Maternity Leave Question

ascbride

When you took leave did you take off before your EDD? My job is making me bananas right now, they seem to think that I am going to make my EDD my last day of work! Ideally I would like to take two weeks before the EDD.

cbwm

Nope.

I stuck it out til the bitter end. I was induced on a Monday and worked until 4:15 that day, then went in later that night for my induction.

Jessibell

My last day of work was the Wednesday before I had DD (7days off). My OB took me off work because my swelling was out of control. I'd just ask your OB if he/she would be willing to write you out a little early.

risysmama

Yup, I was due last February 18th, took off on February 6th and delivered on the 15th.  I wanted to work until my due date so I could spend as much time at home after DD's birth but I was DONE with work by early February.  My boss was surprised I worked that long.

ascbride

yikes cbwm! They are acting like I am asking for a million dollar raise, I just need an extra week or so, I am exhausted!

emiliemadison

I ended up having to be on bedrest for a while before my DD was born, but I planned on working until she was born originally.

How much time to you get? If you only get the "standard" 6 weeks, what if you start your leave 2 weeks before your EDD but the baby is a week late? Then you only get 3 weeks with the baby?

Sharon&Paul

I worked 3 days past my due date and was induced later that night. I was large at that time, but working was still reasonable. I plan to due the same this time. No reason to sit at home waiting.

minankelleher

i think it depends on your situation at work.. i only get 12 weeks off so i want as much time after baby arrives before i have to go back... with DD i worked until tuesday and was induced on thur morning (a week after my EDD) and with #2 i am planning to work through friday 4/2 and i hafve a scheduled c section on monday morning.

uuteeeff

omg, cbwm!  how did you do that?  you must be incredibly organized b/c there's no way in h3ll i could've done that.

i took two weeks before my due date off, and ds was born a week late.  those three weeks off were wonderful, and i'll certainly do it again.

cbwm

ascbride:

yikes cbwm! They are acting like I am asking for a million dollar raise, I just need an extra week or so, I am exhausted!

If I had wanted to, I could have taken vacation time to go out a bit early, but I was saving every last minute I had to be able to tack on extra time with DS during my leave.

That was more important to me than leaving work early, kwim?

SarahMay77

I worked until the end, but I don't have a high-impact job.  I'm at a desk most days.  I plan to work until my delivery date this time, too.  I want my full 12 weeks after DS is born if possible.

missfire

I had a 4-month maternity leave (only 6 weeks paid), and started it a week before the baby was due. I wanted extra time to wash all the clothes, get last-minute stuff done, etc. And I was exhausted and had wrapped up most of my projects anyway.

 

Califlorida

my OB was telling me to take off once i hit 36 weeks. i ended up taking off two days before my EDD, but i ended up being 5 days overdue.  in hind sight, i wish i'd taken more time off, but i was trying to be an all star.

danandkelly

I didn't with DD#1...I worked up until the day she was born, but I'm taking 2 weeks off before my EDD this time.  Not sure how much time I'll have before baby gets here since DD was 10 days early but we'll see.

ascbride

I get 18 wks total, but with DD#1, I was induced 5 days early because I developed thrombocytopenia (blood platlet numbers dropping rapidly which affects clotting ability) so it was good that I took an extra few days, which turned into even fewer "extra" days. It looks like the same thing is going to happen again, so that's why I would like the 2 wks on the front end which will probably turn into 1 extra week if I have to be induced again ...

heaven81906

I took one week before edd with dd. Was planning on taking two but I felt really good so decided not to. I was really bored and almost wished I worked right up until her birth. Next time around I think I will welcome the time off before!

Rangergal9

I worked a week past my due date..  Last day was a Friday, I was induced that Sunday.. went back 13 weeks later.  I wish I could have taken time off before she was born but I had to save my days for after her birth.

badgergirl2003

I worked til the weekend I delivered on - I have a rather high stress/on my feet all day job but had no trouble working and no objection from my doc.  I plan on the same this time - I'm sure I'll be a little more tired with a toddler around, but I'll have plenty of time off afterwards so I'd rather work til the bitter end and then hang with the kids!  )

KeepingItLowKey

Nope. I was 2 days late and worked a full day on the day I delivered.

I only get 6 weeks, so I wanted ALL of it for after baby.

~CoCo~

I had a 100-mile round trip commute, so I stopped going in between 37-38w. My legs were getting swollen between the time in the car (incl. sitting in metro-area traffic) and at the desk all day, and I didn't want to be so far away from home and hospital in case anything happened at work.

I WFH daily until a Thursday night in my 39th week, and went into labor that night.

fIowerchild

I worked until past my due date, until the day before I went into labor.

EastCoastBride

I absolutely wanted to work as long as possible.  I wanted as much time w/ my baby as possible.  To me, to take 2 weeks is a waste.  And what if you go late?  More time wasted IMO!

I was due on a Wed.  When I didn't go into labor, my doc asked that I make Fri my last day w/ an induction scheduled the following Wed.  I agreed to this, and went into labor Tues morning.  So- really, I only took 2 days extra.

laurenbug

I was a teacher when I was pg with W.  My due date was Jan 2, I was planning on working until Dec 19, which was our last day before Christmas break.  Well, I got put on bedrest right after T'giving, so that's when I quit working obviously, and had DS on Dec. 19th!  I was looking forward to having those 2 weeks off before my due date, but I wouldn't have done that if it meant less time off after DS was born.

mlc92404

I planned to work till my edd, that said, my water broke, at home, 2 weeks early

AmyDrinkie

No, I wanted to save all my time off until after Ian got here.

I was also overdue, and worked until my water broke.

llcoolay

I want everyone to know that the amount of time you take off from work PRIOR to your baby being born has no baring on the amount of time you have AFTER your baby is born.......its not deducted from your time. Disability and Family leave are completely differnt. Please dont think that it will be deducted.........check with EDD and see for yourself. If your Dr. writes you out of work before the baby is born that has nothing to do with your maternity leave.........you wont be missing out from time with your baby.

BTW- Im just a lurker but wanted to add my two cents becuase i would hate to see you miss out on the leave you are entiteled too as an expecting Mom.

vanillacourage

I had a scheduled c/s.  I worked until 39 weeks, took the last week to "work from home" (had a very cool boss who let me basically just check emails & call in a few times/day but still considered it working for purposes of when to start FMLA).  DS was born on the following Tuesday.

lanie30

I worked up until the Friday before Jo was born. She was born on a wednesday.

But we get a year.

Next time I'll log my vacation time so I can take a month off before the baby is born. And I'll still take Jo to daycare 3 days a week because I want to rest, relax and completely pamper myself before the crazy that is an infant. 

Amrice78

The first time my EDD was my last day of work

This time Thursday is my last day and my c/s is scheduled a week from tomorrow

LyndsayQ

I was at work the day b/f I delivered.  I will again work until I deliver.