Still working full time at 30 weeks + ?

I am approaching the 30 week mark and am still working full time. Up until about 25 weeks, my Dr. told me at every appointment that I would likely go on bed rest at 28 weeks. Since then I have had 2 appointments and bed rest has not been mentioned. I assume that is because my blood pressure is good and swelling is not too bad.

I actually rest more at work than I do at home because at home there is always laundry to do, food to cook, DS's homework and baby stuff to organize. DH helps a small bit, but not really like he needs to at this point. We had money saved for having a baby, we just did not expect two and the potential for bed rest, so I am actually glad to be still working so that money is still coming in.

Are there others out there still working at 30+ weeks and how are you doing with it? Has your Dr. given you a cutoff for when you have to stop working? At work they ask me when I anticipate leaving and I really don't know what to tell them. I hate to leave them up in the air about it.

 

I had told work that 30 weeks was going to be my last week. It's a good thing it was because the last day I worked I ended up in L&D for contractions and they told me NO more work. After 30 weeks I was just too miserable to work. But if your DR. is okay with i and so are you, I would work until you decide you can't anymroe.

 

Not expecting now, but when I was, I worked full time until about 33 weeks. After that, I started working some from home (I have that kind of job) for about a week. Then I got just plain miserable, and did some work from home, but not so much. I went into the office once a week to switch out paper files and such. Other than keeping my feet up as much as possible, I never got restricted from my job (office one) until I was 35 weeks. But work saw how miserable I was and worked with me. If I would have talked to my OB about it, she would have written me off, but since my job was working with me on it, she never did.

I work in an office in a manufacturing plant, so at about 28 weeks, they didn't want me out in the plant anymore for my own safety.

HTH - way to go making 30 weeks!

 

I worked at a desk job until the days before I had the twins (scheduled c-section) at 38 weeks. I was putting in 43 hours a week. Every pregnancy is different. My doctor was more than willing to get me off work earlier if I had wanted, but I had a great pregnancy and couldn't see myself sitting around home. Much better getting paid for my time! It worked for me.

 

My dr. did not give me an automatic cut-off for working...as long as I was doing well and the babies were doing well. I had a desk job and was not on my feet and could prop them up all day if I wanted. I only made it to 27 weeks...I went for an apt. at 27 weeks and was 1 cm dilated, so it was off to bedrest for me.

Goodluck, sounds like you are doing great!

 

I'm still working full time and plan to for as long as I can. My doctor asks me every week how work is going and so far so good. She's ready to pull me out any time I give her the go ahead, but I've been really blessed with an uneventful pregnancy and work is ok for me right now. I also seem to get more rest at work than I do at home. I'm at a desk all day with my feet up so if that weren't the case, things might be different.

 

I've been on bedrest since 18 weeks (so, for 13 weeks already). But, I've been working 40 hours a week from home the whole time. I'm so lucky in that I have a job where I can do this (I work in software development) and hardly anyone even notices that I'm not in the office. Anyway, in the last couple weeks, I've noticed that I've had a LOT harder time focusing. I just don't feel like working - I feel like working on other things, or maybe just enjoying the quiet time while I have it (DS is in daycare). So, physically, I'm ok - since I'm already on bedrest, but man, the last thing I want to do is start a new project or something, since I may not be able to finish it.

Jenny

 

I'm still working at 31w. I started working 1 day/week from home about 3 weeks ago to avoid the commute (1 hour each way) and try to keep swelling down. It has helped considerably to stay off my feet on Wed and I am getting through the weeks better. My docs have never discussed writing me out of work. Of course I work at the hospital, so they probably figure I'm so close that it's safe if something happens.

I hope to keep working right up until delivery. I do have an extra week of vacation saved just in case I want to take it at the end.

 

I think it just depends on the nature of your job and how your pregnancy is going. I worked right up until my scheduled csection at 37 weeks. But sitting at my desk was less physically demanding than staying home with my other 2 children!

 

Actually I saw my OB yesterday and HE asked ME "when are you gonna stop working?!" I told him.."when he writes that letter!" I think it depends upon how you are feeling....it's all a personal decision!

 

I am glad that I am not the only one that gets more rest at work than at home. At work, I just sit at my computer doing my work with my feet up.

 

I just stopped working last week at 31 weeks. I'm a drug rep so I was on my feet for much of the day. I was like you too ... normal blood pressure and really no swelling to speak of. At my 30 week appointment, I mentioned to my doctor that work was starting to get challenging so they gave me a letter that day. I'm fortunate in that I still get my full salary while on leave so that definitely made it easier to go out early.

If I were you, I would take it week by week and see how you're feeling. It has been so great to have lots of time to rest this week and I don't think I could have physically continued on in my job. Just try to listen to your body. Best wishes!

 

I worked full time till 34 weeks, then went to half days until 37 weeks. I have had this last week off to rest, organize and clean before my scheduled c-section on the 8th. It really depends on your job and if you;'ve had any complictions. My peri did not have set time for me to stop working -- she left it up to me and how I felt.

 

My OB office told me that providing everything continues to go well that they would not let me work past 36 weeks.

 

My doctors never said anything about stopping work. I was still working in a school for 42 hours a week, up untill a week before i had my 2. IMO It is really up to yourself if you feel fine and want to keep working do so but i would listen to your body and if it says no more stop!! x

 

I suspect the end of work is near for me. The swelling in my legs, knees, ankles and feet is pretty bad. I am just so darn big, it is painful to move.

 

I worked full time up until the day before I delivered at 39 weeks 1 day. I felt fine and never had an issue.

 

QUOTE(Trish_e @ Oct 23 2007, 01:30 PM) [snapback]463595[/snapback]
I worked full time up until the day before I delivered at 39 weeks 1 day. I felt fine and never had an issue.



That is certainly my wish. I worked until my water broke at 39 weeks with my first and had no issues, but this twin pregnancy seems to be wearing me down. It makes me feel like I am a wimp.

 

I am 30 weeks tomorrow (whoo hoo!! :clapping: ) and this is the week that I've started to cut back my work hours. Going from five days to four and am working two of those days at home. I hope/plan to do this for about 4-5 weeks and then I'll likely stop working altogether.

The third trimester is *hard*! Fatigue is back, plus much greater discomfort -- just makes everything a lot more challenging. (And I shouldn't complain because I've had a remarkably good pregnancy!! Even my doctor commented this morning on what a great pregnancy I've had, esp. for twins!)

 

QUOTE(Jentwinmom @ Oct 23 2007, 01:48 PM) [snapback]463637[/snapback]
That is certainly my wish. I worked until my water broke at 39 weeks with my first and had no issues, but this twin pregnancy seems to be wearing me down. It makes me feel like I am a wimp.



Don't feel like a wimp! Everyone is different and everyone's body is different. Carrying twins is a monumental task. I wouldn't keep working just to feel like a hero. If you can afford to cut out early and you are feeling exhausted maybe you should take the opportunity to relax. When you look back at this a few years from now, I bet you'll wonder how you made it this far! I'm sure all of your coworkers would understand if you left now as well.

 

Just thought I should report that my Ob took me out of work yesterday and put me on bedrest. I'm almost 34w. I don't know if I pushed myself too hard or not. I'm spilling protein into my urine. I'll get the results of the blood tests tomorrow and did the 24 hour urine collection today.

I don't know if going out of work earlier might have prevented this, but it's too late now... I'm taking it easy from here on out and hoping that I can make it a couple more weeks at least.

 

I'm a teacher and I worked until 32 weeks 6 days. I didn't feel well and pushed myself to get a bunch of stuff done that day. I had a regular appt the next day, so I took off from work and ended up going to labor and delivery straight from my appt. I was in the hospital for a few days then on bedrest until 36 weeks due to PTL. Listen to your body! I ignored warning signs and kept pushing myself because I had everything organized in my mind as far as when my sub would start and how many days leave I could take etc.

 

I worked until almost 32 weeks, I have a desk job, so no hard physical work. At my appt I had a trace of protien, was 2 cm dialated, and high blood pressure (not to bad) he was going to put me on partial rest, meaning part time work is OK, BUT I begged him to take me out completely since I was so miserable, and he did. I made it until after 37 weeks, but those last weeks at home were SO nice, and Im glad I got the time to myself to prepare for the babies and rest!

 

I also worked right up until my scheduled csection at 37 weeks but I worked at a desk and close to the bathroom.

The last few weeks all I did was go to work and when I came home i did absolutly nothing....and that is what I did.
(lucily I did not have other kids at home to take care of)

 

My Dr. told me yesterday to cut down to 4 hours a day for work because my legs, knees, and feet are swolen pretty bad. My blood pressure looked good. I welcome the rest at this point because it is getting hard to carry around 9 pounds worth of babies.