How close to the due date is too close??

Tbh you can’t tell how you are going to be. Standard recovering time given for natural birth and c section is 6 weeks but of course you never know how long your body will need. I’m on my 3rd baby but work in an office and usually work up to 2 weeks before but I’m sitting down most the time. Also might need to factor in the baby if you will need to leave it for 8 hours that close to post partum and whether your breast feeding etc! Quite a few factors to think about so personally would give yourself a bit of time after to recover and get an understanding of your baby! X

Hi! You will not be able to guess how you will be, everyone’s recovery is different and it depends on the birth, if you had to have a c section you’ll be looking at a min 8 weeks. Trust me when I say you want to take the time off, I also own a few businesses and can appreciate how hard it may be, but I didn’t take time off last time and I got PND 3 months later. I was however renovating a house at 42 weeks pregnant. You might not have the baby near the due date, I went to 42+3 and I couldn’t walk let alone stand on my feet

If I'm completely honest, I couldn't imagine having been back on my feet for 8+ hours 2 months post partum. If you are able to give yourself.that time then please do. As for the bookings before your due date, i think it would depends on whether you had a back up to call on if you ended up in labour. Just for reference, my waters went at 36+1 and I eventually was induced 36+5 giving birth the next day. You wouldn't be able to work during the days in between because of infection risk. But you may not end up going till 42 weeks! Could you take the bookings prior to your due date but have a backup on standby? Not sure if that's possible in your profession!

I went into slow labour at 36 weeks which was a month before my due date and gave birth a week later I couldn’t imagine being at work while I was in that state as the pain and pressure on my body was horrific I’d say anything can happen in the last month and it’s best to just be resting x

I'd echo what others have said in terms of giving yourself plenty of space either side! Assuming it's your first, those final few weeks of pregnancy are your last opportunity for a while to be fully and totally selfish - if anything, I regret not giving myself more time (finished up at 37 weeks, baby came at 39+4)! Use that time to be 110% focused on you. And as much as we like to plan, there's really no predicting how your birth will go. If you need to have/chose a cesarean, or get tears from vaginal, then you'll absolutely need more than just a few weeks to get back on your feet. Even from a very practical POV, you can't drive for 6 weeks after a Cesarean - and as someone that had an emergency one, trust me that it's for a very good reason!! I promise you, if you can afford to do it, you won't look back and regret a single second of giving yourself the time to rest before, and heal after - and to soak up every second of your little bundle xxx

I'd try to give yourself a month before at least, just in case you give birth early and gives you time to rest and get everything prepared. Even if you have a vaginal birth and feel like you're able to be up and about, you'll still have a plate size wound where your placenta was and its easy to do damage without even realising, not to mention any stitches you might need, and the general uncomfortable-ness you'll feel. And if you have/need a c section, you'll need at least 6 weeks after. Recovery time aside, it's also so important to spend the time after birth bonding with your baby. They just spent so long in your belly and the outside world is a tough adjustment for them when they're so little. Try to give yourself a little time❤️

I’m still recovering nearly 3 years on 😂🤣😂 returned to work after a year .. was very ready for the social interaction with adults … but in all seriousness I would play it safe you will likely appreciate the rest at the time.

22 weeks 15 January but I’m having a c section so idk. When that’ll be x

another factor will be how you feed your baby, if you’re breastfeeding it’s much harder (in m experience) to spend a full day away in the first 6 months, even if they take a bottle. This is something I didn’t consider first time round

Personally I was not ready to be standing up for that long 8 weeks post partum