Throughout my pregnancy, I debated on whether I would work up until my due date or take some time off. There are a lot of considerations, one being financial, of course. Can you afford to take the last two weeks off? Can you afford to take the last month off? Another major consideration is your health. Is it safe to continue working in your profession so late in pregnancy? This depends on your job. Is your job physically demanding or stressful? Does your job require travel that you may not be able to do late in pregnancy, especially if you have to fly?
Whenever I am making a big decision, I like to consider the pros and cons of each choice and make a list. I will be featuring a Pros/Cons blog each Friday here on the pregnancy and also on the baby blog. Pregnancy and parenting are full of decisions – and there isn’t always one right answer. Most of the time, there is no clear cut right answer, only the answer that is right for you.
So, what are the pros and cons of working during your final weeks? Here are some possibilities.
Pros
1. If you are working at a desk job, being at work will force you to sit and keep your feet up, which may help with swelling.
2. If you are at work, it will help you to keep your mind off your discomfort, especially if you have a fast paced job.
3. More than likely, you will be surrounded by people who could assist you if necessary. If you go in to labor, someone can either call the doctor for you or drive you to the hospital if it’s urgent.
4. Working longer = more money.
5. You can save your maternity leave for when you actually have the baby, allowing you to spend more time with her before you return to work.
Cons
1. If your job requires you to be on your feet, it might get extremely uncomfortable and you may not have adequate time or opportunity to rest.
2. If your job is stressful, it might negatively impact your health or the baby.
3. If your job is located far from the hospital, getting there on time might be a problem if you suddenly go into labor.
4. You may not have as much time to “nest” as you would like before the baby arrives.
5. You may not get a chance to rest as much as you would like before the baby deprives you of sleep for the next few months.
In the end, I decided to cut my hours a few weeks before I gave birth, and the last week I quit altogether. I decided to leave work earlier than planned because I was so uncomfortable, that it was too difficult to sit in one position all day. I was also scared to be at work all by myself (which was the case 75% of the time) in case I went into labor. Staying home that last week gave me the chance to rest and make all my final preparations. I’m glad I stopped working when I did.