When to start maternity leave?

adrenalinejnke27

I'm an itinerant teacher of the deaf for preschoolers, babies and a few school aged kids.  My boss wants to have a meeting this week to talk about who will be taking over for me, when, how long etc. My question is, when do most people go out on their maternity leave? I originally told my boss I'd be out 8 weeks, thinking that was 8 weeks after the baby was born... Is it normal to try to work up to my due date?

MelbaCat

i worked up until my due date. I sort of wished I would have worked the week after too. DS was born at 41w 2d, so I spent a week being uncomfortable, and waiting to go into labor, which didn't happen, I was induced.

I will work until I go into labor this time (or my c/s date if I don't go into labor)

Agape2007

I think it is normal to try, but it really depends on your pregnancy.  With my first son I went in for my 36 week appointment and when the doctor examined me they found I was dilated to 4cm.  So I had to go to the hospital to be monitored.  Since I wasn't in active labor (which I knew because I wasn't really feeling contractions) they sent me home on modified bed rest.  At 38 weeks they tried to turn my son, since he was breech, and when he would not turn they did a c-section.

My second was a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks.  However, I was dialated to 4cm at my 38 week appointment so I worked from home the last week until I had him.

I know I am strange, but it really depends on your pregnancy and you really won't know until you get there. But I wanted to work as long as I could because I would rather have the time with the child after it is born.  But this also depends on your maternity leave.  One employer I had would give you additional weeks before if you had a doctor's note without taking the weeks after away.  So check your policy.  My current employer counts and days out so if I take days before I get less after. 

SLAHSarah

Most of my friends work until their due date.  One took a week of sick leave before her 2nd baby was born b/c she was exhausted from chasing her 2 yo around, driving 45 mins to and from work, etc. 

I guess it really depends on how you are doing...  

I plan to work as long as I can.

katiej520

I've heard as early as a month before your due date, but it really depends on your specific situation.  I get as much time as the doctor gives me (it's all unpaid - except for the sick/vacation time I have accrued).  I've heard that it's pretty rare that the doctor will let you go back less than 6 weeks after you've given birth.  You're considered to be on disability during that time, so I'm not sure how they can give you less than that legally.  They don't have to pay you, but they do have to have a job for you when you return.

Don't quote me on any of this though!  It may vary state by state, and I'm just going off what I was told by my HR department. 

Anna.Marie

Because I am up in Canada I get a full year maternity leave. I plan on going on leave 6 weeks before I am due just to make sure we've got everything done and to spend some me time and some time with friends pre-baby. However, if I only had limited amount of time I would try to work up until my due date.

BitsKD13

A lot of my friends worked until the week before they were due or until they went into labor.  I will probably try and work until I go into labor.  But should something come up I'll change my plans as needed.   

salt78

I'm working up to whenever I go into labor.

Texas77again

it really depends on your company and your own situation, including your health.  the pp that mentioned that the company has to have a job for you when you come back is FMLA and it doesn't apply to every company and every employee.  the company has to be a certain size and the employee has to be employed for a year or it to apply.  also all it says is that they'll have A job for you, not necessarily YOUR job. 

as long as my health permits i'm going to work until my water breaks.  i would find out if they need an exact date from you, if they do you can give them a week or so after your due date to be safe.  what are they gonna do if you end up having the baby before that?  not like you can control it.  kwim?

 

 

LPQueenie99

salt78:

I'm working up to whenever I go into labor.

This!

LizzyBlueEyes

I am a middle school teacher and my due date is March 20th, so I am planning on at least working up till March 16th, so I can finish on a Friday. I am going back after about 9 weeks for the end of the school year in June.

I asked my OB about this, and they said to play it by ear.  Once you get closer you can always decide what you need to do or change things if needed. 

speckledfrog

salt78:

I'm working up to whenever I go into labor.

  Unless I have health issues, that's my plan!

HalloweenWife

I plan on working up until the doctor tells me I shouldn't anymore, but I can also work from home if I need to. I drive an hour to work each way and it is going to be a nightmare in the winter since work is directly in the snowbelt of NE Ohio. My boss and the ladies I work with have already told me just to start taking my computer home during the winter and if I can't drive in, just work from home. I'm not putting baby in danger driving what could sometimes be a 2.5 hour drive if it's bad enough.

lulling

My maternity leave will start when the baby arrives.  I am self employed so no working = no income.  I will probably attempt to do everything that I can at home starting about 38 weeks...or whenever I am realllly uncomfortable.

psychgirl33

My plan is to work until I go into labor (health permitting).  However, I work in the schools and the week before I'm due is spring break.  I won't work that week (or at least not much) because everyone has it off and I am not supposed to work per my contract.  I think that they will give me credit if I need to come in a day or two to finish getting ready for maternity leave. 

I'd be ok if this little girl wanted to come a week early because that would give me a little extra time home with her, but who knows how things will play out all the way in March!

greengirl0909

I teach middle school. I worked until the day I went into labor and I felt fine. For me, I only had enough time to take 6 weeks and I wanted to spend all of that time with my baby.  I'll do the same this time.

adrenalinejnke27

Thanks for the input everyone. I just wanted to double check that I wasn't being crazy giving my boss the approximate leave time as my due date.

krispy83

I'm a teacher and hoping to save my leave for after the baby is born because I have enough to cover the rest of the school year.  My EDD is Friday, March 23 and assuming I have no complications or reasons to go out early, I'm planning to work until March 16 which is the Friday before.

nah82

I was high risk because of high blood pressure with my last pregnancy.  I was lucky enough that the timing was perfect for me to take off a month before my due date.  I had that many vacation/personal days saved up at that point and my anniversary date/vacation turnover was right around my due date, so I could then collect my new vacation/personal time and short term disability pay for the rest of my maternity leave after baby came.  I was covered under FMLA with that employer, so I was able to keep my position and get paid the whole time, too.

This time will be completely different.  I now work from home for an employer that only employs 4 people, so no FMLA, and I have no benefits from them so no vacation/sick/personal days or STD pay.  I won't be able to take off as long for maternity leave because I don't want to be replaced and I won't have any money coming in while I'm off.  Since it's a computer based job from home, I shouldn't have any problem working up to delivery, though.

zubenescamali

with DD i worked until 40w3d- i basically "had enough" and told my boss i was done and ended up going into labor that night.

this time, i am taking off around 38 weeks.  want to spend time with DD#1 before baby arrives.  plus i think all the stress of working contributed to my crazy high blood pressure during labor.  this time, i want to relax and enjoy the remaining days of my pregnancy.

 

Kristinmo

With DS I planned to work until I went into labor. I gave up after a failed induction at 41 weeks. 

This time I plan to work until I go into labor but I have a very flexible job and can work from home when I need to.  

metzy144

I am working up until the day before my c-section. I figured I would want a day to make sure everything was ready. With DD I worked up until I went into labor (which was 9 days late).

MotherMonster

It depends on how you're feeling and how you're doing. I will try to work up to my due date with in reason and my work is already accommodating me so when I can't lift anymore, I get a sitting job. I work as a CNA, so I will be able to sit with residents and people all over the campus who need someone to sit with them for safety (we have skilled nursing, memory unit, and assisted living, senior apartments). It will be nice to still work and care for people! I'm excited about it!

lawells15

I worked up to my due date with my first she was born at 40w1d, and I'll do the same with this one.

 I figured I'd rather have th 12weeks with my baby then one week without.

It's really up to your company and how you are feeling!

FinallyMrsBMW

I'm a kindergarten teacher and am working right up until I have this baby even if I go past my due date (as long as I'm feeling good).  I talked to my principal about it and she was all for it.  She even said that she has taken moms to the hospital before!  Haha!  I will be taking 9-11 weeks off.  I am going to talk to my HR department and figure things out financially before I make a decision.  If I take 11 weeks off I will be off for 5.5 months because of summer break.

Fergie+1

I'm expected to work until my due date, but hellz to the no. I can barely handle the stress/demands of my job right now! Since I'm military my mat. leave won't start until I have DS2, but I can take my own leave beforehand. With my son I took about 2 weeks prior to my due date.

This time I'll take time probably 2-3 weeks before my EDD. My boss is super-insensitive about how hard it is to be on your feet 8 hours a day (and she recently had a baby! But has a sit-down cushy job) and absolutely refuses to do me any 'favors' by allowing me to go home early or anything.

LilyPotter218

I will work until a dr tells me I can't or I go into labor.

bfranke

I am a 5th grade teacher and I plan on working until I go into labor.  I have what amounts to 60 days off.  I also only have enough days to get paid for part of that so I do not want to take many days off without pay!

Divallyn

As long as I am healthy and feeling okay I plan on working until Feb 29th (I am due Mar 11th). I work in payroll and our T4's are due on Feb 29th and things they are typically really busy until then and I would feel bad leaving me team prior.

However if I am not feeling well or I am miserable at work I will leave earlier. Most females at my company leave 3-4 weeks before their due date. I am in Canada so obviously it's different up here.  

raceyrae

With DD#1, I worked up until the weekend before my due date.  I didn't go into labor until 40w5d (but ended up in a c/s).

With DD#2, I worked up until 2 days before my scheduled c/s.

With DS, I plan to work up until 2 days or so before my scheduled c/s.

yurmom

Anna.Marie:

Because I am up in Canada I get a full year maternity leave. I plan on going on leave 6 weeks before I am due just to make sure we've got everything done and to spend some me time and some time with friends pre-baby. However, if I only had limited amount of time I would try to work up until my due date.

 

Well now I really want to move to Canada!  That's awesome that they allow so much time.  I personally think the US is too work crazed...prob why most of us are on antidepressants too.