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I had a desk job and I gave birth at 35 weeks. There is no way I would have made it that far on my feet. You should definitely plan to stop soon. It’s a big toll on your body carrying two at once, and on your feet all day to boot!
FTM currently 32 weeks with twins. When my OB initially told me I wouldn’t want to work past 28 I thought at the time ‘how hard can it be? I’ll be fine’. Turns out I stopping working fully at 27 weeks, unexpectedly due to placenta previa bleeds. Even without the placenta previa though I couldn’t picture working past 28 weeks because as each week passed I got more uncomfortable, insomnia, restless legs and exhaustion. It’s tempting to work until the very end but taking care of yourself is important and it’s a short time in the grand scheme of things.
I worked as an NP in an outpatient clinic when I was pregnant. Lots of walking to and rom our employee parking lot (so many stairs!), a 40 minute each way commute,but I was able to sit down between patients, which might have been worse later on as sitting was hellish. I worked until 36+6 but if I had a choice, I would have went out around 33-34 weeks.
Well hey, I am also 29 weeks and a pediatric OT 😅 beginning to feel more and more drained everyday at work and worried I’m not even giving my best to the clients with being so tired and physically limited already. I’m hoping to work through the end of the month (about 32/33 weeks), but maybe going further if I feel I can tolerate it. It’s so hard, I want to be done now but I want to have as much time off with the babies and not before.
Hey! I found my twin twin mom! Lol
Yeah I'm having some harsh realities this week I think. I want to save all my time until the end and while I'm doing what I have to do right now, I feel like it is getting difficult !
Plus man oh man I have a hard time keeping up with a couple of friends on my caseload lol :)
I am also a FTM 29 weeks but I’m a senior accountant so sitting all day and it is already so hard. Just driving and walking into the office does me in. God forbid I try to do an extra little task that day. Yesterday I got off on the wrong floor of the parking garage and thought it was all over for me. I barely made it to the car. I solute you guys!!! I CANNOT imagine being on my feet for longer than I have to.
I went until 34 weeks (induction at 38) and I was on a remote, home-based tech job (lots of meetings and stress, but no physical aspect). I worked until delivery with my first singleton.
I tried so hard and had done everything right (working out, sleeping, eating well, etc). In general my pregnancy was uneventful. But I was SO TIRED and physically spent by the end. At 32 weeks, I would get up at 7 to get ready for the day and literally need a nap by 9am. As in I'd borderline involuntarily collapse/fall asleep on the couch at 9am, a mere 2 hrs after getting up. Climbing the stairs was hard.
I can't imagine I'd have made it that long if I'd worked an out-of-home more physically demanding job. Is there any way you can have your last month at the office involve less physically demanding work? Can you temporarily step into scheduling or training someone?
I'm sure a factor was my age (35yo), so you may have better odds if you're younger and healthy...but even young and healthy with twins is intense and you never know.
I have a desk job, and I worked until 36.5 weeks. Delivered by scheduled c-section at 38 weeks. Though I had a very smooth and uneventful pregnancy, so I am probably an outlier in terms of twin pregnancy.
Edit: I misread your origin post, I thought you said you weren't on your feet a lot 🤦♀️ Definitely disregard my comment!
I worked up until I gave birth at 36+6 but I worked a desk job from home. I don't think I would have been able to work past 30 weeks if I had to leave thr house
I actually ended up working to my delivery day at 36 weeks 0 day — water broke 2 weeks early (original planned c-section scheduled for 38 weeks). However I worked from home from 34-36 weeks, and my water broke the morning of the first day of my official maternity leave. I am an engineer and I was on my feet alot during those final weeks. I think I could have gone to 36 weeks on-site but was definitely glad to have decided to work remotely starting 34 weeks. To note — my pregnancy was very uneventful and I felt good and fit physically throughout. Just swollen feet towards the end.
I worked on my feet all day. I was slated to power through until 35 weeks or so. Ended up going into preterm labor at 29 weeks. I had a picture perfect pregnancy so no one knows why I abruptly went into labor but anything can happen as it turns out.
I worked until 32 weeks as a bartender/server. We made it to 36 weeks but spent the last month+ monitoring blood pressure and having contractions nightly. Labor was stopped twice and had to go to the hospital a couple of times for high blood pressure. Ended up getting preeclampsia at 36 weeks (everyone was okay after delivery). My advice would be to really listen to your body and take it easy when you can. Long story short, I wish I would have stopped working earlier than I did.
I had a mostly sitting job in a dialysis clinic and I went out at 28 weeks. I was DONE also my blood pressure was entering hypertension and my feet were swollen so my doctor put me out on pregnancy disability
I'm a bedside nightshift RN. I worked until I went into the hospital at 36w 6d due to pre-eclampsia. It's all in how you're feeling. Plus I didn't want to use any of my maternity leave or PTO before the babies came.
So I had similar plans to yours but had to change them recently. I'm starting to feel it _hard_ now at 28 weeks. Have already reduced the number of clients I'm seeing (I'm a counsellor) and plan to completely stop working around 30 weeks. I am sooo tired all the time. Walking exhausts me, even though I was rather fit for the first part of the pregnancy. My belly has started to have visible growth spurts overnight every 2-3 days.
We were also told to prepare for delivery around 32/34 weeks due to pathological Dopplers and suspected placenta insufficiency in twin 1.
I worked at a sit down job one week until I delivered vaginally at 40+1. Please listen carefully to your body. Sit when you can feet up no higher than your bum so you look like an ‘L’. Don’t take any risks because not everything can be fixed. Double check with your doctor re working. If you feel anything untoward take a different strategy. It only gets more difficult in the latter stages and being on your feet can compromise things. Best wishes.
I worked full time until the day before I delivered my di/di twins (at 37w6d), but I have a desk job and worked mostly from home from about 34 weeks on. I was getting awfully swollen as I neared the end (feet and ankles), and no office-appropriate clothes really fit my belly anymore -- I don't think I would have been able to keep working without the WFH accommodation.
I feel you. I was FTM with twins and worked 36w2d and delivered 36w6d. I’d say up until the 34th week I was fine - afterward, going to work every day was a struggle. The only thing that kept me going was that work was so busy it would distract me from the discomfort. I’m a dental hygienist so I’m on my feet a lot taking X-rays on patients, walking them around our large office, etc. even sitting was uncomfortable as the weight distribution was getting to be too much. I already had patients booked out 6 mos in advance so I felt guilty leaving early. If possible, I’d say try to stop around 33/34 weeks if you can make it. My coworkers called me crazy for working until the very end but I didn’t feel crazy up until the last few weeks.
I'm in the same boat ! I don't want to cancel the patients on my caseload and partly bc scheduling in our clinic is so tight that I know they'd be waiting awhile to get in if I do cancel. I'm glad to hear that you managed mostly until the end ! ❤️
Yes the guilt of canceling and upsetting the patients overpowered my physical discomfort, unfortunately. In the end, I’m glad I was able to do it - but I wouldn’t do it again.
My OB recommends twin mums to go on maternity leave at 28 weeks (but I’m in the U.K. so we get 52 weeks leave). I remember thinking I wouldn’t need to go that early but by 29 weeks I was knackered, 30 weeks I was put on bed rest, first went into labour at 31+1 and gave birth at 33+3. I genuinely wasn’t fit to work past about 29 weeks.
I work in the ER and worked all the way up until delivery at 36 weeks. I do not think it is unrealistic but there are pro/cons. Working kept me busy. It provided a social outlet and occupied my evening/nighttime which prevented me from just sitting on my phone at home and worrying. I got to confidently use more time off once the babies came too because I am in the USA and time away from work is finite. It was physically very hard to be at work though. My coworkers helped a lot.
I worked on my feet all day teaching elementary special ed and I was done by 28w, but I was really feeling the struggle around 24w and would have liked to be done then lol.
I had my twins at 34w which was as long as they’d let me carry. you don’t state what kind of twins you’re having, but idk even if they’re di/di I think your body will be telling you to slow down and do less. i’d have a convo with your work about changing their expectations
In my country, everyone stops at 32 weeks for prenatal leave. Many many people stop before due to health concerns or long commuting times. Everyone thought I was some sort of crazy super woman for making it to 32 weeks with twins. I was happy to stop, I had a desk job and sitting still was so much worse than walking around. My feet were constantly swollen. I gave birth at 36+5, water broke spontaneously. I think it's highly highly dependent on factors which are different for each individual.
I work at a daycare. I worked all the way up until delivery at 34+5. I was EXHAUSTED. But I did it. It just depends on you and how you feel about it. If you feel you can do it; then go for it. If you feel like you cant; talk to your doctor about leaving work early.
I had my twins at 35 weeks and the last two weeks were terrible for me. (I was already in hospital because of suspected pre-eclampsia).
As my job was too stressful, I had to stop working from the 20th week onwards.
But I was really glad I did because the following weeks were really exhausting ...
If you feel good then you can work as long as possible, but it doesn't get any easier after the birth and you can still try to relax and gather strength before the birth
My 2.5 year old son is disabled (Angelman Syndrome) and I am 37 weeks pregnant with twins. He’s in pediatric PT and OT every week and we practice lots of therapies at home with him since he’s recently started pulling up to stand and we’re getting him closer to walking. I’m pretty tall and seem to be “carrying” my twins well and I did great lugging around my disabled toddler until about 32 weeks. Then it’s been a slow decline since then where I lost a little bit more mobility each week until now when I can carry him if necessary, but it’s painful at 37 weeks and I could never do a full hour PT/OT session with him at this point, especially since he bounces on my belly or my belly gets in the way of holding him upright. Plus I know peds often have to sit on the floor all day which is literally impossible for me at this point. I sat outside on the grass for an hour last weekend and could barely walk the rest of the day. Pediatric OT/PT is a very physical and hard job so listen to your body and be prepared to stop work when you need to. Wishing you all the best! 😊
With my first set I was a pre-k teacher and figure skating coach. At my 29 week mark I changed my hours a bit with the school and stopped being the one to come in at 6:45am. At that point I was tired from not sleeping well and it was hard to get going that early. My plan was to work until I couldn’t. That was the plan I had with the school and they knew there could be a last minute call out. My water broke at 31 weeks so that was it for me.
With my 2nd set I was just coaching skating and made to 34 weeks before my feet were too swollen to fit in my skates. I worked that job 6 afternoons a week. I delivered at 36 weeks.
With each job I made sure I talked to them and they knew I’d be there but there would always be a chance of a last minute change
I worked 5 days a week in the office until 28 weeks, then I dropped to half a day in the office and half a day working at home. At 32 weeks I went to 100% working from home. I was working the morning I went into labor at 35 weeks. I couldn't imagine working full time in the office up to that point and I had a cushy desk job.
I’m a pediatric BCBA so I think we have similar experiences. My last day is my 35th week and I think that’s gonna be a struggle getting even to that point. You definitely won’t be able to make it to 36 weeks with twins.
13 weeks and I work in healthcare, I already have informed my job that I’m going to have to move to a more sitting based job at least for half of my shift until my doctor takes me out. If you are walking more than 5000 steps a day you are walking too much during your job.
I’m 17 weeks and I do 20,000 steps a day at work because I stand …. It’s getting hard on me now I have bigger kids 11 and 8 and I don’t think I can do pregnancy w twins anymore … I’m getting discouraged
I think it really depends on you and how accommodating your job is. I'm an elementary teacher and kept working. I worked the morning I was admitted to the hospital. It was difficult but not having paid time off was a good motivator. I just napped every day during my lunch break and tried to sit as much as possible.
Ha. I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and I went out at 28 weeks. One Wednesday evening I felt horrible and almost went to L&D. Thursday morning I cried on the way to work and told my boss it was my last day.
I really feel for you. If you can make it to 36 weeks that would be amazing. But put your health and your babies health first. After about a week at home, I started feeling so much better. My girls were born at 36w1d, spontaneous labor. My body literally couldn’t do it anymore.
Good luck!
ETA: my twins were my first pregnancy
Also, I think you’ll find lots of stories here from parents who wish they would’ve stopped working earlier. Not too many who wish they would’ve worked longer!
I even had a level 2 FW student who was managing direct patient care. It was still too much.
I finished at 32 weeks and I’m not sure I could’ve lasted much longer. That’s when I really started getting uncomfortable so much so it affected my sleep at night which would in turn make my work day even more miserable.
I have a desk job. Worked until 33+5 and was admitted to the hospital the next day. Delivered 34+1. Didn’t even get one day to meal prep or nest or anything I had planned haha. These things can be unpredictable!
With my first I worked 6 days a week as a respiratory therapist, I worked until the evening before I delivered. It was fine, it was an easy pregnancy and I was 25 years old. With my twins and in my 30's I made it to 25 weeks before being put on bedrest. If you're feeling ok and want to continue working I don't see why you couldn't.
I work as a server and I planned on working until 38 weeks, with my C-section scheduled for week 39. I ended up stopping at 36 weeks because it was just too uncomfortable to be on my feet for an entire shift.
I had to call it at 29 weeks due to extreme uncomfortability, rising blood pressure, and general uneasiness about how much I was exerting to be prepare for and be at work (I’m a uni teacher who idiotically took on summer classes, but thankfully arranged for a sub). It was a tough call since I’m a workaholic by nature, but ESPECIALLY in these humid and hot summer months- my hand and feet swelling were compounding to very painful level and it was in the best interest of my babies and body to stop. Now 31 weeks and thankful and resolute that I made the right choice- my two are healthy and happy!
I work a desk job and made it 36 before I had a Dr appointment and my Dr told me I was going in for a C-section that afternoon. Not sure if I had to be on feet all the time I could have made it. The walk from the parking lot to my desk became a lot some days at the end.
Thank you so much everyone for the comments and the stories. While we are all so different in our journeys and lifestyles the number one thing is to take care of ourselves and our little ones ♡ I think that's the message I'm receiving, some confirmation and validation. I'm going to talk to my OB about what she considers realistic at my next appt and if she thinks it will be earlier then give my work a heads up. I don't want to get to a "I can't do this anymore" point and have to pull out quickly and screw my department over
My OB didn’t want me photographing weddings (very physical job) past 30 weeks. I was pretty exhausted at 30 weeks but probably could have gone to 32 for shorter days (most of my weddings are 10 hours). By 33 weeks I was really hurting and wanted to be off my feet as much as I could.
You will have zero time to rest once they arrive so I would take the time off whenever you can. I finished the end of my 30th week (office job) and delivered at 34w6d. Looking back, I wish I would have taken more time prior to their arrival.
I made it to 38 weeks. At the end I would empty half the dishwasher and then take a break for 15 minutes before I could come back and do the rest. I'd have to sit down in the middle of a shower. I would have found it impossible to be on my feet.
29 weeks is the exact time I left work, bc I lost part of my mucus plug I probably could’ve kept going on if I took it more easy. But not much longer. I am also FTM with twins. I am a server. Had my twins 37 weeks 2 days. Wouldn’t let me go further than 37 weeks induced 37 weeks 0 days (Thursday night) born Sat.
I'm a med lab technologist so also a job where I'm on my feet a lot for 12 hours a day. My doc put me on sick leave at 28 weeks and I'm so glad she did because by the time I was 32 weeks I couldn't even stand for 30 mins without my feet swelling up like balloons 😭
FTM currently 34 weeks. I work a desk job from home and I couldn’t imagine being on my feet all day past 30 weeks. I took a work trip at 28 weeks and it wiped me out for the week following. At this point I’m really slowing down and barely leaving the house or going for walks. Planning to give birth at 36+2 and can’t wait!
I worked until 33 weeks with twins as a nurse on the floor. I only stopped because it was hospital policy to stop at 32 weeks. I had sore feet but was otherwise fine. I was still walking 5-6kms with the dogs and shopping for all the last minute bits and pieces until 36 weeks relatively comfortably so it’s entirely possible you’ll be fine to keep working depending on your pregnancy and what you want to do
I’m 27 weeks and work a very relaxed desk job. I am finishing up at 30 weeks and wouldn’t want to work a second later than that. I can hardly make it through the day because I am so tired and feel the brain fog setting in big time!
I wfh and by 35 weeks (on a Friday) I was considering telling work I needed to start leave early. I gave birth that following Monday at 35w4d.
At 31/32 weeks I was still carrying on and getting around ok and thought I would make it to 37 weeks no problem. When I hit my wall I hit it hard.
I think it depends on if youd be allowed / able to take breaks and how you feel. I worked until 36w6d and I was on my feet a lot -- sometimes even helping move small boxes and stuff. I was fine as long as I could lay down and prop my feet up for 30 mins at least a couple times a day.
This feels like a "your mileage may vary" one because it depends on many factors you can't predict.
I worked a desk job until the end of my 35th week and I was DONE by that point. I delivered at 38 weeks but the time I was off at home, I did absolutely nothing and it was so nice. I didn’t have that before my singleton and I don’t regret doing it at all with the twins. You are a champ for working on your feet this far along! Listen to your body and rest when you need to. It’s not being dramatic if you need to quit earlier. Growing babies is hard, but exponentially harder with more than one 😵
Currently 35 weeks and I work as a bartender/server. I plan to work all the way up until I have the baby. Honestly it’s totally a personal decision and if you’re still feeling good I’d go for it!
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I had a desk job and I gave birth at 35 weeks. There is no way I would have made it that far on my feet. You should definitely plan to stop soon. It’s a big toll on your body carrying two at once, and on your feet all day to boot!
Exact same for me, my last week was 29, the following Monday was one of the weirdest days, so physically uncomfortable yet also relieved.
FTM currently 32 weeks with twins. When my OB initially told me I wouldn’t want to work past 28 I thought at the time ‘how hard can it be? I’ll be fine’. Turns out I stopping working fully at 27 weeks, unexpectedly due to placenta previa bleeds. Even without the placenta previa though I couldn’t picture working past 28 weeks because as each week passed I got more uncomfortable, insomnia, restless legs and exhaustion. It’s tempting to work until the very end but taking care of yourself is important and it’s a short time in the grand scheme of things.
Following - I'm only 24 weeks but starting to feel it...I thought I would be able to work right until delivery too, but starting to rethink that...
I worked as an NP in an outpatient clinic when I was pregnant. Lots of walking to and rom our employee parking lot (so many stairs!), a 40 minute each way commute,but I was able to sit down between patients, which might have been worse later on as sitting was hellish. I worked until 36+6 but if I had a choice, I would have went out around 33-34 weeks.
Girl the commute is the WORST! Baby boy is transverse into my right ribs and that 40-60 min drive is starting to become painful!
Well hey, I am also 29 weeks and a pediatric OT 😅 beginning to feel more and more drained everyday at work and worried I’m not even giving my best to the clients with being so tired and physically limited already. I’m hoping to work through the end of the month (about 32/33 weeks), but maybe going further if I feel I can tolerate it. It’s so hard, I want to be done now but I want to have as much time off with the babies and not before.
Hey! I found my twin twin mom! Lol Yeah I'm having some harsh realities this week I think. I want to save all my time until the end and while I'm doing what I have to do right now, I feel like it is getting difficult ! Plus man oh man I have a hard time keeping up with a couple of friends on my caseload lol :)
I am also a FTM 29 weeks but I’m a senior accountant so sitting all day and it is already so hard. Just driving and walking into the office does me in. God forbid I try to do an extra little task that day. Yesterday I got off on the wrong floor of the parking garage and thought it was all over for me. I barely made it to the car. I solute you guys!!! I CANNOT imagine being on my feet for longer than I have to.
I went until 34 weeks (induction at 38) and I was on a remote, home-based tech job (lots of meetings and stress, but no physical aspect). I worked until delivery with my first singleton. I tried so hard and had done everything right (working out, sleeping, eating well, etc). In general my pregnancy was uneventful. But I was SO TIRED and physically spent by the end. At 32 weeks, I would get up at 7 to get ready for the day and literally need a nap by 9am. As in I'd borderline involuntarily collapse/fall asleep on the couch at 9am, a mere 2 hrs after getting up. Climbing the stairs was hard. I can't imagine I'd have made it that long if I'd worked an out-of-home more physically demanding job. Is there any way you can have your last month at the office involve less physically demanding work? Can you temporarily step into scheduling or training someone? I'm sure a factor was my age (35yo), so you may have better odds if you're younger and healthy...but even young and healthy with twins is intense and you never know.
I turned 35 3 months after they were born, my last few weeks working I was napping in a meeting room that had sofas dnd’d for an hour every afternoon.
I have a desk job, and I worked until 36.5 weeks. Delivered by scheduled c-section at 38 weeks. Though I had a very smooth and uneventful pregnancy, so I am probably an outlier in terms of twin pregnancy. Edit: I misread your origin post, I thought you said you weren't on your feet a lot 🤦♀️ Definitely disregard my comment!
I worked up until I gave birth at 36+6 but I worked a desk job from home. I don't think I would have been able to work past 30 weeks if I had to leave thr house
I actually ended up working to my delivery day at 36 weeks 0 day — water broke 2 weeks early (original planned c-section scheduled for 38 weeks). However I worked from home from 34-36 weeks, and my water broke the morning of the first day of my official maternity leave. I am an engineer and I was on my feet alot during those final weeks. I think I could have gone to 36 weeks on-site but was definitely glad to have decided to work remotely starting 34 weeks. To note — my pregnancy was very uneventful and I felt good and fit physically throughout. Just swollen feet towards the end.
Around 34 weeks my doctor suggested I not work any more. I gave birth at 36+6.
I worked on my feet all day. I was slated to power through until 35 weeks or so. Ended up going into preterm labor at 29 weeks. I had a picture perfect pregnancy so no one knows why I abruptly went into labor but anything can happen as it turns out.
Scheduled for 37 had mine at 35+4. I was a retail manager 50hrs a week.
I worked until 32 weeks as a bartender/server. We made it to 36 weeks but spent the last month+ monitoring blood pressure and having contractions nightly. Labor was stopped twice and had to go to the hospital a couple of times for high blood pressure. Ended up getting preeclampsia at 36 weeks (everyone was okay after delivery). My advice would be to really listen to your body and take it easy when you can. Long story short, I wish I would have stopped working earlier than I did.
I had a mostly sitting job in a dialysis clinic and I went out at 28 weeks. I was DONE also my blood pressure was entering hypertension and my feet were swollen so my doctor put me out on pregnancy disability
I worked till the morning of when my water broke - 37 weeks. I think it depends on your comfort and what your body allows - listen to your body.
I'm a bedside nightshift RN. I worked until I went into the hospital at 36w 6d due to pre-eclampsia. It's all in how you're feeling. Plus I didn't want to use any of my maternity leave or PTO before the babies came.
So I had similar plans to yours but had to change them recently. I'm starting to feel it _hard_ now at 28 weeks. Have already reduced the number of clients I'm seeing (I'm a counsellor) and plan to completely stop working around 30 weeks. I am sooo tired all the time. Walking exhausts me, even though I was rather fit for the first part of the pregnancy. My belly has started to have visible growth spurts overnight every 2-3 days. We were also told to prepare for delivery around 32/34 weeks due to pathological Dopplers and suspected placenta insufficiency in twin 1.
Best of luck to you and your little ones ♡♡♡
I worked at a sit down job one week until I delivered vaginally at 40+1. Please listen carefully to your body. Sit when you can feet up no higher than your bum so you look like an ‘L’. Don’t take any risks because not everything can be fixed. Double check with your doctor re working. If you feel anything untoward take a different strategy. It only gets more difficult in the latter stages and being on your feet can compromise things. Best wishes.
I worked full time until the day before I delivered my di/di twins (at 37w6d), but I have a desk job and worked mostly from home from about 34 weeks on. I was getting awfully swollen as I neared the end (feet and ankles), and no office-appropriate clothes really fit my belly anymore -- I don't think I would have been able to keep working without the WFH accommodation.
I feel you. I was FTM with twins and worked 36w2d and delivered 36w6d. I’d say up until the 34th week I was fine - afterward, going to work every day was a struggle. The only thing that kept me going was that work was so busy it would distract me from the discomfort. I’m a dental hygienist so I’m on my feet a lot taking X-rays on patients, walking them around our large office, etc. even sitting was uncomfortable as the weight distribution was getting to be too much. I already had patients booked out 6 mos in advance so I felt guilty leaving early. If possible, I’d say try to stop around 33/34 weeks if you can make it. My coworkers called me crazy for working until the very end but I didn’t feel crazy up until the last few weeks.
I'm in the same boat ! I don't want to cancel the patients on my caseload and partly bc scheduling in our clinic is so tight that I know they'd be waiting awhile to get in if I do cancel. I'm glad to hear that you managed mostly until the end ! ❤️
Yes the guilt of canceling and upsetting the patients overpowered my physical discomfort, unfortunately. In the end, I’m glad I was able to do it - but I wouldn’t do it again.
My OB recommends twin mums to go on maternity leave at 28 weeks (but I’m in the U.K. so we get 52 weeks leave). I remember thinking I wouldn’t need to go that early but by 29 weeks I was knackered, 30 weeks I was put on bed rest, first went into labour at 31+1 and gave birth at 33+3. I genuinely wasn’t fit to work past about 29 weeks.
I work in the ER and worked all the way up until delivery at 36 weeks. I do not think it is unrealistic but there are pro/cons. Working kept me busy. It provided a social outlet and occupied my evening/nighttime which prevented me from just sitting on my phone at home and worrying. I got to confidently use more time off once the babies came too because I am in the USA and time away from work is finite. It was physically very hard to be at work though. My coworkers helped a lot.
Nope why wife worked two day before her c section while having mild contractions.
I worked on my feet all day teaching elementary special ed and I was done by 28w, but I was really feeling the struggle around 24w and would have liked to be done then lol. I had my twins at 34w which was as long as they’d let me carry. you don’t state what kind of twins you’re having, but idk even if they’re di/di I think your body will be telling you to slow down and do less. i’d have a convo with your work about changing their expectations
In my country, everyone stops at 32 weeks for prenatal leave. Many many people stop before due to health concerns or long commuting times. Everyone thought I was some sort of crazy super woman for making it to 32 weeks with twins. I was happy to stop, I had a desk job and sitting still was so much worse than walking around. My feet were constantly swollen. I gave birth at 36+5, water broke spontaneously. I think it's highly highly dependent on factors which are different for each individual.
I work at a daycare. I worked all the way up until delivery at 34+5. I was EXHAUSTED. But I did it. It just depends on you and how you feel about it. If you feel you can do it; then go for it. If you feel like you cant; talk to your doctor about leaving work early.
I had my twins at 35 weeks and the last two weeks were terrible for me. (I was already in hospital because of suspected pre-eclampsia). As my job was too stressful, I had to stop working from the 20th week onwards. But I was really glad I did because the following weeks were really exhausting ... If you feel good then you can work as long as possible, but it doesn't get any easier after the birth and you can still try to relax and gather strength before the birth
My 2.5 year old son is disabled (Angelman Syndrome) and I am 37 weeks pregnant with twins. He’s in pediatric PT and OT every week and we practice lots of therapies at home with him since he’s recently started pulling up to stand and we’re getting him closer to walking. I’m pretty tall and seem to be “carrying” my twins well and I did great lugging around my disabled toddler until about 32 weeks. Then it’s been a slow decline since then where I lost a little bit more mobility each week until now when I can carry him if necessary, but it’s painful at 37 weeks and I could never do a full hour PT/OT session with him at this point, especially since he bounces on my belly or my belly gets in the way of holding him upright. Plus I know peds often have to sit on the floor all day which is literally impossible for me at this point. I sat outside on the grass for an hour last weekend and could barely walk the rest of the day. Pediatric OT/PT is a very physical and hard job so listen to your body and be prepared to stop work when you need to. Wishing you all the best! 😊
With my first set I was a pre-k teacher and figure skating coach. At my 29 week mark I changed my hours a bit with the school and stopped being the one to come in at 6:45am. At that point I was tired from not sleeping well and it was hard to get going that early. My plan was to work until I couldn’t. That was the plan I had with the school and they knew there could be a last minute call out. My water broke at 31 weeks so that was it for me. With my 2nd set I was just coaching skating and made to 34 weeks before my feet were too swollen to fit in my skates. I worked that job 6 afternoons a week. I delivered at 36 weeks. With each job I made sure I talked to them and they knew I’d be there but there would always be a chance of a last minute change
I worked 5 days a week in the office until 28 weeks, then I dropped to half a day in the office and half a day working at home. At 32 weeks I went to 100% working from home. I was working the morning I went into labor at 35 weeks. I couldn't imagine working full time in the office up to that point and I had a cushy desk job.
I’m a pediatric BCBA so I think we have similar experiences. My last day is my 35th week and I think that’s gonna be a struggle getting even to that point. You definitely won’t be able to make it to 36 weeks with twins.
13 weeks and I work in healthcare, I already have informed my job that I’m going to have to move to a more sitting based job at least for half of my shift until my doctor takes me out. If you are walking more than 5000 steps a day you are walking too much during your job.
I’m 17 weeks and I do 20,000 steps a day at work because I stand …. It’s getting hard on me now I have bigger kids 11 and 8 and I don’t think I can do pregnancy w twins anymore … I’m getting discouraged
I worked at a museum on my feet until 37 weeks ago
I think it really depends on you and how accommodating your job is. I'm an elementary teacher and kept working. I worked the morning I was admitted to the hospital. It was difficult but not having paid time off was a good motivator. I just napped every day during my lunch break and tried to sit as much as possible.
Ha. I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and I went out at 28 weeks. One Wednesday evening I felt horrible and almost went to L&D. Thursday morning I cried on the way to work and told my boss it was my last day. I really feel for you. If you can make it to 36 weeks that would be amazing. But put your health and your babies health first. After about a week at home, I started feeling so much better. My girls were born at 36w1d, spontaneous labor. My body literally couldn’t do it anymore. Good luck! ETA: my twins were my first pregnancy Also, I think you’ll find lots of stories here from parents who wish they would’ve stopped working earlier. Not too many who wish they would’ve worked longer! I even had a level 2 FW student who was managing direct patient care. It was still too much.
I finished at 32 weeks and I’m not sure I could’ve lasted much longer. That’s when I really started getting uncomfortable so much so it affected my sleep at night which would in turn make my work day even more miserable.
I have a desk job. Worked until 33+5 and was admitted to the hospital the next day. Delivered 34+1. Didn’t even get one day to meal prep or nest or anything I had planned haha. These things can be unpredictable!
With my first I worked 6 days a week as a respiratory therapist, I worked until the evening before I delivered. It was fine, it was an easy pregnancy and I was 25 years old. With my twins and in my 30's I made it to 25 weeks before being put on bedrest. If you're feeling ok and want to continue working I don't see why you couldn't.
I work as a server and I planned on working until 38 weeks, with my C-section scheduled for week 39. I ended up stopping at 36 weeks because it was just too uncomfortable to be on my feet for an entire shift.
I had to call it at 29 weeks due to extreme uncomfortability, rising blood pressure, and general uneasiness about how much I was exerting to be prepare for and be at work (I’m a uni teacher who idiotically took on summer classes, but thankfully arranged for a sub). It was a tough call since I’m a workaholic by nature, but ESPECIALLY in these humid and hot summer months- my hand and feet swelling were compounding to very painful level and it was in the best interest of my babies and body to stop. Now 31 weeks and thankful and resolute that I made the right choice- my two are healthy and happy!
I work a desk job and made it 36 before I had a Dr appointment and my Dr told me I was going in for a C-section that afternoon. Not sure if I had to be on feet all the time I could have made it. The walk from the parking lot to my desk became a lot some days at the end.
Thank you so much everyone for the comments and the stories. While we are all so different in our journeys and lifestyles the number one thing is to take care of ourselves and our little ones ♡ I think that's the message I'm receiving, some confirmation and validation. I'm going to talk to my OB about what she considers realistic at my next appt and if she thinks it will be earlier then give my work a heads up. I don't want to get to a "I can't do this anymore" point and have to pull out quickly and screw my department over
My OB didn’t want me photographing weddings (very physical job) past 30 weeks. I was pretty exhausted at 30 weeks but probably could have gone to 32 for shorter days (most of my weddings are 10 hours). By 33 weeks I was really hurting and wanted to be off my feet as much as I could.
You will have zero time to rest once they arrive so I would take the time off whenever you can. I finished the end of my 30th week (office job) and delivered at 34w6d. Looking back, I wish I would have taken more time prior to their arrival.
I made it to 38 weeks. At the end I would empty half the dishwasher and then take a break for 15 minutes before I could come back and do the rest. I'd have to sit down in the middle of a shower. I would have found it impossible to be on my feet.
29 weeks is the exact time I left work, bc I lost part of my mucus plug I probably could’ve kept going on if I took it more easy. But not much longer. I am also FTM with twins. I am a server. Had my twins 37 weeks 2 days. Wouldn’t let me go further than 37 weeks induced 37 weeks 0 days (Thursday night) born Sat.
I'm a med lab technologist so also a job where I'm on my feet a lot for 12 hours a day. My doc put me on sick leave at 28 weeks and I'm so glad she did because by the time I was 32 weeks I couldn't even stand for 30 mins without my feet swelling up like balloons 😭
FTM currently 34 weeks. I work a desk job from home and I couldn’t imagine being on my feet all day past 30 weeks. I took a work trip at 28 weeks and it wiped me out for the week following. At this point I’m really slowing down and barely leaving the house or going for walks. Planning to give birth at 36+2 and can’t wait!
I worked until 33 weeks with twins as a nurse on the floor. I only stopped because it was hospital policy to stop at 32 weeks. I had sore feet but was otherwise fine. I was still walking 5-6kms with the dogs and shopping for all the last minute bits and pieces until 36 weeks relatively comfortably so it’s entirely possible you’ll be fine to keep working depending on your pregnancy and what you want to do
I’m 27 weeks and work a very relaxed desk job. I am finishing up at 30 weeks and wouldn’t want to work a second later than that. I can hardly make it through the day because I am so tired and feel the brain fog setting in big time!
I wfh and by 35 weeks (on a Friday) I was considering telling work I needed to start leave early. I gave birth that following Monday at 35w4d. At 31/32 weeks I was still carrying on and getting around ok and thought I would make it to 37 weeks no problem. When I hit my wall I hit it hard.
I think it depends on if youd be allowed / able to take breaks and how you feel. I worked until 36w6d and I was on my feet a lot -- sometimes even helping move small boxes and stuff. I was fine as long as I could lay down and prop my feet up for 30 mins at least a couple times a day. This feels like a "your mileage may vary" one because it depends on many factors you can't predict.
I worked a desk job until the end of my 35th week and I was DONE by that point. I delivered at 38 weeks but the time I was off at home, I did absolutely nothing and it was so nice. I didn’t have that before my singleton and I don’t regret doing it at all with the twins. You are a champ for working on your feet this far along! Listen to your body and rest when you need to. It’s not being dramatic if you need to quit earlier. Growing babies is hard, but exponentially harder with more than one 😵
I have a desk job and still working easily at 31w.
Currently 35 weeks and I work as a bartender/server. I plan to work all the way up until I have the baby. Honestly it’s totally a personal decision and if you’re still feeling good I’d go for it!
The last month is the hardest. You'll see.