It's getting harder and harder to work til the end...

I'm 39 weeks pregnant. I was fine last week and I am taking it MUCH easier on myself at work. Being a specialist, I can pop in a video really easily! Though it's boring as HELL!

I feel so extremely achy. All I can think about is just staying home and resting and getting some 'me' time. But my plan was to work til the end to save my days. Right now I have 26 sick days in my bank. I'll get 10 more at the start of next school year (won't be going back until January though). DH thinks I'm nuts for going in to work when I can use my days (he doesn't get why I feel I need to save them). But my original thought was, save these days because I'll probably be using more sick time when our DD is in daycare. And plus, my district allows you to take 20 days of your sick time prior to and after birth- and I'd love to have that option for our next baby, if we don't time the birth as well next time around.

The other advantage to sticking it out til the end is, I'm MUCH closer to my hospital at school than I am at home (at school I'm 5 minutes away, at home it's a half hour). I'll have plenty of people there to take me if I need to go. At home...I don't have anybody!

I'm almost starting to think...work at least until Wednesday, then I use 7 days of sick time (I already used 2 days this year). My EDD is June 21...but I very well could go even later than that! I am just so exhausted and want some rest...yet I know saving the days can pay off in the end.

WWYD? TIA and thanks for listening!

Re: It's getting harder and harder to work til the end...

I have no advice because I'm in a similar situation as you but just lots of I'm just trying to stick out everyday. We are almost there!!

Re: It's getting harder and harder to work til the end...

TAKE THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am not due as early as you and I was out June 5th (my last day). I felt guilty about taking the days, but i was just so done. i couldn't physically manage a classroom of severely impaired kids all day anymore. I also had really bad edema in my feet and my varicose veins were throbbing. i still feel a little bad about not being there, but it's June---you've been a trooper all year. I also could not use sick time to get part of FMLA paid (because by September I am already recovered from delivery) so i figured what the he ll! It also enabled me to get the4 disability insurance I carry started that much earlier. It has been great being home. My legs and veins are much better and i am using this time to physically relax and get ready for baby.

You have to do what is right for you, you're so close... what's few days out of your bank at this point?

Message edited 6/15/2009 11:40:53 AM.

Re: It's getting harder and harder to work til the end...

Thanks girls!

After thinking a while about it, I was figuring I'd go at least til Wednesday - but then I thought, if I make it that far, might as well finish out the week! I'll see how I feel by end of Tuesday to be sure about it...but I think at LEAST my last day will be Friday. My EDD is Sunday, but I have a feeling I'll be late anyway. At least I'm not making myself come in next week at all. So at least this way I'm only using 5 sick days.

It really wasn't so bad today- like I said, I'm just showing videos so it is soooo easy and restful. The hardest part really is getting a good night's sleep and getting up in the morning...ugh that is torture right now...

Thanks again!

Re: It's getting harder and harder to work til the end...

I think you should take the time too. I know of 3 people in my school building who took off a few days early and had their babies the next day! Actually- it has been everyone this year. They haven't had the me day!