How much time off when your preemie came home?

starrdiva211

Yes I am thinking ahead and even though I probably should just take it one day at a time but it is on my mind since I did have to speak with the HR department.

How much time off is needed/did you take off when your baby was finally able to come home? Is this something that I should ask the doctor? Is there somewhere else I should turn for this question?

This is the situation: I am scheduled to go back to work on November 21. By the time I go back, all of my FMLA time will be exhausted and of course I will not have job protection. I was placed on bed rest on September 6 and I was on bed rest very early in my pregnancy too. I did ask the benefits person was there a way to save some of my time if I got clearance from my doctor to come back on a part-time basis at maybe 4 weeks. I was informed that when it comes to pregnancy, that I could not break it up or have time reserved. I can apply for personal leave but it has to go through three different people and since I have been gone for so long, I am not sure they would want to approve me being gone again.

Just trying to get my ducks in a row before time and to give myself and the beau some peace of mind. 

 

PhillyGal34

I took all my FMLA when I went to the hospital and after he was born. he was in NICU for 26 days so I had exactly 2 months at home with him before I came back to work.  I wish I had more but that is all i could get... I was fortunate that they gave me an extra week without any questions asked.  Can you work from home at all? my office is letting me work from home 1.5 days per week. I know that isn't always an option though. 

 

Kadyra

I was on bedrest for 15 weeks before ds2 was born, so my FMLA was done before I delivered. I went on personal medical leave and will be on it until I go back. I can miss up to six months of work in a continuous period, then I have no job protection. Plus, if they really do fire you over bedrest and preemie care, it looks really bad in court. I'm not a suehappy person, but that's something I'd sue over.

I'm only taking 8 weeks off after the birth and two are already gone. They think ds2 will come home next week so that leaves me with 5 weeks at home with him. I'd take more, but std only covered about 30 percent of my salary and we just can't afford it.

starrdiva211

PhillyGal34:

I took all my FMLA when I went to the hospital and after he was born. he was in NICU for 26 days so I had exactly 2 months at home with him before I came back to work.  I wish I had more but that is all i could get... I was fortunate that they gave me an extra week without any questions asked.  Can you work from home at all? my office is letting me work from home 1.5 days per week. I know that isn't always an option though. 

 

No I cant work from home. I attempted to do so when I was placed on bed rest for my blood pressure issues. Since I am not a manager, I do not have that option. 

PhillyGal34

starrdiva211:

PhillyGal34:

I took all my FMLA when I went to the hospital and after he was born. he was in NICU for 26 days so I had exactly 2 months at home with him before I came back to work.  I wish I had more but that is all i could get... I was fortunate that they gave me an extra week without any questions asked.  Can you work from home at all? my office is letting me work from home 1.5 days per week. I know that isn't always an option though. 

 

No I cant work from home. I attempted to do so when I was placed on bed rest for my blood pressure issues. Since I am not a manager, I do not have that option. 

 

:-( hopefully they can work something out with you and part time.  

jcsntms06

I was on bedrest for almost two weeks before DD was born. I could only take up to 12 weeks of leave. She was in the hospital for two weeks before coming home, so I got 8 weeks with her. I would of loved to spend more time with her before I went back to work, but I'm grateful for what I had. I was told if I had went back to work before my six weeks of STD was used I would forfeit that time (and I obviously didn't want to do that).

Nita14701

I'm not sure if I'm using the right term but I'm doing my FMLA "intermittently". On my form they checked the box that starts with "because your leave will be unscheduled... blah blah and it was approved. I only took 2 weeks off after my c-section and am back at work. Kinds of stinks but I'd rather have as much time as possible to be home with LO once she gets discharged from NICU and the hospital where she is located 5 min from where I work. Unfortunately my job does not have STD otherwise I totally would have taken it. I also let them know that between now and when she comes home if something comes up, I also may need to use some of that FMLA time. 

Pips09

After a 5 week NICU stay, I was only home 7 weeks with her actually there. It sucked, but I had to go back.

starrdiva211

BostonKisses2:

My case is different because I'm per diem and don't have benefits.  If I don't work, I don't get paid.  That being said, I took the rest of the school year "off" (basically made myself unavailable for calls), but said I would be willing to return the following school year.  It was easier for me to become a SAHM than trying to schedule subbing days around all of the specialist visits we had and trying to secure a family member to babysit since we were under strict lockdown for RSV season.

Honestly, I would talk to your HR people and see what you can work out right now, but see if you can leave options open so you can discuss things again once you're closer to discharge and have a more solid recommendation from the neos.

 This is what I have been doing. From what the benefits person/HR person, the only other option would be for me to take a personal leave (max of 60 days) when he comes home. I have to apply to my director, my district manager and the head of the VP of Human resources to approve it. My fear is that since I have been gone already for so long, that it may not happen and that I will be forced to choose between my baby and my job. 

I have basically been told that I must sit and wait out my 8 weeks. That nothing could be done. I am thinking of calling the department of Labor to find out if this is federal thing when it come to FMLA or simply a thing with my company.

 I am in the process of looking for another job anyway. Simply because it is time for a change and I need better hours. Especially now!

Pips09

starrdiva211:

 

I have basically been told that I must sit and wait out my 8 weeks. That nothing could be done. I am thinking of calling the department of Labor to find out if this is federal thing when it come to FMLA or simply a thing with my company.

Using FMLA for the birth of a child (or adoption or placement of a foster child) is the one time when your company can require that you use it all in one chunk and not allow you to break it up. They don't have to require it, but they can. I'm sorry- I can really understand how you feel and it's not very employee-friendly of them to require it. I hope you are able to work out something.

starrdiva211

Pips09:

starrdiva211:

 

I have basically been told that I must sit and wait out my 8 weeks. That nothing could be done. I am thinking of calling the department of Labor to find out if this is federal thing when it come to FMLA or simply a thing with my company.

Using FMLA for the birth of a child (or adoption or placement of a foster child) is the one time when your company can require that you use it all in one chunk and not allow you to break it up. They don't have to require it, but they can. I'm sorry- I can really understand how you feel and it's not very employee-friendly of them to require it. I hope you are able to work out something.

Well that answers my question. Thank you very much. 

I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

MeggM1

My personal experience was that I took the full FMLA leave, and then applied for "extended medial leave," which sounds similar to what you might have to request that goes through several different people.  I had been with the organization for 4 years, but was in that position less than a year when I gave birth.  

Every baby and what their caregiver will recommend is different, but my pediatrician wasn't willing to sign off on daycare until my 32-weeker was 3 months adjusted, so about 5 months.  In the end I dropped to part time and we got a nanny, but I applied and was approved for extended medical leave.  My pediatrician wrote a really strongly worded letter about the necessity for me to be home with my son for an additional 3 months of leave, and if it had been denied or something I was ready to contact a neonatologist to further support that.  I had to wait until the end of my FMLA leave to apply as well, but you can be proactive in discussing your concerns with your pediatrician and seeing what their recommendations are.  I can't imagine they'd deny supporting you being home with your baby longer, especially going into cold/flu/RSV season.

If you are able to afford/manage it, I hope you are able to take some extra time off.  It was really great for both of us.