When will you start your maternity leave?

rg8482 · July 2010

Okay, I realize this seems to be a touchy subject on here. However, I have about a month to go before I have to turn in the paperwork for an official start date to my maternity leave. I plan to work up until delivery, but of course I don't know what the exact date will be. I get to use my 2 weeks vacation that I have left for the year, plud I get 4 weeks which are paid and 4 weeks which are unpaid. In total I get 10 weeks and my due date is on October 21, which is a Thursday.

This is my first baby, so I'm not sure how to go about planning for my leave since I want to spend as much time with my LO as possible. Should I just stop working the week before (on the 15th) or should I just use my due date as a base? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Mrs. K in TX · July 2010

I'm going to work as long as I can. I want to work until the baby is born, but if the doctor thinks I need to stop before then, I will.

ZoeyMarie · July 2010

Hey there due date buddy! I'm working right up until I go into labor--assuming there are no medical reasons for early leave. My HR department told me to contact them in late August/early September to do all of the paperwork.

Kells0605 · July 2010

My job is not physically demanding, so with both pregnancies I worked right up until delivery. My first was a week early, second I was induced 4 days after my due date because she was so big.

Do you have to give them a specific date? Has your doctor said anything about when he/she would induce if you go over? I would probably work right up until my due date, or finish out that week.

SweetHappiness · July 2010

If you take your leave beginning the Friday (as your last day) before your due date then at least you will have 8 weeks with your LO. Most doctors won't allow you to go more than one week over your due date anymore so that could cut two weeks out but 8 weeks (2 months) is still a good amount of bonding.

My SIL's company was not too strict with her exact date. She would just put her due date and then she would actually begin hers with the day she went into labor which was a week late with her last one. Literally, she went to work one morning and by 3 that afternoon she had her baby boy. Anyway, her company was pretty flexible with her start date. They didn't say that she had to go on leave the date that she put down. Who knows at that point you may be ready to be done with work for a little bit if your company is a stickler.

Good luck!!

Jinsy80 · July 2010

I'll be working until I go into labor...

t.bird · July 2010

i worked right up until delivery. my due date was Sep 15th but she wasn't born until the 24th. they scheduled me for an induction @ 41 weeks 3 days which wound up being a thursday. so i worked until the friday before & had Mon, Tues & Wed to clean up & get things ready.

so basically- i used my due date as a base. i saw no need to take time off before she got here because i felt fine & wanted to spend all my time with her. however, some people have a generous policy that allows them time before- if you have that option then i'd take it. if not, and you can work, then i don't see why you wouldn't work up until it's time.

but it's your personal decision.

morgansfollower · July 2010

I posted this last week actually, after hearing what all the ladies had to say i am going with my gut instinct which was to work up until i go. I don't want to waste my time that i have been saving on just sitting around doing nothing all day.

insertclevername · July 2010

If I have to give a specific date I will use my due date. If not I plan on working until I go into labor since my job is very sedentary.

BeachM · July 2010

I'm leaving a week before my due date. I commute 45+ minutes each way and drive a government-owned vehicle. I'd have to leave my gov't vehicle at work and have a co-worker drive me 45 minutes to the hospital. Granted this could happen if I go into labor early, but if not I'd prefer to be at home which is 5 minutes from the hospital.

WestCoastMommy · July 2010

With DS my Dr. said she would give me 4 weeks prior to my due date for maternity leave. I took all 4. It was so nice to be home and catch up on things around the house and just rest and go to lunch with friends and family. I forgot how many weeks I got after the birth but I decided to be a SAHM anyways so it didn't matter.

faith194 · July 2010

I can only use sick time(which isn't much) for my mat leave. I have to give a specific date, 30 days before, so they can have a substitute ready for me. I'm also only working part time this upcoming school year(unfortunately). My due date is October 31st, so my last date will be October 29th. Granted, if I go earlier, I go earlier. If I go later, my mat leave starts on November 1st no matter what. . .I can't say "ooops, baby didn't come, so I can work a little longer."

CinemaGoddess · July 2010

I have no idea. I'm hoping to last until mid-October (due date 10/31). Our HR person is assuming my desk will need coverage from the end of Sept. on, so we're preparing for that.

lilmgirl · July 2010

I get 4 weeks prior to my due date 100% paid which does not affect STD, FMLA or my PTO. So I'll probably be taking around 3 weeks off prior. Maybe 4 Wink

kikdoc · July 2010

How big a deal do you think it would be with your employer if you had to take leave earlier than you had anticipated? Since most of us really don't know for certain the date we will deliver, you would hope they would be flexible. If so, you can always put your due date down for you last day, and then if you need to leave earlier you can. But if you are really feeling OK and want to work as long as you can, you have that option as well.

rg8482 · July 2010

Kells0605:

My job is not physically demanding, so with both pregnancies I worked right up until delivery. My first was a week early, second I was induced 4 days after my due date because she was so big.

Do you have to give them a specific date? Has your doctor said anything about when he/she would induce if you go over? I would probably work right up until my due date, or finish out that week.

According to the policy, I need to put the request in 60 days before I actually start my leave. I'm thinking of just putting in my due date in as the official start date and if my baby wants to come out earlier then there is nothing I can do about that. What I don't want is to spend all this time at home doing nothing. My doctor is okay with me working up until delivery as he says everything is going great so far.

AndysGrl08 · July 2010

Mrs. K in TX:
I'm going to work as long as I can. I want to work until the baby is born, but if the doctor thinks I need to stop before then, I will.

This exactly.

rg8482 · July 2010

lilmgirl:
I get 4 weeks prior to my due date 100% paid which does not affect STD, FMLA or my PTO. So I'll probably be taking around 3 weeks off prior. Maybe 4

That sounds great if you feel tired of working and your employer lol.

rg8482 · July 2010

faith194:
I can only use sick time(which isn't much) for my mat leave. I have to give a specific date, 30 days before, so they can have a substitute ready for me. I'm also only working part time this upcoming school year(unfortunately). My due date is October 31st, so my last date will be October 29th. Granted, if I go earlier, I go earlier. If I go later, my mat leave starts on November 1st no matter what. . .I can't say "ooops, baby didn't come, so I can work a little longer."

My company is pretty flexible but if I put in for a date, I doubt they will let me come in since it will all be in writing and I can't back out. I think we are in the same boat here in regards to that.

MaggieGrace · July 2010

My maternity leave is considered Short Term Disabilty. After delivery I get 6 weeks paid for vaginal, 8 weeks paid for a C-S. Pre-delivery, whenever my Dr. says I'm "disabled" I get to go out. With my last two pregnancies I took 4 weeks off before my due date. Then I had a 45 minute commute. Now that I work from home, I can't really justify 4 weeks to my boss, so I will plan to take 2 weeks.

vaness77 · July 2010

Whenever I go into labor.

missrachelle · July 2010

I get four weeks paid prior to my due date.

flyingsaucer · July 2010

I am going on short term disability. I get 4 weeks before my due date and 6 week after (8 weeks for section). Then I get 12 weeks family leave insurance. I plan to take the full 4 weeks before my due date. I teach, I commute an hour to work and I have a 2 year old. Nuff said.

Murdock12 · July 2010

Babies on both sides of our family tend to run large and late, so I actually asked my dr how long they would make me wait after my due date. SHe told me they don't let anyone go beyond 40.5 weeks for safety of the baby. I'd ask your OB, then use that date. Then if you're early you could just use sick time?

Kitiara5512 · July 2010

Mrs. Mona:
My maternity leave is considered Short Term Disabilty. After delivery I get 6 weeks paid for vaginal, 8 weeks paid for a C-S. Pre-delivery, whenever my Dr. says I'm "disabled" I get to go out. With my last two pregnancies I took 4 weeks off before my due date. Then I had a 45 minute commute. Now that I work from home, I can't really justify 4 weeks to my boss, so I will plan to take 2 weeks.

This, except for pay rate - the first week I am out I have to use vacation time, and for any time after that, I get paid 60% of my base pay up to six weeks, unless Cigna approves it as necessary medical leave.

rg8482 · July 2010

TwinkandBubba:
Babies on both sides of our family tend to run large and late, so I actually asked my dr how long they would make me wait after my due date. SHe told me they don't let anyone go beyond 40.5 weeks for safety of the baby. I'd ask your OB, then use that date. Then if you're early you could just use sick time?

This is a good point! I do have 3 sick days left for the year.

I guess the next step is to ask my OB how long he would wait to induce me if it comes to that. As far as I know, my brothers and I were all born around the due date so I don't think any of us were late if it has anything to do with genetics. Also, my DH was born right on time as well.

heyitsme · July 2010

I'm eligible for state disability 4 weeks before my due date, so I plan on working until then... but since that's a Thursday, I'll probably begin my leave on the following Monday (Nov. 8th).

sillypit · July 2010

I'm thinking now about working until I go into labor, my work in 3 miles from the hospital and home is 35 miles away.

Amielu · July 2010

I'm going to work until I deliver, hopefully. I only get 6-8 weeks and it's unpaid after I use my vacation time, which will only be about 2 weeks.

peteysweetie · July 2010

Put your due date as the start but let them know you will work until delivery so that date is tentative, could be sooner, could be later.

I too will work as long as the doctor lets me so hopefully up until I deliver and then I get 12 weeks off partially paid by the state

branlynn · July 2010

I'm a waitress so we don't have set maternity leaves like that... we just leave when we need to and come back when we need to. Unless my doctor tells me to take leave or move to hosting or something less stressful (which so far he likes that I'm still doing all the physical work) I plan to serve until I have that first contraction. I'm only working 3 days a week now anyway because of school (trying to finish up the last 5 classes to graduate with my bachelors in december)

TColeman · July 2010

My due date is Thursday Oct. 14th and my last day at work will be the Friday before, Oct. 8th, assuming the dr. says something else.....My job can be demanding at times with a lot of travel, I plan to start "winding down" with my schedule around mid to late Sept.

rg8482 · July 2010

peteysweetie:

Put your due date as the start but let them know you will work until delivery so that date is tentative, could be sooner, could be later.

I too will work as long as the doctor lets me so hopefully up until I deliver and then I get 12 weeks off partially paid by the state

I like this idea. I'm just concerned they might not go for it, but I guess it's better to ask than not ask.

rg8482 · July 2010

branlynn:
I'm a waitress so we don't have set maternity leaves like that... we just leave when we need to and come back when we need to. Unless my doctor tells me to take leave or move to hosting or something less stressful (which so far he likes that I'm still doing all the physical work) I plan to serve until I have that first contraction. I'm only working 3 days a week now anyway because of school (trying to finish up the last 5 classes to graduate with my bachelors in december)

rg8482 · July 2010

branlynn:
I'm a waitress so we don't have set maternity leaves like that... we just leave when we need to and come back when we need to. Unless my doctor tells me to take leave or move to hosting or something less stressful (which so far he likes that I'm still doing all the physical work) I plan to serve until I have that first contraction. I'm only working 3 days a week now anyway because of school (trying to finish up the last 5 classes to graduate with my bachelors in december)

rg8482 · July 2010

branlynn:
I'm a waitress so we don't have set maternity leaves like that... we just leave when we need to and come back when we need to. Unless my doctor tells me to take leave or move to hosting or something less stressful (which so far he likes that I'm still doing all the physical work) I plan to serve until I have that first contraction. I'm only working 3 days a week now anyway because of school (trying to finish up the last 5 classes to graduate with my bachelors in december)

That sounds awesome! Good luck with getting your degree.

JDO · July 2010

I want to work until delivery too. I asked my HR rep how that worked since I won't know the exact due date until it comes, and she said the official paperwork is just an estimate and I can keep working after the date listed if LO isn't here yet. You should ask your HR rep if it works the same for you.

Arielle27 · July 2010

People at work (a lot of moms/grandmas!!) told me that the best thing to do is to work right up until the day so that you aren't just pacing at home waiting... but I am NOT interested in going into labor at work!! lol

We'll see what the doctor says as it gets closer to the time (the size of the baby, if they think it will be earlier/later, etc.)... but for now, as my due date is a Wednesday, I am planning on working up until the week before.

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