How much maternity leave will you take?

hippotree · January 2010

And is it paid/unpaid?

jkirwan32 · January 2010

Mine is unpaid, but I will be taking 6 weeks...3 of which I will be using my vacation pay for.

joetteb · January 2010

FMLA says I can have 12 weeks. It will be paid based on the amount of sick leave/vacation leave I have saved by the time the baby is born. I also have short-term disabiity that will pay 6wks after I use up all of my vacay/sick leave. Kinda sucks.

I am hoping that I can wait until after the new year to start back since the 12wks (based on EDD) will end right around the Christmas holidays.

betsy_griff · January 2010

I actually think I am going to take 10 weeks. Our baby is due at the very beginning of my husband's football season, and since he will be incredibly busy (he's a teacher too), I would like to be home most of that time. Only 4 weeks of it will be unpaid.

mrs.spears26 · January 2010

at least 6 weeks, maybe 8 or more....it depends on finances. i go on short term disability and i'll make about 45% of my regular wages during that time

**Octoberbride09** · January 2010

Indefinite. If I wanted to come back I'd have 3 months unpaid.

Laroogirl · January 2010

With DS, I took 10 weeks. And worked parttime the first 2 weeks back to ease into it. It was FMLA and then PTO so I was paid the entire time.

I hope to be able to take at least the same with this baby. My hospital just got bought by another organization so I don't know their policies and such. I know if I go unpaid I will probably lose insurance for that period of time.

AshleyKass · January 2010

6 weeks at 80% pay.

genniemg · January 2010

10 weeks @ 60% of my pay.

LCB34 · January 2010

Mine is a combo of paid and unpaid.

I will be taking 6-8 weeks off paid (depending on how I deliver) and then will take unapid leave until Jan or Feb 2011.

So, 4-5 months total.

I have awesome maternity benefits and can take up to 6 months off unpaid and come back part time for up to two years without losing job security.

I may or may not utilize the part time benefit.

kcox123 · January 2010

I plan to take 8 wks. I took 12 wks for my first. That was wonderful and honestly - I needed it. I took 8 wks with #2 and that was fine (she was a much easier baby and I was not a first-timer that go-round). So I think 8 wks should be fine this time too.

My first ML I was a state employee so although I did not get any official paid maternity leave - I had saved up a ton of sick and vacation time so I was able to take off the 12 wks without missing a paycheck (all paid).

I've since gone to the private sector and my boss told me this last time - "How about you take whatever time you need and we'll call that our maternity leave policy." Paid. Wow - I know. But I didn't want to take advantage. I work in a field very much dominated by men (hence the reason they don't hve a ML policy). And honestly, 8 wks was enough. So I plan to do the same this time.

B3Bride · January 2010

I believe I receive 8 weeks paid and then plan on taking my remaining vacation days (hopefully 4 weeks).

Mrs.Albie · January 2010

14 weeks 100% paid (because I'm saving leave and preworking hours)

Socialite.Dani · January 2010

IF I go back, I plan to be gone for 6 weeks unpaid maternity, 4 weeks FMLA, and then work part-time (25 hours each week) for as long as they let me.

They don't know my plans for part-time yet, though. Stick out tongue

Lefty · January 2010

I work for a small NPO, and have no maternity leave within my benefits. I will have 3 weeks of paid vacation time that I will be using, with the option of taking additional unpaid time off as needed. However, I'm incredibly fortunate to work in an environment where baby can come with me to the office. I already have both grandma's lined up to come along as nanny (on alternate days), so going back to work won't mean leaving baby.

CourtneyR2N · January 2010

I plan on taking 12 weeks, being out from the beginning of October to the first of 2011.

I have a good bit of PTO saved up already, about 230 hours and my company matches that time for maternity leave so I think I will be covered and have full pay while I'm off.

LuckyVaCpl · January 2010

I only have 2 weeks pto and I haven't told my employer yet, so I haven't looked into the possibility of short term disability.?

Regardless, I did ask them about telecommuting and they're very open to that. So, I hope to take about 4-6 months of time off/working from home?

astroMom · January 2010

I still need to talk to my manager, but I get 6 weeks paid under short term disability. I plan on taking at least the FMLA 12 off, but that has me coming back around Thanksgiving, so I'm *hoping* I can work out something to come back in January. (I could wing that if I didn't use ANY vacation before then, but I know we want to take a babymoon!)

I'm also going to apply to be part time/and or telecommute for awhile, mostly while I'm breast feeding. I used to think I'd be out for a year, but it just doesn't make sense right now for $ and planning to hopefully have 2 kiddos.

argonne · January 2010

I have 6-8 weeks (depending on vaginal or c-section delivery) 100% paid, which I will take. I also plan to take another month, which will be unpaid. We are putting some $$ in savings to make that happen. I would love to be a SAHM, but that is not going to happen in the near future. Maybe with DC#2

LindseyJW · January 2010

i will probably do what i did last time:

3 months unpaid leave, supplementing with PTO, STD policy payout and AFLAC policy payout

2 months working from home part-time, as needed

1 month working from home 3 days/week, 2 days/week in the office

1 month working from home 2 days/week, 3 in the office

Dobie_Mama · January 2010

Probably only 4 weeks FT at home, paid. After that I'll come back PT for another four weeks, during which I can bring the baby with me.

Lazzlee79 · January 2010

I officially get 1 week of Maternity leave, but I can take up to 3 months of Short-term at 60% of my pay. I have 5 weeks of pto and I get December 24th thru January 2nd off for the holidays. So I have roughly 7 weeks. I might take short term, but I don't see the point. After I had DS they let me work from home for 3 months once ML finished. I might as well get paid for it!

jenniferueding · January 2010

I will be using a combination of sick and vacation leave. I should have about 6 weeks available by the time LO is due.

hippotree · January 2010

I get 18 weeks fully paid and will take another 6 weeks of paid vacation time, so almost 6 months fully paid. I know I am really lucky. (but the rest of my job sucks

gingerbreadgirl · January 2010

I get two months paid, and I have another 6 weeks of vacation time saved up that I might use before/after, if it's allowed.

flippy1234 · January 2010

6 weeks unpaid, and DH is a fulltime student. It really sucks

claypoolam · January 2010

I can have 3 months, and hope to take that. All 2 weeks of vacation will take out some of the sting of the rest being unpaid(I hope). I just don't want to be destitute because of this!

lvflowers · January 2010

I am my dad's only bookeeper and am also one of the sales reps for the business. I will most likely take about 6 weeks off. But I still need to come in about 30 min each week to pay the bills and do payroll. so 30 min isn't too bad, because I will still be getting paid.

disbride061103 · January 2010

I will take 13 weeks. I will get 100% pay for 7 weeks (vaginal) or 9 weeks (c/s). I had a c/s with DS but I'm hoping for a VBAC so I'm hoping for the 7 weeks. I can supplement the remaing time with unused vacation/sick time and we have a policy through AFLC that will pay me the remainder of the time at 100%. Essentially, I will get 100% pay for the entire 13 weeks.

SLF143 · January 2010

12 week maternity leave. 6 paid, 6 unpaid

happy-honey · January 2010

I'm taking my full 12 weeks this time. Last time I worked from home and came back a little early. This time I have the time so I am going to take it. I will be paid for all of it.

gamom2010 · January 2010

according to our new benefits package, short term disability (which includes maternity leave)is 6 weeks is paid at 100%, 7-12 weeks at 80%, and 13-17 weeks at 60%. before, it was 6 weeks paid, 6 weeks unpaid. i'm not really sure if I'm allowed to take all of those 17 weeks yet...but i'm going to do my best to get them.

mindyandmike · January 2010

I can take up to 12 weeks which ideally I would love to do. 6 weeks of that is paid, the rest I have to use vacation or leave w/out pay.

McJen715 · January 2010

My work pays 6-8 weeks at 60% and you have to use PTO for the rest/leave without pay. I have 320 hours of PTO saved up right now and will earn about 140 more hours before I go out. I plan on taking 4 months off.

jgal84 · January 2010

I'm taking 12 weeks, and only 6-8 weeks are paid, depending on the type of delivery. I really want that extra time with our baby

NantucketSunset · January 2010

I'll get 12 weeks paid (6 weeks STD and 6 weeks company pays), which I can then supplement with vacation or just take unpaid. Haven't decided yet how much I'll take.