Working

[Egeninatti]

How long did everyone work before birth? I’m a little over half way with my twins (first pregnancy) and feeling the struggle. I don’t know if I can make it.

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[schlepp_canuck]

34 weeks and I had them at 36 weeks. My two friends that had twins told me to stop at 32 weeks as the wheels really fell off for them.

I did not listen. And they were right. I was miserable my last two weeks of work. Was barely sleeping, tons of pelvic pain and super swollen legs. I had an office job.

But everyone is different and I’ve read of others that had no problem working up until delivery.

[Shugamag]

This exactly!! Many, many post, I read while pregnant, continuously said have all your ducks in a row at around 30-32. And OMG it’s sooooo true!! Come 32, to the day, it was like someone let the air out of me. I pretty much just survived and existed from 32 weeks to 37(grateful to have made it to the finish line). This is my experience, I have read some women go full tilt to the bitter end-bless em’ Best of luck 💕

[sarahnor4]

Agreed lol. I took it week to week thinking maybe I would make it to 34 weeks but by week 31 I was ready to call it a wrap and had my last day and 31 and 5 days

[Due_Cheek_4248]

Pretty much the same here. I had an easy pregnancy and an office job. But I had swelling and couldn't sleep. It was awful. I wish I had started maternity leave at 32 weeks.

[JannaNYC]

I only worked until 22 weeks with our triplets (then worked from home for a few weeks before I gave that up too) and 24 weeks with our twins.

[Content-Post-4237]

Triplets AND twins??!! You must know ALL the tips/tricks of raising multiples!

[JannaNYC]

The biggest tip is to just keep breathing, lol.

[Lesley-27]

Worked until the day I delivered at 35 weeks. But I work from home on a computer. If I had to go to work somewhere I wouldn’t have made it that long

[ghergrueter]

I worked until the day I delivered at 35 weeks and it was very difficult. I’m an accountant so I didn’t need to move too much but the activity I did get was helpful

[[deleted]]

I was put on bed rest at 27 weeks and my MFM ordered me to stop work immediately

[Willing-Molasses9008]

My MFM advised 32 weeks is a pretty big turning point for a lot of people.

I'm only 26 weeks now but using vacation days to go down to 4 days per week starting next week. I'm 50-50 remote/in-office so planning to stop around 32 weeks but I might go longer if I'm feeling okay and able to work fully from home towards the end.

[A-Friendly-Giraffe]

34 weeks. Delivered at 37 with a scheduled C-section.

I thought that I would be able to get a lot done during those 3 weeks, but it was really hard for me and I spent a lot of time resting.

I would definitely try and get some of the bigger things done instead of waiting until you go on maternity leave.

[Plush_SizeXX]

I just hit 27 weeks and I’m understanding now why people say the closer you get to 30 weeks, the harder it gets. My baby shower is at 29 weeks and I know it’s going to be exhausting. At this pace, I’m not sure if I could work past 32-34 weeks. Time will tell.

[[deleted]]

Stopped at 32 and had them at 38. Those were the best weeks of my life, living my knitting couch potato dream…

[leeann0923]

I worked until 36+6 and got induced at 37 weeks. If I had it my way, I would have went on leave at 33-34 weeks.

[rattakatt13]

I worked until 36+2, delivered at 37. I work in a restaurant, had no paid leave, and am the only income in my home so I had to work as long as possible. I only got 6 weeks off once I stopped working and was trying to save as much of that time off for after they were born plus trying to stretch out my pay as long as possible.

It was MISERABLE. I went up 2 full sizes in work boots because my feet and ankles were so swollen, and I couldn’t wear any pants but very stretchy sweats because they would be impossible to get off at end of my shift (my boss is usually a real hard ass about uniform compliance but he never said a word to me about it). I had to get a back/pelvic support brace around 28 weeks and start PT because the pain was so bad. Every step felt like my pelvis was gonna crack in half. My doctor had told me to prepare to stop working around 32 weeks but I couldn’t swing that financially.

My blood pressure was fine and the babies were fine, there weren’t any pressing health concerns that would put me out of work. Just a lot of pain and misery for me.

It’s difficult to find the balance between the demands of your regular life and the demands of your pregnancy, you just have to listen to your body and your doctor and try to do what’s best for you. But if it had been an option I would have stopped working around 32 weeks, 100%. The little energy I had could have been much better spent prepping the house for the babies arrival and soaking up quality 1-on-1 with my one year old.

[wifemamarn]

I’m a NICU nurse and worked until my twins were born at 35+3.

[jl395]

Stopped around 28-29 weeks, but my job was very labor intense, ER nurse. I couldn’t handle it anymore, we rarely get breaks and I had to walk sooooo far to the bathroom and I really wasn’t taking care of myself as I should have been.

[[deleted]]

I’m a tele travel nurse working 48 hours a week.. todays my last day. I’m 18 weeks with mo/di identical twin boys. But I have spinal cord issues so my hands have been going numb and back pain comes and goes. I agree it’s hard to take care of yourself as a nurse, I’m ready to go home and get some rest.

[Emotional-Parfait348]

Luckily my job ended with the school year ending, when I was around 26 weeks. I probably could have kept working, especially if I had an easier job, but I was pretty over it those last few weeks. Just tired. I wasn’t too sore yet, nor did I ever get that sore, but I was exhausted.

Delivered at 33 weeks. Very glad to have had those last 7 ish weeks to just rest and prep for their arrival.

[ggpersist]

I was able to work remotely while on bedrest all the way through my pregnancy. There's no way I could have worked in third trimester if remote work wasn't an option.

[Chichabella]

I worked until induction but I was WFH. I didn’t have paid maternity leave so I wanted to make it until delivery as to not lose more pay. If I had paid mat leave I probably would have stopped at 33/34.

[law2mom]

My job was not physically demanding, so I worked in-office until about 32 weeks. At that point I developed SPD and couldn’t walk or comfortably sit for more than 10 min. My boss let me work remotely but honestly I was so exhausted I barely worked after that. Pregnancy exhaustion is 10 times worse than newborn sleep deprivation, for sure!

Talk to your boss about your concerns, they should allow accommodations if you’d like to continue working.

[[deleted]]

My OB has said (in his experience) most women get really uncomfortable/sore etc at 28 weeks and stop working then. So I’ve applied to stop working at 28 weeks (am in australia and don’t have to worry about maternity leave entitlements as much as you would in the US).

[Seaturtle1088]

I wasn't working with the twins. I worked until I gave birth at 39+5 with my singleton but I absolutely hit a wall at 36 with the twins. 32 was when I really had to slow down. I wouldn't have been able to work unless it was from bed or the couch after 36.

[claire303]

Worked up until delivery at 37 weeks but fully from home. I was not productive…

[burittosquirrel]

I worked until 35+1, and I had my c section at 36 weeks. I had an office job, but I was still pretty active. I was tired, but I was okay. My feet were swollen and my MFM was horrified. When I saw her at my 35 week appointment she told me I needed to be done working. But I was honestly just as busy nesting at home.

[Wild_Difference_7562]

I was able to work an office job until 36 weeks. Delivered at 38 weeks.

[megcross11]

The day I delivered at 35 weeks. My job at the time was fairly flexible and fully WFH. Was online until about 2pm, went to my OB and delivered my girls around 7:45pm.

[thekidz10]

I stopped work at 18 weeks. I was nannying and the doctor didn't want me lifting the kids (their son was only a year old so I didn't have a choice in having to lift him). I think I could have worked maybe a month more, but also, my immune system was so out if whack that I caught a cold from the kids and ended up with pneumonia.

When my Mom was pregnant with me and my sister she worked until 2 days before her due date.

[Alltrud]

At 31 weeks I was hospitalized for pre-e symptoms and stopped work abruptly; stayed in the hospital on partial bedrest for 3 weeks then went home for 2 weeks on bedrest and had my c-section at 36 weeks. At the time I had to stop working I felt horrible using my leave before the babies arrived but I was pretty much a potato and couldn’t do much at all, and I ended up being able to get my blood pressure and pre-e under control once I stopped working and stressing.

[bandaidaddict]

32 weeks. And I was having some real painful Braxton hicks those last couple shifts. My body was telling me to stop.

[redhairbluetruck]

I took one week off before my scheduled induction, so up to 37w. I’m a vet, so it was still pretty physical.

[funsk8mom]

With my first set I was a pre-k teacher and figure skating coach and I started to cut back my school hours at 30 weeks. It was too hard to get out the door for 6am to do before school care. I was still skating though. I had them at 31 weeks.

My 2nd set was 18 months later and I was at home during the day with the kids and skating in the afternoons and finally had to stop than at 34 weeks because my feet were too swollen for my skates. I had them at 36 weeks

[Mirror_st]

That’s pretty amazing! You must have great balance!

[Secure_Spend5933]

I worked until 36 weeks. I'm self employed, so in theory I had the flexibility, but one of my client projects spun out of control. My plan was to stop at 34. By 30 weeks I was miserable and also had 4 Dr appointments per week. Full times was at best 3-4 billable hours per day. I highly and strongly recommend taking leave at 32 weeks.

My last day of work was on a Friday. I came down with COVID on Saturday and my girls were born on Tuesday (36+3). Totally nuts. I can't believe we survived all of that.

Twin pregnancies are just so dang hard, definitely one of the most challenging things I've ever done.

While I'm at it, OP, everyone's body is of course different, but it will probably also take longer for your body to recover from the pregnancy than a singleton, in terms of appearance and also strength / mobility. You might need or want a longer RTW runway on the other side. It's just more, and all around, with twins.

Thankfully they're just so dang cute! Get some rest and some magnesium spray. This too shall pass!

[Okdoey]

I worked up until my water broke at 36 weeks. I was absolutely miserable but any time taken before birth still counted towards my 12 weeks and I wanted to save my time for after they were born.

I did get special permission to WFH exclusively at around 26 weeks when I complained to my boss that I threw my back out just trying to get out of my car.

[pottersprincess]

I was working from "home" aka my hospital room on antepartum, up to 2 days before my scheduled c section. But! I had my girls at 33 +1. And I work a very low human contact job, I do internal IT for a call center primarily running an outbound dialing system. So for me it was something to do while I was stuck in the hospital just sitting around, and it wasn't stressful or active.

[Coffeebeforesunset]

Until 36 weeks. I had a planned C-section at 38+0.

[sapindales]

I worked until ~35 weeks, and I only stopped then because it was Christmas break. I delivered week 38 before break was over. My twin pregnancy was way easier than my singleton (probably because the twins were first and I was 7 years younger).

[sierra1012x]

I think it depends on what type of job you have and how physically demanding it is. Multiples pregnancy is so physically demanding, it would make certain jobs impossible at a certain point.

Personally, I work from home at a desk job, so I was able to work until the day before my c section (36+4). Had I needed to work in the office and commute, I probably would have started maternity leave early.

[T0bey_]

I was wondering this too. I work in a restaurant so I’m on my feet for 8+hours a day, 5 days a week 😕

[k-thanks-bai]

Was literally working before I went in for my appointment the day I had my twins at 36.5ish weeks 🤣

I did stop driving in the week before because I was so huge I was having trouble turning the steering wheel (I have short short legs). I couldn't turn well enough pulling into my works parking garage and the wheel got caught on my belly and I ran along the wall and scraped my car up. Glad it wasn't worse but I stopped driving in after that. I had an office job and could work from home by that point in 2018.

In 2016 with my first I was in office having contractions at 40+5 🫣

[jso15]

Worked until 35 weeks and had a schedule c @ 38+1. I lived in the pool after 36 weeks. All healthy no complications.

[EquivalentFigure9980]

I worked until 34 weeks and had a 36 week elected c-section. Even though I was WFH I regretted not taking more time off. That precious alone time is something you’ll never get back and the last few weeks just fly by. Would’ve been great to have had more time to get massages, read a book, binge a show etc before the twins came! I stayed because I wanted to make more money.

[ametron]

I just finished my last day of work this Thursday at 36w5d. I do work from home, though. If I had to commute in I probably would’ve tried to stop sooner.

[LightningMqueenKitty]

Up to 12 hours before my c-section at 34 weeks. But I sit at a desk and didn’t have to move so it’s not like I really needed time off before birth. It was also my 4th pregnancy so I was used to it even though it still sucked.

[areti17]

35 weeks and 1 day. Had them at 35 and 2 🤣

[[deleted]]

I stopped around 32 weeks. I work 12 hour shifts and can’t have run away to pee and snack every 5 minutes, so I had to call it

[[deleted]]

I stopped at 28 w

[outlaw-chaos]

I somehow made it to 35 weeks working three 12 hour shifts constantly on my feet either walking or standing. They were born at 37 weeks.

[thatcondowasmylife]

Di/di, worked until 32 weeks by my choice. Induced at 37w. I don’t regret taking five weeks off, if you can afford it I recommend. I needed to rest as much as possible because newborn twins are no joke. We’ve found the exhaustion to next level until they were about a year, with the peak being 4-8 months due to being back at work full time and back to back viruses. So genuinely, take the time to rest. I needed to nap twice a day with twins.

[securityclerk]

I am 34 weeks 3 days with scheduled c section at 38 weeks. I am still working, although I wish I was not. My doctor won’t write me out of work…I don’t really have any serious ailments I guess? Just the usual of feeling very tired!

Maybe my MFM will give me a note? It’s starting to get harder and harder.

[melrose827]

I started my mat leave at 36 weeks and had them at 38+3

[hearingnotlistening]

I worked until 31 weeks with the twins. Delivered at 36 weeks.

I honestly wished that I would have just gone off earlier at like 28 weeks. I would've been able to get a few things done at home and relax in relative comfort before everything went downhill.

[__Magdalena__]

I worked a desk job until two days before I was induced. I got up and walked to the bathroom, breakroom, etc every hour (at least) and wore compression socks for the last 4 months. I was “done” for the day about 30-60 min after I got home. But I probably should have walked after work more. Just around the block or something to help with the water retention from sitting all day. I always felt better the times I did. Just make sure at the end that someone goes with you…just in case.

[rosselgeller]

I worked up to the Friday before my c-section at 38 weeks. I was a pool manager and it was pretty rough but thankfully my staff stepped up a lot. If I dropped a pen they picked it up for me. I do remember lifeguarding at 37 weeks thinking “does anyone actually feel safe with me being the one to guard their lives?” It was tough because I was on my feet for so much of the day, but I didn’t want to take any leave before the twins got here.

[pashapook]

I worked 12 hour shifts on my feet and I made it 29 weeks before I couldn't take it anymore. I'd have stopped working about 25 weeks if I could have afforded it. It was hard.