This is my second pregnancy. My first one went by without much pain at all. Just the discomfort in the last few weeks. I am now 38 weeks and have worked this whole pregnancy. I work 40 hours a week overnight and get maybe 5 hours of sleep a day (night). I didn't work through my first one and this pregnancy is by far much more painful. My doctor is recommending I start my LOA so all the paper work is in place and I just have a couple more days of working.

I guess my question is if you worked through your pregnancy and when you stopped working.

I haven't worked through any of my pregnancy... I did go to school through the majority of it though, and even that was hard to handle. I have a lot of respect for women who manage to work through theirs because I honestly don't think I could do it. Between the morning sickness in the beginning and the back pain towards the end, I don't know how you manage.

I worked for like the first 2 months of my pregnancy..
Then got so sick that I could barely leave my bathroom..

I have only worked for a couple months of my pregnancy and I just got fired last week. So, I haven't worked through my pregnancy in anyway. But, I know how difficult those couple of months were and how exhausted I was. I have a lot of respect for women who work through their entire pregnancies.

I've never been pregnant, but I can speak for my mother and my sisters. My mother had 3 pregnancies, and she worked through all of them (waitressing) until the day she went into labour. My oldest sister didn't work at all, but she had issues with her body reacting to hormones, and for most of her pregnancy was in and out of the hospital due to dehydration from throwing up. My middle sister for her first pregnancy worked until she was half way through her second trimester, and for her second pregnancy, she worked until she was 8 months pregnant.

I didn't work through my pregnancies. But if it's causing you that much discomfort then take your maternity leave.

well im 18 weeks now. And im still working ALOT... plus going to college 2 days a week. I cant stop working cuz this teenager is gonna be a single mommy. Sometimes you just dont have a choice

It is true that you sometimes do not have a choice. I don't really have the choice right now either but no place will hire me due to the fact that I am so late in my pregnancy. Otherwise, I would DEFINITELY be working someplace. I cannot wait to start working after the baby is born, even though I know it will be rough leaving him.

That's great that you have been able to work up to 38 weeks! You deserve some rest before the baby to get organized and prepare!

Hey there,

I personally have never been pregnant but my brother's wife was and she worked and went to school all throughout her pregnancy and she didn't have any discomfort. But, it all depends on the person. If it is causing you that much pain I would definitely take maternity leave.

Best of luck

Jenna.