M. Leave?

Kitten80 · February 2009

When do you plan to take maternity leave? I have seen so many people work up til the day they deliver I felt like I had to also, but then I have had lots of people tell me to take at least 2 weeks, pref. the whole month, before off because I will be "huge, miserable" and it will be the last time I only have to worry about me. At this point, my job stinks and I am just working for the insurance. Thoughts?

RachaelNicole · February 2009

I am lucky because I work in education. I will have all of July off and I'm due on the 28th, so I won't have to worry about when to stop working. But if I was in that situation, I would try to work for as long as I possibly could so that I could have more time home with my baby after it's born.

bbin09 · February 2009

I am waiting as long as I can. The way I see it is that I want to spend as much time with the baby as I can. If I planned to take 2 weeks off ahead of time and then ended up being 2 weeks late, I would feel like I wasted a whole month of my mat leave.

rmarruffo · February 2009

I want to work as close to it as I can, but am not expecting to. My back is already killing me making work hard. I cant imagine how its going to be when Im bigger and with the emotional rollercoaster of the baby coming. I figure Ill do what I can, if I cant then I dont have to be at work- which always a good thing!

HotDish! · February 2009

I took tje last month off and it was the best decision ever! I was so tired so it was great to be able to sleep whenever I wanted and truly pamper myself. That being said, I had a year mat leave so a taking a month before the birth wasn't a big deal. I figured it was going to be a long time until I had the chance to be by myself and be selfish....I was right!

Josh & Calendi · February 2009

Most the women I've known have taken 3 weeks to a month off before, and they recommended it to me as well.

katJude · February 2009

Since I am currently living in Europe the maternity leave laws are different. I am required by law to take 6 weeks off before my due date and I get 8 weeks after my due date off (all of it paid leave of course). When I had my first baby I worked up to the day I went in to labor and that was perfect for me. I am not looking forward to having to take 6 weeks off before this baby is born - I will be bored and I'm sure I will sneak back to work and/or work from home. If it was up to me (and not a law) then I would not take any time off before delivery.

IsaiahGirl · February 2009

Wow - 14 weeks paid??? I'm jealous! Where in Europe? I want to move now!

I would take off time beforehand if I could. I don't think I'd be able to handle more than a few weeks, though, bc I would go stir crazy and insane waiting impatiently for the baby to come.

rjbh · February 2009

My last day is 4 weeks prior to due date.

brideofscowboy · February 2009

My last day of work has changed soo much. Initially I thought I would work until a week before, then it changed to 2 weeks before.

After a really bad day at work yesterday (meltdown), I'm thinking that perhaps 2 weeks before will be my last day, IF I can have work modified a little bit to help me out. I've yet to talk to my employer about modification, but I'm pretty sure it will be fine. If not? Im hoping my employer will wave the 4 week notice (as required by mat leave) and allow the end of Feb to be the end of work.

Do only what you can handle. It's true that you don't know how you'll feel, but trust your gut. Employers are far more understanding than we all seem to think.