Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I work in lower Manhattan, live in Queens, delivering at LIJ. My commute involves 2 trains and a bus/walk... an hour door to door each way at best.

I'd like to work as long as possible, but I'm terrified of my water breaking on the subway or at work. I don't want to be taken to a hospital near my job, or possibly a worse scenario than that like not even making it to a hospital. If it happened, to get to LIJ, my DH would have to pick me up at work (with horrendous Manhattan traffic it could take over an hour each way easily) or I could try to get a cab/car service, then drive from home to LIJ which is about half hour if I'm lucky & there's no traffic. I know labor can last hours & hours, so it's possible that I could have time for all that... or maybe I'll never even go into labor on my own at all, or it could happen overnight & it won't matter anyway.

I'm due July 29 but my doctor is still using Aug 1 based on early sonos... in any event, end of July/beginning of Aug. is when this baby is due.

Trying to figure out when I should make my last day of work... I'm going off payroll right away so it's good (but not necessary) to work until the end of a pay period which would be either July 17th or July 31st. Or I could finish out the week of the 17th, or I could work half the pay period until the 24th or the end of that week. I was hoping to work as long as possible because I don't want to waste a lot of time being home not getting paid using up my fmla time before the baby is even born, but would it be stupid with my travel situation to work too close to my due date? What would you do?????? I have to hand in my paperwork this week.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I say give yourself the last week off. You are obviously a little worried about this and I can see why.

Give yourself that week. Stay home. Do anything last minute you need to do for baby and do lots of last minute things for YOU.

Cook something to put in the freezer for after baby comes home, go get a pedicure, take a nap... enjoy your week off :D

Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

Is there any way you can work from home at all?

That's what I did - I literally worked until Thursday and went in for an induction that Friday. I didn't need to use vacation time bc I already had my 40 hours in that week. I had my maternity leave start that Monday.

In your case, with the travel, I would see if they can be flexible at all. I would work until the week before your due date. At that point, you will welcome not having to travel into the city and having a week off between work & going into labor. I was so done traveling and was able to work from home FT for 5 weeks before my DS was born.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

My first day off was my actual due date -- but there was no sign of DS coming at that point. The week prior (I live in Westbury but work in downtown Brooklyn and it is also an hour for me each way) I stayed in the office all week finishing up paperwork. I was doing field work at the time and all of my work entailed being out and about in Brooklyn -- in clients' homes, on the subway and buses all day.

I didn't have DS for almost 2 weeks but it was good to have a little time at home before he came. I just wish it wasn't 2 weeks so I had more time to spend with him on the other end before having to return to work.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I worked until the day I gave birth, however my commute is an hour by car. My water never broke so I cant comment about that. But I always said I would work until the day bc I could only wish to have my first baby that quick. I think most women's first birth is on the longer side.

This time around Im due 12/30 and I am thankful to have the week before off (im a teacher) bc I know 2nd births can be much quicker (or at least im hoping, lol).

You have to do what you are comfortable with. Maybe it might easier to make the decision day by day if possible? See how you feel. Working at least keeps your mind busy.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

If you are really considering stopping work earlier then I suggest maybe you can stop working the week of your due date or the week before. You also don't want to be home too long w/o the baby and then your maternity is already counted. The more time with the baby the better

Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I would personally work until the last possible minute that I could if I was working. I know how uncomfortable I am now but being that I'm not as active and I'm unemployed, I contribute that as to why my will probably come late (due date is tomorrow).

Keep active. As my sister and my doctor's and the nurses at L&D all said "first babies don't fall out". You will have PLENTY of time to get to the hospital. And even better you will be in L&D for less time. I know you are worried about this and I understand it but personally I would work up until my due date or whatever the pay period is.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

i think it all depends how comfortable YOU are in the situation. I work in the bronx, live in queens and was delivering at LIJ. I wanted to work until the last minute possible and my doctor was ok with it. DH was not at all comfortable with it and it literally kept him up at night thinking that i would go into labor and work and he would miss it and that we would be stuck at a hospital in the bronx with no friends or family coming to visit.
so i gave in and ended work a week early. dd came a week late so i was home for 2 weeks.

as you approach the end you may notice your comfort level changing (not wanting to do the walking - especially in the heat), not wanting to schlep on the trains, etc. i would play it by ear. pick a date you are comfortable with and plan to end that day. until that point tie up all loose ends and leave each day at work as if you may not come in the next day. if you wake up and dont feel well, call in sick. dont stress yourself about making it in every single day. and if you see that xx date is a week away and you cant handle the commute anymore, tell HR your dr wants you to stop working early.

good luck

Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I live in queens and work in the city - I take lirr and 2 subways. My due date was may 2. I worked until the 3rd (a fri) then was working from home until baby came. Baby came that Monday. I delivered at nsuh.

I really wouldn't worry about going into labor at work - the majority of women go into labor at night. And even if you do, it is rarely so quick that you can't make it to the hospital. My plan was to take car service home if i went into labor at work.

I wanted to maximize my time home with the baby so there was no way I was wasting my time home without her!

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

Check with your job, you may be able to go out on disability for a week or two prior to giving birth. At my job (large investment bank, so our policies are different than small companies)- you can put in for disability to get time off beforehand. They rarely reject claims for this as they don't want issues if a woman was to go into labor at work or during her commute etc.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I agree with previous poster. I just checked with my HR (I work for a large pharma company) and they told me that I could technically put in for disability 2 weeks prior to my due date (I have a firm date since I'm a scheduled c section). All I would need to do is get a note from the doctor saying that as of "such and such date" I will no longer be working and there need not be a "medical" reason for it (as long as it's within 2 weeks of due date). STD will cover this at 100% and it will not affect the 12 week FMLA.

This could just be my company, but I would check just to make sure.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I also work in Manhattan and I live in Holbrook delivering at SB so I am also worried about making it in time.

I plan on taking off at least one week prior to due date depending on how exams go etc.

Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

It really depends how you feel. I was in the exact same boat as you, unsure of when I should stop working. I am due next week on July 4th. I intended to work up until my water broke / when I go into labor. But once I hit 38 weeks, I was miserable, exhausted and my legs are so badly swollen that I really couldn't be walking around anymore. So I officially started leave this past Monday.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

I'm due 9/7 and my last day of work will be 8/23. I live in S. Nassau and will deliver there as well. However, my office is in the bronx, and I have clients in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island (only 1 left which I plan to finish up in the next 4-5 weeks hopefully).

I too am worried about going into labor either in the Bronx (Bronx Leb is down the block but I don't want to go there), getting stuck in traffic somewhere and finding it impossible to get home, or even worse.. my water breaking inside a clients house during a session. And like you, I'm worried that no matter where I am, it will take my mom and DH HOURS to get wherever I am. I decided to take a week+ off for my sanity.
Regardless I plan on going back to work (basically sitting there and browsing the internet) the week of Thanksgiving so I can get paid for those 2 1/2 days that we're closed.

Work up until when you feel most comfortable (mentally and physically).

Message edited 6/27/2013 1:53:23 PM.

Re: Dilemma-- When should I work up until?

Thanks so much everyone, it's great to hear your experiences & your ideas, It helps me so much in figuring out what's best!!