I last until the end?
I had twins, the doctor will not let you work after 26 weeks but realistically if you are doing physical work you shouldn’t probably work after 22 weeks. I ended up going into preterm labor after cleaning my house at 29 weeks.
If its a complication free singleton birth here you have to work up to 35 weeks. I had chronic morning sickness as well as a few issues with the amniotic fluid so my doctor signed me off at about 28 weeks. [name]Little[/name] one is now 7 months old and I still haven’t returned, though I’m on unpaid leave.
Wow, 35 weeks is almost the whole thing! That’s good to know. Of course you always hope you’ll have an uncomplicated pregnancy, but when it does get complicated it’s good to take your time off. 28 weeks doesn’t sound extremely early either though. It’s good that you’re enjoying the time with your lo. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I worked to 38 weeks with no complications. Now this was mostly a desk job, so not too many physical demands. From a health point of view I probably could have stayed longer although sitting at a desk all day was starting to cause some major swelling, but mentally I was totally ready to be done by then!
Depending on how big the ginormous baby is that you nanny for, you may not be able to lift him at all once you become pregnant. I work in a warehouse, and have been on restrictions to not lift anything over 25 lbs. since I mentioned the type of work that I do. I am currently 27 weeks, and still working. There are two other girls that I work with who are expecting, and they have both started their leave already, before they were further along than I am. I do believe that one of them does have a high-risk pregnancy, though. A lot of doctors tell you to work until you feel you are no longer comfortable doing so, which I am definitely not, but trying to push it a little longer so I have more time to spend with baby after delivery As for school, I had my first daughter while I was in college and could only finish the first semester of the year, since she was born in February. If it were timed perfectly, and you conceived right at the start of the school year, or soon after, you may be able to make it until the end of the year. Sorry for the long response, but best wishes on ttc and your other endeavors!
I worked until 38 weeks, and physically could have worked longer - the most uncomfortable part was driving. That’s with no complications or anything. But I sort of needed a mental break and wanted time to make sure I had everything ready and time to relax and not be stressed before the baby comes.
I also know someone who is a teacher and she also worked until 38 weeks - she has gestational diabetes and has a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks, so really she just had one week off.
I think if I had been off of work since 28 weeks I would’ve gone crazy though - 12 weeks is a long time. Right now waiting for the baby to come and having 2 weeks seems like a long time haha. Of course sometimes you won’t have a choice in the matter with complications, or multiples, etc.
I am now a SATM but I worked nearly my entire pregnancy with DS1. I worked retail, and had a doctor’s note to sit as much as I was able. I had to, because I had multiple complications. Heart palpitations, gestational diabetes, round ligament pain, and I threw up for the entire 9 months. I worked with target until I was 30 weeks. I was still having trouble with round ligament pain, which made walking pretty painful. The heart palpitations made most activity hard, especially bending over or exercise, and gestational diabetes… Well, food wasn’t so enjoyable, but otherwise there wasn’t too much that it affected. I had a second job as a legal assistant, and I kept working there until the day before my son was born. I was planning on working until the end of that week, but the dr. sent me to the hospital to be induced because I was also having contractions which I couldn’t feel. (Usually a good thing, except that we didn’t know how long that had been going on and the doctor was concerned because my baby’s heart rate dropped with every contraction.)
Anyway, you should work as long as you feel able to. During your second trimester, you should feel pretty awesome, so it wouldn’t be until sometime in your third trimester that you would start to think about the time you should take for yourself.
Babeinthewoods - I’ll bet I’ll have that feeling too, it sounds like senioritis, but a lot worse! Haha.
themrs. - If the weight limit is 25 pounds then the baby has already passed it! He’s 32 pounds and still growing! But I’m guessing he’ll be more independent by the time I’m preggo. I love long comments, and yours was very helpful!
Lizabethm - that’s great that you were both able to work that long! Babeinthewoods too! I’m impressed. I understand how driving could be uncomfortable! Uy, I didn’t think about that!
Ariannew - wow what a trooper with all those complications! Hey, being a full time mom seems just as hard as working - if not more! Good thing everything still worked out! They say that the second trimester is the best. By the way, I think your babies’ names are darling!
I was working part time while pregnant with #1. Complications at 30 weeks put me on strict bedrest and I didn’t return. (It was a temp job so it really wasn’t a huge deal for me or the company!) I had planned to work as long as possible. With #2, I had complications at 27 weeks and was on bedrest/out of work on disability (1/2 pay in [name]California[/name] at the time). It was stressful for the family because we really needed the money. Anyway, again I had planne to work until 37/38 weeks. I was a SAHM when pregnant with my twins. So I’m a terrible person to ask
However two of my sister in laws had babies this year. The first is an elementary school teacher. She worked until 39 weeks! The 4 days of her pre-birth maternity leave she was going crazy waiting and wished she was at work. haha. She had a C-section so her doctor marked her for 8 weeks recovery/leave (normal birth would be 6 weeks). She returned to work when her son was almost 9 weeks. [name]Sister[/name] in law #2 worked in an office/desk job and she planned to be a SAHM for a few years after their little one (and maybe others) were born. For the new year, she and her husband decided why not just take her extended leave early. So she resigned at the end of 2011. She was about 28 weeks.
Crunchymama - You’re not a terrible person to ask! I just hope that I fit somewhere in the middle of all these responses. Temporary jobs are good in situations like these. It seems like twins are always one of the later pregnancies, never the first. Which is good for me! I think 2 the first time might be too much!
I guess teaching would be a good job to have while pregnant! Although I can’t say I’m going to wish I was at work when I go home!
I think, as others said, it really depends on the job. I worked at a bank during my first pregnancy and worked up until the day I delivered. I also had a normal pregnancy with no risks or complications, and was able to sit down at work. With this pregnancy I am teaching and in grad school and its really hard. I will only be working until about 23 weeks, but that is when the school year ends, and I’m taking off the next school year. I’m finding working much more difficult this time around, but I also have to get up a lot earlier because I have a 25 mile commute instead of 1 mile like before. Also I am still sick every morning, so it makes getting out of the house much harder. It is a lot better to have a job with a flexible start time if possible.
I thought about morning sickness. Blegh. Kudos for working and grad school! Must be tough! But it will be great to have your master’s. That sounds like good timing: Conceive after the first semester and then, even if things get complicated you still know you can finish out the school year.
Obviously it depends on how your body handles pregnancy. I had no problem whatsoever working up until my due date. I was induced and took three days off before to finish up last minute preparations. Lifting wasn’t an issue for me either. Unless the baby is 50 pounds or so, I really think you’ll be okay. But definitely follow your doctor’s advice and be prepared financially in case you have to quit early. Easier said than done, certainly!
I teach college and found out I was pregnant with #2 the day before the spring semester started. The first three months were awful–constant nausea and fear that I would throw up in class (never did, but came close a few times). The fatigue was also dreadful, and when you’re in a profession that requires you to be constantly “on,” being pregnant can be quite a challenge.
With my first pregnancy, I taught through the second half of the second trimester all the way to the end. Toward the end, I would find myself becoming very out of breath during lectures and needing to sit a lot. I ended up delivering early at 35 1/2 weeks.
If you plan to teach, my advice to you is to sit as much as possible and to limit your hands-on activity throughout the day (which may be difficult in elementary school). The kids will have a harder time understanding what’s happening to you, but you will need to conserve energy.
As for nannying, your doctor can tell you how much you can lift and when to stop.
