Question for Cali Moms or FTM's

Ok so I'm 33+4 and extremely physically and mentally exhausted. I work about 50-60hrs a week standing and when I sit it's on a wood stool, so you can only imagine by the end of the day how I feel. I also drive about 2hrs to work and 2hrs home from work depending on that Cali traffic. My doctor keeps telling me he'll take me off work at 36weeks, but I honestly don't think I can push myself for another 3weeks. My question is has anyone gone on maternity leave early without a doctors note, I know I would get disability for those couple weeks but at this point I don't even care. My other question is if I do take my own time off in which I don't have vacation time so it won't be paid can I apply for disability once I get the doctors note or do I still have to wait the 7day no pay period cuz I choose to go off work on my own. Also how would you tell your employer without a doctors note that you want to start maternity leave early. Any advice would help! Thanks in advance