If you took off work already, how did you decide?

Question

I feel so guilty thinking about the extra income I could contribute to bills if I keep working but I'm absolutely exhausted by the end of the day. I fell yesterday at work (everything is fine) and am already on lifting restrictions, but honestly these restrictions aren't always able to be met with my work environment and staff availability. I know they should be, but they're not, and it's not that far beyond my limit anyways typically so I usually don't mind pushing it a bit, but when it throws me into a string of painful Braxton hicks then I start to mind. I'm 38+2 today.
The doctor told me today I could take off work at this point if I feel it would be better, but I feel so guilty thinking of going off already if everything is manageable even if extremely uncomfortable. I don't have an actual medical reason to go off, just extreme pelvic pain and other regular discomforts along with this time in pregnancy. I was so hoping to go until I'm in labor but I literally can't accomplish anything at all after working a full day and reduced hours are most likely not an option.
How did you decide when was the right time to quit working?
Editing to add: I'm a substitute teacher so I have no vacation time or paid time off. I also am not dealing with FMLA because I'll just be taking off however much time. In my case, it's not weighing the leave time before or after baby, it's so much guilt more over throwing my +$1,000 in student loan bills and other stuff onto my husband's plate. He's said for weeks he would prefer I go off but I feel like if I can contribute I should, even if its uncomfortable and am just really struggling with justifying the decision because of the guilt.

Answer

I worked up until 38+2 (this past Friday). I think physically, I could’ve made it a bit longer at work, as my job isn’t too physically demanding, but the drive to/from work had me in the car for 1.5-2 hours per day & traffic where I live is horrific, so the daily commute was getting super stressful for me. Plus, I wanted to spend my last 1.5-2.5 weeks running last-minute errands, prepping the house for baby & spending time with friends & my mom before baby comes. I’m only on day three of leave & I am already pretty bored. 😂 But I think leaving when I did was what was best for me mentally & physically.
I won’t be going back to work full-time after baby is born, so I’ve been struggling with the idea of not contributing to our household income like I did before. But I’ve got two weeks of PTO saved up, so I’ve got a couple more full paychecks coming in over the next few weeks. After that, I’ll be receiving short-term disability for 6 weeks (that’s what my workplace offers in place of a proper maternity leave plan). I’ll be notifying them of my intent not to return to work at the end of that 6 weeks. I’ll be finding something part-time in retail a couple of nights/week and/or on the weekends to supplement what we will be losing in my income, and we have officially gone from two cars down to one.
It’s really weighing on me mentally, but I keep telling myself that it’s what is best for our family. We are moving to the UK at the end of the year, and so after my leave is up, I’d only be working for a few more months before I’d be taking off again to get everything packed & moved. Not to mention that what we will be saving on the cost of childcare, cutting out one of our car payments/insurance for said car, & the gas it costs me to drive to/from work each month equals about what I make from my full-time job.
Keeping that in mind, along with the idea that I will be able to spend the first few months with my little one rather than spending 40+ hours/week away from him has really helped me to feel a bit better about the income we will be “losing” by me not returning to work. 🤗

Answer

I've been off since Feb 23rd, my due date is March 8. I drive 75 miles one way to work so that was my deciding factor. I also am on completely unpaid. I just feel it's better this way in case I was so far away and something happen

Answer

My last day is this Saturday @ 38 weeks and 4 days. I was planning on working until my due date but honestly I’d rather not, I wanted to relax and have these last remaining days with myself & my husband. 
But, I’m very blessed that my husband and I have money saved up for that 1-2 weeks that I’m not getting paid. 
If I was feeling really shitty though, I wouldn’t tough it out. 😕

Answer

I’m a stylist and my job is pretty physically demanding. For the safety of me and the baby I’m stopping at 38 weeks.

Answer

I felt immense guilt every time I thought about leaving before labor began!  After some discussions with my husband and getting progressively more tired, I told my job I will be starting leave on my due date.  I felt immediate relief to have a light at the end of the tunnel and regret for not starting leave sooner!  Setting guilt aside and if you can afford it, do it.  It’s not worth the stress if you don’t have to.

Answer

Initially I had planned to work up until labor started, but made the decision a little over 2 weeks ago that this Friday is my last day at work. I'll be 38+2. Baby has been lodged deep in my pelvis since about 35 weeks and it is very hard for me to simply walk down the hallway at work without terrible pain, I haven't been able to sleep in well over a month and mentally I can't handle the rigors of my job at this point. Lack of sleep and baby brain has made it impossible to stay focused and be productive. Knowing your limits helps and there is no reason to feel guilty. Your health and baby's health are always priority number 1. Never put an employer that could replace you in 5 minutes ahead of yourself.

Answer

I am getting disability 4 weeks prior to my due date, 6-8 weeks after delivery and the up to 12 weeks paid family leave. It’s not full pay, but it’s something. Since taking off work I’ve been more relaxed and present with my family and the trade off is definitely worth it. I’m very luck to be able to do all of this. But if I were you I would consider using any sick or vacation time to rest, it sounds like you need it.

Answer

I was going to work until I went into labor. i get 16weeks maternity leave, paid. but I didnt want to use it until after the baby is born. 
so I worked Sunday, and it was so busy. I could hardly get my legs and feet to move by the end of the day. so I decided to start my leave asap, and rest my body. I felt so guilty. but I walk all day long, and i realized i just couldn't do it anymore. I'm 37 weeks today.

Answer

My first day off work will be my due date (if she doesn’t make it before then)! I’ve had a really easy pregnancy, but there’s no way in hell im working past my due date. Ideally I’d like to take vacation days until I actually go into labor, and then start my 12 weeks FMLA.

Answer

I went at 30 weeks because in England we can have a year off, 6 months is paid, husband makes good money and it was okay with him and quite frankly I was done. I was struggling to get up, mentally exhausted and I don’t regret it. Don’t let people make you feel bad because they worked 1000 hours a week until the head was crowning lol. If you can afford it and want to.... do it ❤️

If you took off work already, how did you decide?

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