Maternity Leave (sigh)

LadyNikon

So,

I called to confirm when I can go out on maternity leave.  I wanted to make the "leave" official at 36 weeks.  I have one week of vacation that I was going to use at 35 weeks.  Unlike my last job where I just picked when I was going to leave this company states that "maternity" leave doesn't actually kick in until the day I either have the twins OR if my doctor finds me unable to work.  Now I am nervous that I will either loose my remaining vacation time ( it doesn't roll over) cause I go into labor early.  OR I end up working up until the day of the C-Section which will drive me batty.  I am wayy to tired for this as it is..  

kgs0505

Maternity Leave is kind of a misnomer.  It's really short-term disability.  If your doctor writes you out at 36 weeks (or earlier), then you are on disability due to medical issues with the pregnancy.  After you deliver, you are on disability due to the birth (8 weeks for c-section).  You don't just leave at 36 weeks.  You need to have your doctor state you can't work anymore.  Just talk to him/her at your next appointment about it.  It's not as big a deal as you think.

As far as your vacation is concerned, if you are hourly, they have to pay you out at the end of the year if they don't roll over (they do in CA, may have to verify your particular labor laws).  If you are exempt, well, then you are kind of screwed.  But if you are out early anyway, does it matter?  At my company we have a 7 day waiting period prior to the start of any disability, you can take your vacation during that waiting period to cover the gap if needed. 

Good luck, it's complicated, but it'll work out

LadyNikon

I am salary which is why I am sad.  I already don't get paid that well so I want all of my vacation.  Push come to shove I will just take a week off. The only week I can take off sadly is probably the first week of Nov since I am booked solid for October. In fact I may just do that.  

Thanks for the advice about talking to my doc.  I mean don't get me wrong I am very thankful that the boys are cooking and are healthy.  I just reallllly do not want to work up until my boys decide to show up or my C-Section date. 

srbmvp

I can't speak for vacation time and all that, but yeah, if you feel you can't work anymore just talk to your Dr. and they will write you out of work, and that begins your short-term disability (aka maternity leave).

Hang in there, I know it's hard but you really are in the home stretch! I worked until 36 weeks and I wanted to cry every day.... you are sooo close to the end!

karebearmccroar

My understanding is that almost all doctors (even for singleton babies) will write you out at 36 weeks, often earlier with twins. It is considered that you are out on sick leave/disability. The earlier you go out, though, may affect the total time you can take off. Sometimes those 4 weeks would be considered part of the total 12 weeks of FMLA time if you were using that. If you have sick leave, you can exhaust that and still use FMLA on top of it. 

Breezy8407

My doctors wouldn't write me out until it was medically necessary, so even though I wanted to reduce my hours at 32 weeks, they didn't find it necessary. I ended up being on bed rest at 33 anyway, but I had to start using my FMLA time of 12 weeks and begin the "clock" for short term disability.

LadyNikon

karebearmccroar:

My understanding is that almost all doctors (even for singleton babies) will write you out at 36 weeks, often earlier with twins. It is considered that you are out on sick leave/disability. The earlier you go out, though, may affect the total time you can take off. Sometimes those 4 weeks would be considered part of the total 12 weeks of FMLA time if you were using that. If you have sick leave, you can exhaust that and still use FMLA on top of it. 

I get 26 weeks of disability if needed.  FMLA doesn't kick in until after that runs out.   

karebearmccroar

Wow, 26 weeks of disability is awesome! At least compared to my company. I'm jealous! With so much bed rest and hospital stays, I'm in trouble for time. I've had to apply to have sick days donated to me, and that was a lifesaver- might JUST be enough to get me 8 weeks maternity. If I run out of half sick time then I have to be unpaid, which loses my seniority and my benefits for the whole family, so that is not an option. It would be tough to go back at 8 weeks though, especially if they are premie! I'm not eligible for FMLA since I am part time/didn't work 1250 hours in the past 12 months because I work for a school district. But you seem to be in much better shape- if your doc is ok writing you out, you should have a good amount of time to work with!

MelleTX

Be sure to double-check on your Short Term Disability though. Most plans have a 5 day waiting period. Some employers pay that week as "new parent leave" and others require you to take any unused vacation time before you are eligible for STD. 

HoneyBeeMel

I am so sorry and can relate. I had a really difficult time with my company this time around and actually will not even be covered under our insurance policy for the second half of my leave beginning Monday. Anyway, I just wanted to say it really sucks but try not to stress or worry about it now. Some things you can not plan and once your babies are here it will be that much less important!

LadyNikon

MelleTX:

Be sure to double-check on your Short Term Disability though. Most plans have a 5 day waiting period. Some employers pay that week as "new parent leave" and others require you to take any unused vacation time before you are eligible for STD. 

Yep.  My company has new parent leave that covers the transition.   I am probably gonna take the first week of Nov off to get my vacation out of the way.  Talk to my doc to see if she will let me go at 35 weeks and not be too concerned with it.  I wasn't feel very good yesterday so the shock had me pretty uneasy. I talked to my boss who also gave me a few options.  I think God for her.  She has been so nice to me since she found out I haven't been feeling very well with the twins.  My last boss had a "perfect" pregnancy so she wasn't sympathetic at all.  Didn't want to work with me and completely belittled me because her pregnancy didn't have " one issue.." So she couldn't empathize with anyone who had the slightest problem.