Due Date October 1st, and I'm leaving my job to be a stay at home mom! The debate is when I leave my job. I desire two weeks before my due date to nest and relax, although daddy to be thinks I should work as much as I can get in before I tire. We actually JUST came to an agreement where I will leave one week before our due date, so long my health remains steady. I'm content with this, I just counted down as I only work 4 days a week, I have only 25 work days left . Luckily early this year I had snagged several late summer weekend days off for weddings/concerts so it cut work time back even more.
Otherwise my job would have offered 6 weeks unpaid, 8 weeks if c-section. This is just not an option for us. It's important for baby to be with mom and we wouldn't have it any other way.
For those of you taking 12 weeks off, are you hoping to deliver late enough to get the rest of the year off? I'm due October 23, and counted the weeks backward from the calendar. October 12th was the date. My husband's job gives him about 10 days off around Christmas and New Years, and it would be so nice to have some good family time before I go back to work...plus I want her to stay in my belly as long as possible since I'm only going to be pregnant twice. I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune in October when I'm uncomfortable(ftm if you can't tell.)
California mom here. I get 4 weeks paid before my due date and I'm taking every minute. You either use it or lose it. It was so nice last time not to have to go to work at the end. I was so uncomfortable! Due date Oct 22nd, last day Sept 23rd. It can't come quickly enough.
I'm with sweet+cheeks! CA resident here and I'm taking full advantage of the 4 weeks prior to delivery. My twins will come via c section in early September (my dd is Oct 10 though) so I've only got about 2 weeks left at work. I "plan" on going back in January but will really be staying at home with them until school. My salary would just about cover daycare for 2!! U.S. maternity policy is in the Stone Age, I'm just grateful I live in CA.
I live in the US and work remotely from home so I will work until the very last moment. From there I will get about 4 months total leave which includes using my accrued vacation. I have already started attending early morning conference calls in my PJs and no one is the wiser.
I'm trying to figure out when I am going to go. The original plan was when I pop because its the plan for me not to come back afterwards so want to have as much money saved as possible but I'm 29 weeks an I'm exhausted and starting to think one of 2 weeks early can't hurt right???
I'm currently on holidays that will transition into mat leave. I don't have to go back to work till Oct 2016. I had a high stress job too and could have gone back for a few weeks but after a day of work I would come home and nap for at least two hours, still sleep solid at night but got zero housework, nesting or bonding done with DH and his DD. After talking to my doctor (I also have diagnosed anxiety) it's not worth going back to work and if my baby goes overdue I will take sick time. As lovely as this may sound to people it was actually a hard decision to make (money will be tight for a bit) but what matters most is my family, my mental health and my baby. Stress is not worth it!! I have my energy back (somewhat) I've been able to keep up with housework!! I have worked a few days from home but when I'm alone never when DH or DD are here. One word of advice if work is stressful and it works for you take the time you can. This is a very important time of you and your family's life!
i live in the US and my due date is OCT 28th. I woke up so annoyed and emotional because unfortunately l will not be getting paid during my maternity leave. I am a FTM and in my 1st trimester i was put on bed rest for complications ( terrible and scary time). It is stressful knowing that i will be financially struggling during those months. my SO has already thought of a plan for us but it doesnt feel the same. i wil be taking my maternity leave 3 to 4 weeks before due date because my job is an hr plus LA traffic from my hospital. i would hate to go into early labor an hr away by myself.
Working til day of c section, the perks of the good ol' USA. No paid maternity leave for me, only 6 weeks to recover mandated by OB/GYN. Very torn on the subject
I'm in California and between the disability allotments and my companies policy, I'm taking 4 months off starting mid Oct. Only 4 weeks of that will be unpaid, but I'll use my PTO to cover most of it.
I'm a U.S. mama. The only law we have here is the Family Medical Leave Act which protects your job for 12 weeks of leave.
I intend to work up to my due date (October 1st) as long as my back holds out. I am a waitress and my job is physically demanding, but we have extra help during summer tourist season.
I get 6-8 weeks partial disability (1/2 pay), then will cash in 2 weeks paid vacation, and the other 2-4 weeks will be unpaid FMLA.
I saved the $3500 average delivery cost last month and intend to save another $3000 this month as a cushion during my maternity leave. I am fortunate in that my husband actually makes enough to pay our bills without my job, but my job allows us a certain lifestyle to which we are accustomed. My FMLA should run right up to xmas so having off all of those holidays will be a surreal experience for me.
What is kind of funny is how our summer help reacts. Most of our summer help is foreign exchange students from Poland. They told me that in Poland, pregnant women are paid and do not work and they stay with their baby for 3 years. They hate to see me carry things and cannot believe that I am on my feet from 8-14 hours each day. I do let them carry most of the heavy things for me.
Canadian momma here too. I work a physical job in the oilfield which is already becoming a problem. I work for a company that contracts me out and I am already having certain sites say they won't have me in for safety reasons. I have a few that will still take me so I plan to keep working for them as long as possible. With it being such a slow year in the oil and gas industry they don't really have much for me to do in the office either. My plan is to work until 32 weeks (Sept 4) then go on disability up until baby is born as to hopefully take advantage of the full year of maternity, although we haven't decided if I will be going back to work after this babe. We'd like to have #2 on the way by this time next year and if the economy picks up it shouldn't be a problem to live off of one income. Fingers cross my plans work out!
I'm in the same situation. I'm working on the west block of parliament, basically in the construction industry. I've moved to the office now but there is not much work since the project is winding down. I'm going on EI very soon since I'm missing in average two shifts a week as it is (i have lots of extra testing I need to do with this pregnancy). How do I go on EI? I just need a medical note from my caregiver right?
I'm in the US and plan on working until I go into labor....I, too, want to spend all of my leave with the baby. Praying that my water doesn't break at work, I will be mortified.
It's sad that this is how it works in our country.
It is SAD....same here praying I'm at home when my water breaks. I wish I didn't have to go back at all!!!
So jealous of all of you Canadian mommas! I'm working until I pop, and my job has no "maternity leave". I have 3 months unpaid through FMLA for me to stay home and only two weeks paid vacation saved up, and then after that I stay home as long as I can the money I've saved. I'm thinking I'll have a month and a half with him.
Re: When are you starting your mat leave??
Otherwise my job would have offered 6 weeks unpaid, 8 weeks if c-section. This is just not an option for us. It's important for baby to be with mom and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Very torn on the subject
I'm a U.S. mama. The only law we have here is the Family Medical Leave Act which protects your job for 12 weeks of leave.
I intend to work up to my due date (October 1st) as long as my back holds out. I am a waitress and my job is physically demanding, but we have extra help during summer tourist season.
I get 6-8 weeks partial disability (1/2 pay), then will cash in 2 weeks paid vacation, and the other 2-4 weeks will be unpaid FMLA.
I saved the $3500 average delivery cost last month and intend to save another $3000 this month as a cushion during my maternity leave. I am fortunate in that my husband actually makes enough to pay our bills without my job, but my job allows us a certain lifestyle to which we are accustomed. My FMLA should run right up to xmas so having off all of those holidays will be a surreal experience for me.
What is kind of funny is how our summer help reacts. Most of our summer help is foreign exchange students from Poland. They told me that in Poland, pregnant women are paid and do not work and they stay with their baby for 3 years. They hate to see me carry things and cannot believe that I am on my feet from 8-14 hours each day. I do let them carry most of the heavy things for me.