Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

For some reason my original post didn't post...after writing this long post..of course

So I had my first appt. with my ob/gyn yesterday...I've been under the care of my RE...also, this is my first time going to this practice...had to leave my other one because of location...so...

Right now I am 10w3d with twins. Everything is progressing well so far...normal heartbeats & both babies are growing at the rate that they should...Other than M/S I've felt great...so during my appt. my dr. informed me that they usually recommend mothers of multiples to stop working between 20-24 weeks...I was totally unprepared for this! I am a speech pathologist and I work in the schools...I was thinking that I would come close to finishing out the year...my due date is July 28....Being an SLP this time of year gets busy with testing and meetings....What are your thoughts about this recommendation?

Also, if any of you are teachers...do you know would I have to go out using up my Family Medical leave (which I was hoping to use Sept-Nov.) or would this be considered disability??

I appreciate ANY and ALL advice...thanks ladies!

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

My doctor advised me the same - I looked at him like he was crazy - however - i work at a job that allows me to be off my feet at a desk.
So when the time came and he wanted me to stop working - I didn't - I felt fine and felt that I knew how I was feeling better than him - AND if anything should happen I was closer to the hospital than if I was at home.

I worked until around 32 weeks - and believe me - by then - you will want to stop - your belly will be really big and heavy and you will just be really uncomfortable. sitting at my desk was uncomfortable.

I think your doctor is just being cautious. I don't know how high risk your pregnancy is though. I mean other than that its multiples mine wasn't considered "high risk".

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

every district is different. after my maternity leave was up. I went on sick leave from my district. I didn't need FMLA because I had insurance with DH.

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

I am an acting AP and I worked up until the day before I delivered! My babies were healthy and I thought I would loose my mind if I stayed home!

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

i think i went out about 24 weeks. i was surprised when my doctor said it but when the time came, i was so grateful.

i was a nyc doe early childhood teacher and didn't have to option of sitting down much during the day and resting when i needed it. i was up and down on the floor and picking up (trying not to) kids and really physically active. that, coupled with my commute and standing waiting for the bus, was exhausting. it was really becoming tough and i was so tired all the time. that leave came at just the right time!!

i think being home for the last half of the pregnancy was really helpful to prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally. i didn't need the stress from work!! i made it to a few days shy of 38 weeks for delivery.

as far as disability, i didn't use it. i used my sick time, borrowed sick time etc and now that i'm a sahm, i'm on dh's insurance.

i know you feel fine now, but take any opportunity you can to rest now. you will realize why, once the babies are here!!

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

My Dr.s told me the same thing.....they didnt want me working past a date, but I was due in October, but my boys were born in September. I wanted to work summer school, and my Dr. said NO WAY!!!! I still did, and I feel bad about lying to him, but I only did one session which was 2 hours and I was sitting most of the time.
Plus I was off for 3 weeks before my boys came, which was GREAT because it prepares you and you need that and all the rest you can get.

My school we get 8 weeks paid maternity, but that is taken from our sick time if we have it. I also used the FMLA and took the whole 3 months, that last month I didnt get paid.

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

My doc told me the same. Honestly, for the first time in my life, I stopped playing the hero, and working myself so hard, and did what was best for me and the babies, first and foremost. I teach high school.

When I first met with my high-risk OB he told me we had three things to consider that played into the equation... I was over 35, I did IVF and I was pg with multiples. I had been waiting for these babies for years so I was doing whatever he advised me to do. I had to tell my job at week 8 because they had me on an insanely crowded cafeteria duty which meant I was on my feet, walking around the entire time, possibly breaking up confrontations btwn students etc. Doc said, NO WAY!! He wrote a note and I was switched to library duty where I was off my feet.

I taught mostly AP/college level classes so I sat whenever I could. I avoided the halls between bells to avoid getting jostled etc.

I worked up until week 29, the end of the midterm exam week (I think ) but I had a unique situation with benefits etc. Normally, in my district, your sick days run concurrent with your FMLA. For the overwhelming majority of teachers, they work until they give birth. Not only did my district never deal with someone having multiples but my number of banked sick days EXCEEDED FMLA because I got pg in my 10th year of employment... most women are pg right after tenture. I can only take 30 sick days and cash in at retirement. There was nothing in the contract that limited me from taking them for the pregnancy but I couldn't take them for childcare.. So, I took the number of days I had banked and counted back from the last day of school. That's the day I went out, January 25. I made that decision a month before, in December, when I felt like Superwoman. Trust me, by the end of January, I was feeling it. Getting in and out of the car was no fun. Talk to your union rep FIRST, see what your contract allows. One of the reps is probably an expert in FMLA/contract interpretation. You need to speak with him or her BEFORE you utter a word to administration.

BTW, the following Monday, it snowed. My district was not closed. I was so glad I didn't have to white knuckle it on the NSP

My DC's were born two months later. I swear, it was the first time I truly rested and puttered around in my life. I read books, did a pg scrapbook, went out to lunch, went to the movies... whatever as I knew I was never going to get that much alone time for a loooong time

I would maximize whatever benefits you have. You want to keep yourself rested and those babies in there as long as possible.

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

I do not work in a scool, but my Dr said plan to be out of work early, but it was not a definit ething. He didn't want it to be a shock to me if bed rest was needed early on. I was told to stop working at 34 weeks, but worked 1 week of 1/2 days and had my kids at 35 weeks.

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

Due to complications I am already out and I am not due till September

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

As someone who teaches (Kind. nyc) and had 25 weekers, I say listen to your doctor. I am actually thinking my doctor wasn't conservative enough. Basically, the only thing I wasn't able to do was exercise. I wished I had been put on bed rest early or atleast sent to a high risk doctor. I had no signs of anything being wrong and I was seen in the office every 2wks. TMO, I say go on bedrest, better safe then sorry.

Good luck.

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

Mine never said anything about going out of work. I was put on bed rest at 24 weeks and so I went out then. I could see why - everyone told me to "take it easy" and I didn't know why. I felt great! But I was sitting at work all day, class all night and then the library all weekend. I think too much sitting (the pressure) and also too much activity can be hard on your cervix and so I think he is getting you ready for that. Ultimately it is your decision.

If you feel great and your cervix is fine (not thinning, not shortened, etc.) I don't see why you can't keep working. Good luck!

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

My doctor advised me to stop working around 30 weeks or somewhere around there, but I didn't listen. I thought I could work up until my due date, but I only made it to 33 weeks when the pressure was so severe that I could barely walk anymore and my boss pretty much begged me not to come into the office for fear I would have the babies there. I wound up having them at 36 weeks so for three weeks I did nothing but watch TV, read, go to a movie myself, play video games. I am glad I did, because I have not had too much free time since then!

I would say listen to your body. I was completely fine at 24 weeks still and was walking a lot by that point, but it quickly got hard to do just about anything. I knew when to push and when to stop.

Message edited 1/6/2008 4:32:41 PM.

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative

Thank you ladies all for replying with your own experiences!! I appreciate it. I guess for now I will wait and see what happens and how I feel and of course will listen to my body....we've worked too hard to make this happen! I talked to my friend who goes to the same practice and she advised me to discuss this with the other dr.s in the practice as well and see what they both recommend....she said that the dr. that I met with told her friend that she couldn't have an epidural because she had back surgery...needless to say she ended up having it and everything was fine....so I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. I appreciate all of your advice...thanks!!!

Re: Sorry- Do you thing my dr. is being too conservative