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California & how much time to take off before EDD?

JamieSFJamieSF member
in 3rd Trimester

For those of you that live in California, do you plan to stop working a full 4 weeks before your EDD? I am tempted to take the full 4 weeks before my EDD since the state disability for before the due date is "use it or lose it", but I feel lazy just thinking about lounging around at home for 4 weeks! But considering that the state disability amount is 55% of normal pay, but is not taxable, I would essentially be working for free if I continue to work in the 4 weeks before my due date (my dh and I are in a high tax bracket)...

 

 

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Re: California & how much time to take off before EDD?

  • wolverine8wolverine8 member
    I don't live in Cali but if I did, I would not have taken 4 weeks off before hand. I worked up until a week before my due date and went a whole week after my due date and those two weeks were the longest weeks of my life! I did nothing but clean and eat and sleep. If that is your forte, which it sounds like it's not, then go for it. Otherwise work while you can and ear full pay.
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  • manderdollmanderdoll member

    I also do not live in California, but I planned on working until 2 weeks before my due date, however, my doc wanted me to stop around 35 weeks, I worked an extra week and then stopped about 36 weeks, I thought I would go crazy and the idea freaked me out, but it has been the greatest decision for me.  That being said, Christmas was right in the middle of it which kept me busy, but I have found lots to do to keep me busy and I am no longer able to sleep much at night, so this allows me the time I need to nap during the day.

     

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  • mamaprofmamaprof
    I stopped working about 3 weeks before my EDD, which was a blessing since I am a lecturer and was on my feet all day. You can always see how you feel as you get farther along and can ask you doctor at any point to put you on disability. 
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  • orchid2007orchid2007 member

    I do not live in CA either, but I would love the opportunity to have some time off work before my EDD to just relax, and also finish nesting and cleaning up the house. Plus my job stresses me out anyway, some time away would be nice in the end. But I am planning to work until I go into labor or my OB says I can't anymore. My BP was high at my last appt, so they are going to watch it. Who knows if it stays high, I may get put on bedrest anyway, we will see though.

    Only you can decide what will work best for you. It is nice to have the option though. :)

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  • PiachPiach member
    I took off 3 weeks before my EDD, but Christmas and New Year's was/will be during that time, so it doesn't seem as long.  It has been nice to have some time off, but I also have a scheduled induction due to GD, so I know when the end is coming.

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  • daniellepandadaniellepanda member

    I live in CA and im stopping 3.5 weeks before my due date. I am a retail manager and i work 45 hours a week, which is mostly me standing a lot and with 20 employees it can be stressful & it is really exhausting already so im looking forward to sitting on my ass for once. The way I look at it is you paid your sdi taxes for god knows how many years, so you have earned this 'free partial paid vacation' to do whatever you want- eat, sleep, clean, nest, be with family, etc. If you dont take the time beforehand then its gone for good, so you may as well take advantage of it since you have paid your taxes on it. If there was the option to add it on to the end of your leave time I would prob stop 2 weeks before my due date, but thats not an option so im taking what I can. If you can afford it, go for it :) Once you hit 37 weeks you really can go into labor at any time, and I would much rather that happen to me at home then at work.

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  • daniellepandadaniellepanda member
    Also I just noticed you are already at 33 weeks- depending on your employer if you DO want to start your leave 4 weeks before you should get the ball rolling asap. Usually you have to give a 30 days notice, unless it is an emergency, for your requested leave date. They will want a form/letter from your doctor stating you are disabled as of ___ date (which legally anytime 4 weeks before your due date and on they have to say your disabled if you request it) and your guesstimated recovery time, which in CA is a total of of 16 weeks total time allowed for leave. So 6 weeks after birth for vaginal or 8 weeks for c-section recovery time is what they will consider you "disabled'. Then you qualify for an additional 6 weeks of cfra- california family rights act - which is also called 'baby bonding time' all of that time plus the 4 weeks before due date if you take it plus 6-8 weeks after birth for recovery, and additional 4-6 weeks after recovery for baby bonding time is paid to you at 55% from the state as long as you have been at your job for at least a year and paying into sdi. if you work for a small company of under 50 employees total in the company then it could be less time though. It takes a week of you not working before they will start to process the pay through the state, so technically if you stop 4 weeks before your due, you only get paid for 3 of those weeks so if you have sick/vacation time you may want to use it for that week. Personally my dr's office has all the paperwork for you to fill out and they send it into the state for me, and it takes them 8 days to process it so if you want to stop 4 weeks before your doctors office will prob need your state disability claim paperwork 2 weeks before that, so around 34-35 weeks or it will just take a lot long for you to start receiving your checks, from which I have heard they are about 3 weeks behind so it is usually a good month before you see any checks even if you file right before you stop working.
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  • Whitney DDWhitney DD
    For goodness sake, take the time off! You will FIND something to do. Whether its reading, being crafty, watching TV, or hanging out with family. Get everything in order, make some frozen meals, post instructions on how to do laundry above the washer and dryer for DH, etc. That way once the baby is here you can concentrate on him/her and not on everything else that needs to be done!
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  • labooshkilabooshki member
    California gives you 4 weeks off before your EDD? Wow. I worked on my due date. I could see the week before, but 4 is a lot. But hey, if they give it to you and you can afford to take it, why wouldln't you do it?

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  • green beangreen bean
    Iam probley going to take the full 4 weeks iam also a supervisor in retail so standing all day plus the stress of customers not being so friendly all the time is probley going to make me want to leave ealier rather then later.
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  • JamieSFJamieSF member

    Thank you everyone for the input! It sounds like I should get over myself and embrace the chance to be "lazy" for a few weeks. Smile

    Luckily notification to my work isn't a big issue. I work for a VERY small company (3 employees) and they can't realistically "hold" my job for me (I wouldn't want them to- I may be a SAHM, may work part time... to be determined). I have been talking with my boss throughout my pregnancy about my departure date, and I have been saying somewhere between 2-4 weeks before my EDD (just to be safe, I know they would love for me to stay as long as I can).

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