Maternity Leave: How much time did you take off before?

lrn327

It was supposed to be a week but DS decided to make an early appearance.

mrs.larry

I am EXTREMELY fortunate that my employer also offers separate time off ahead of the birth if necessary. So with both pregnancies I was able to take 4 weeks off beforehand, fully paid, without denting my mat leave. My doc had to sign off on it, and he was happy to do so because my b/p was creeping up toward the end with both boys, and he wanted me resting.

I tell everyone I know to take off as much time as they feel comfortable, but at least SOMETHING. I am so grateful for those weeks. They were the last bit of time I got to spend on myself, resting, thinking, reading, eating whenever I felt like it (and with both hands!) in a long long long time.

I get not wanting to waste precious time with the new baby - and for people with limited mat leaves, I totally understand working till the last minute. But if you can swing it at all, it is SO worth it!

Jessica Swanlake

I worked until the very end for both of my girls- I did not want to cut into my FMLA leave. With this last LO my boss let me work from home for my last few days because I was nearly a week overdue and it was the hottest summer on record and she felt bad for me having to shlep my impossibly uncomfortable self down to campus each day. Sometimes it really pays to have a woman as a boss.....

9fraulein

indyrowergirl:

jemali_2003:

I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it?  Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).   

I'm in a similar situation in that my employer offers 4 weeks paid before delivery. If I don't use it, I lose it (I can't roll it over into post-delivery time).  I took every day of it last time and will do the same again.  I love my job, but its so nice to not have to worry about work during those last few weeks. I created a list of projects to do around the house and kept myself very busy. I got all of my nesting out of my system. I have already started drafting my project list for this time around.

 I'm in the same boat. Next week is my last week and I'm hoping the baby doesn't come too soon so I can have 4 weeks of a break!! Looking forward to getting stuff done around the house, lots of reading...idk, self reflection? Taking the time to "stop and smell the roses" for possibly the only time in my life until I retire!