[Kiwi]

I'm going to need to tell my boss soon when I plan on finishing work to go on maternity leave. I'm due 15th January and was thinking of stopping work around the start of December. With my annual leave and all the stats, I'll be covered until my due date, which is when my 14 weeks of maternity leave kicks in...

I'm getting mixed responses to this... My manager had to leave 2 months before her due date as she suffered from really bad back pain and couldn't work. Others are telling me I'll be bored out of my mind with that much time off and I should work until 3-4 weeks before I'm due.

Obviously I have no idea how I'll be feeling/coping that far into the pregnancy so it's so hard to plan!!

Note: I'm a graphic designer so am sitting down for most of the day in front of a computer.

[alicenwonderland]

i'm no help! i was pulled at 26 weeks. I was originally planning on working right up to my due date. It's awesome that you get such a long mat leave!

[LisanAndy]

I was a hair stylist and an assistant salon manager so I was ALWAYS on my feet doing something or handling stressful situations with employees. I quit at 33 weeks. Every time I'd cut anyone's hair my belly would be in their face, on their back... didn't help I worked up against a wall either I was pretty bored but didn't feel like I had a choice LoL.

[ANGWife]

I worked a normal week, Mon-Fri, and then went into labor on the next Mon @39 weeks.

[JediRach]

I worked up until 37 weeks and had Harper at 38 1/2 weeks.

[Babybear4]

I only worked until 12 weeks, but it was because I was laid off. I would have been pulled from work at 32 weeks anyway, though.

For me, I enjoyed being alone. I would scrub the whole house down once or twice a week, I would come on here throughout the day, I would nap, I would eat. Some people get bored, and others enjoy the alone time before baby comes.

[Frozendesire]

For me it was alittle bit different. I was in retail so I was on my feet all day long. I stopped working the middle of Dec and he was due Jan 13. He didn't come until the 25 but I wasn't bored. My MIL came and my best friend came. I cleaned and sat around all day lazy on my butt and watched Friends hehe. I loved it. It was my last moments of ME! I was relaxed and prepared for him to come, whenever he decided. I wouldn't have done it any other way

Plus working retail during Dec sucks. haha.

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by alicenwonderland

It's awesome that you get such a long mat leave!

Everyone in full time employment in NZ gets 14 weeks paid maternity leave at $400 per week or their wage, whatever is less. It works out at about half my normal pay, which isn't great, but at least it's something.

I think I'm going to work til I'm 36 or 37 weeks. It gives me 3-4 weeks before baby arrives and enough time to relax... I hope! Plus we need as much money as possible... Plus it's going to be summer here, so I'm going to be sooo hot!

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

How did I not realize your EDD Was Jan 15th?! That was Lily's EDD *andd* her birthday!

My last day at work was Christmas Eve, and that was me working on my feet carrying heavy stuff, etc. I was going to work until the end of the year, but my health was on the decline and my feet no longer fit into the shoes I was required to wear.

[sara~b]

My last day at work was 37 weeks on the dot but I had quit doing most of my normal, physical labor long before. I think the last time I did any kind of physical labor work was late June???? I only went in at the 37 week mark because I was required to take a 10 hour safety course. Sitting for 10 hours straight at 37 weeks was ROUGH!

[Mars]

I worked right up until I had Amara. I even went to work the morning my contractions started since they weren't consistent. The real contractions kicked in later in the evening when work was over and I had Amara the next day.

So, I think it depends on what's going on with your body, how you are feeling and the environment you're in.

[Resi]

My last day of work was on my due date. I had Oliver 6 days later. I would have worked until my water broke/labor started but my temp was already there and I had nothing to do. I was working in an office so my days were easy enough with sitting.

[ShannonMVT]

I worked right up till I had Matthew. My plan was to go up to my due date and then "we'll see". But I didn't make it to my due date!

[~*sierra*~]

my SIL took a full year of mat leave....she started hers a month before her due date and then she went 10 days overdue. to be honest, i think she was kinda bored. i think 3-4 weeks will be plenty of time before baby arrives!

i think here if you want to take the full year of mat leave you are legally allowed it with the ability to get your same job back after, but after a certain amount of time you have to get paid thru EI (employment insurance) rather than get paid by your workplace.....i could be totally wrong though! lol

[Frozendesire]

My work place didn't pay for anything, it's only job security. EI pays 52% (I believe) of your previous wage up to 52 weeks. Your employer can pay you more on top of that I believe, you can also work while on mat leave but you can only earn a certain amount of money.

[~Caroline~]

I'll be taking a year off and I'm still not sure when I'll stop working. A lot of women I know stop a month before their due date. I may do that also. I still have 3.5 weeks of time off to take so I'll probably use them before my due date.

[**jessie**]

I was in school finishing my final year of rotations and I think I was 26 wks when I graduated. Didn't think anyone would hire me in that 'state', so I just took the time off. It was a good thing since I was on bed rest from 31 weeks onward.

Next time I get pregnant I will be working up until my due date, but I only work PT so I think it will be fine.

[Oriyan]

I was planning to work up till 38 weeks at my normal schedule and play it day by day till i gave birth but i was pulled at 33 weeks for PTL.

[bittersweet]

I worked until 37 weeks. But I ended up going into labor and delivering at 38 weeks. Having just a week to myself was great. I think if I had more than 3-4 weeks I would have been really bored. As long as you have a job that isn't making you uncomfortable, I would say work until at least 36 weeks.

[LogansMomNov09]

I worked up until my due date, but I was feeling fine so there was no medical need for me to stop sooner. Then on my due date, my BP started to climb, and I was ordered by my doctor to go on bed rest until my son arrived, which was a week later.