Maternity leave...how long are you taking?

myeshabride · June 2011

Everytime I think of my maternity leave, I feel stressed. At my job, I'm allowed 12 weeks but will have to have short-term disability pay for most of that time after my vacay time runs out. But the # of weeks you can have paid short-term disability is based upon when your doctor says you can resume work. Are you able to ask/tell your doctor you'd like the whole 12 wks or more or do they just hand out a standard length of time like 6 or 8 wks? I took 8 wks with my DS and I wished I could've stayed out longer.

How long are you planning for?

LaceD10 · June 2011

I live in Canada so I get 12 months. I'm so looking forward to my time off.

mbgreenwalt · June 2011

I took 8 with DD, but she was a week late so I only got 7 with her. It was too short, but I only had 8 weeks paid and DH was on unemployment at that time. I am hoping for 12 weeks, but I'll take 10 if I don't have the funds to last 12.

Fianschneid · June 2011

I am taking 12 weeks. The first eight weeks are paid. Since I'm having my baby in October, though, I'm using 2011 and 2012 vacation time to cover the other four weeks. So, happily, I will be paid in full the whole time.

Missuskeekers · June 2011

Im in Canada so I get a year.

MsTammy · June 2011

My total maternity leave is 12 weeks. However, after the 1st 6 weeks I will be going into the office once a week and working from the home the rest of the 4 days.

KrisM86 · June 2011

I'm due in early October and taking time off until the end of 2011, which should be about 12 weeks depending on whether my LO is on time, early, or late.

I may end up being a SAHM anyway, but may look into nannying (what I do now) part time with a family where I can bring my LO.

atomicbaby · June 2011

I'm taking 12 months off, but my husband and I have talked about taking 2-3 years off if necessary.

I couldn't imagine leaving my LO after 12 weeks. I think it is horrible that most US employers only give you 12 weeks and for most it doesn't even pay. That is just brutal.

I am lucky that I run my own business, but I offer 6 months full pay to all my employees and a 12 month plan that is 3 months full pay and 9 months half pay.

mben1119 · June 2011

I'm taking all 12 FMLA weeks. I get STD all 12 weeks due to state laws.

smorzandoj · June 2011

My doc asks when you want to go back and as long as it is reasonable signs off on it.

mommyjahr · June 2011

12 weeks. 8 weeks maternity leave and the rest personal. Thankfully I have salary replacement for the whole time. 12 weeks IS too short. DH will be taking 2 weeks of paternity leave at the end of my leave so DD will not be with a sitter until 14 weeks at least.

kateebrooks78 · June 2011

I get unpaid leave through work and my dr said to apply for disability online for partial pay. not quite sure how that works yet. but he said you could get a month off before the due date and 12 weeks after which he would sign off on. BUT he said he can not sign off on disability UNTIL you are going on it- like the first day you say you are taking it.

boobearmama · June 2011

I'm taking 6 weeks off, then I'll slowly go back part-time in office/remainder at home until I work up to 4 full days a week. I am thinking 3 half days to start for a month, then 2 full days/2 half days for the next month...

AMarie10 · June 2011

I get stressed out everytime I think about my maternity leave. My job will be secure, but since we are a very small company I dont know exactly how much time I will be able to have off besides the standard 6-8 weeks. Im a single mother (or thats the way things looking to be right now) so I will for sure need to have paid time off. Hmmm. Im so confused on where to start, as this if my first child and I just have so many things running through my head. Tongue Tied

checkrdtop · June 2011

I am getting 12 weeks off with my job. I do not have to file for short term disability.

bellethebride · June 2011

I think it might depend on what state you are in, but for CA, my doctor would sign off a standard 6 weeks for vaginal delivery or 8 for C-section (and no more). After that time, FMLA kicks in for another 6 weeks - totaling either 12 or 14 weeks depending on delivery type.

Lotte134 · June 2011

Most STD policies just cover standard lengths of time - 6 weeks for a vaginal delivery and 8 weeks for a c/s. Unless you have other complications it's really considered fraud for your doctor to say that you are disabled longer.

I'm taking 12 weeks off and my job is covered by FMLA. 6 of those weeks will be paid at 80% through my STD plan. The rest will be partially paid using my PTO.

uberbitter · June 2011

I'll be taking nearly 4 months. It's going to eat up pretty much all of my vacation and sick time so I receive my full salary (and so that I accumulate more while I am out), but the alternative is to go back right before Christmas, so that's not going to happen (unless I have to be out for medical reasons earlier than anticipated).

Mac0711 · June 2011

I get 6-8 weeks Maternity Leave and am planning on taking the remainder of my vacation to finish out the year, and then planning to take another 6 months (unpaid) after that. I'd like it to be longer but DS graduates from high school next year and with college coming up, don't think I can afford to take more.

myeshabride · June 2011

Missuskeekers:
Im in Canada so I get a year.

WOW, that's amazing! Relocation anyone?? Smile Thanks ladies for all your posts. I've decided to start putting aside a portion of my pay checks so that I have a little extra cushion just in case I decide to take more time w/out pay.

KSauter717 · June 2011

LaceD10:

I live in Canada so I get 12 months. I'm so looking forward to my time off.

Im moving to Canada!! j/k.... i plan on taking 12 weeks. I also have to go on short term disability bc i only have a month of vacation time accured

undiscovered778 · June 2011

Wish I had never read this post. My place doesn't have short-term disability and won't let me use my sick days. I'll be taking off 3.5 weeks. If I take more than 2 weeks of unpaid, I have to pay my own insurance in full. So I'm not even taking off one month. Does anyone have any thoughts about how to fix this? Someone earlier suggested getting a doctor's note saying I need at least 6 weeks (which would, with a doctor's note, allow me to use my paid sick days).

domesticatedhuman · June 2011

undiscovered778:
Wish I had never read this post. My place doesn't have short-term disability and won't let me use my sick days. I'll be taking off 3.5 weeks. If I take more than 2 weeks of unpaid, I have to pay my own insurance in full. So I'm not even taking off one month. Does anyone have any thoughts about how to fix this? Someone earlier suggested getting a doctor's note saying I need at least 6 weeks (which would, with a doctor's note, allow me to use my paid sick days).

How long have you worked at your company and how many employees do they have? If you've been there over a year look up FMLA for your state. Most companies I believe need to have at least 50 employees to be held to it, but you would be entitled to a bit more time off.

It breaks my heart for American mothers, you get like no time off! I have lived in the states for 8 years and still can not get used to how mothers are treated so poorly by employers in this country

Mrs. Alice · June 2011

I'm already on unpaid leave since 22 weeks - not what we were planning for though. I plan on taking at least 6 weeks after they are born and then returning part time.

atizon · June 2011

I wish I lived in Canada.

I plan to take my 12 weeks. The first 6 days I have to use vacation days, then my STD kicks in and it's for 6 weeks (normal birth) If it's a C-section STD gives me 8 weeks. Then my vacation kicks in 2 weeks and all my PTO's & sick days. I'll probably be short a pay check. But atleast I have that much covered.

Steff2011 · June 2011

Wow, I feel for you.. This is cruelty... It takes your body 40days to recuperate after delivery and not even 1 month you can get. That really sucks! I'm from Canada so I can't really help you but I really hope you can get more than 3.5 weeks. You need time to rest and be with your newborn.

Good Luck

teenybean · June 2011

6 months at least, pretty much all unpaid this time due to change in work circumstances since first baby, but I don't care my husband and I planned for this and have saved and will live frugally. I can't wait. No judgement, I just couldn't leave my little one any earlier than that.

mrsjenniferg2010 · June 2011

I am taking 6 to 8 weeks. I might be quitting my job after I have the baby. So it could be even longer!

msjcordova · June 2011

My last working day will be Aug. 5th and I wont go back until Mid January.

MrsT2008 · June 2011

I'm hoping to take 12 weeks (6-8 will be paid, the rest will be unpaid) and then after that I'm looking to work out some sort of transition back to the office, either with part time or at least a day or two working from home.

NewMrs52106 · June 2011

I'm having a repeat c/s, so I'm taking 8 weeks. I don't get any short term disability, etc and have to use all of my vacation time and sick time if I want to get paid. I am so jealous when I hear women taking off for months--lucky ducks! I sometimes wish we lived in Canada or other countries that allowed longer, paid, mat leave.

3puppymama · June 2011

I will be taking a half-year sabbatical at 50% pay. (I'm a teacher. )So I will be off with my LO for 5 months...

chankins14 · June 2011

I am taking the whole 12 weeks. I will be on short term disability the whole time & will supplement that with my vacay/sick time.

Tomsbabyboo · June 2011

I'm also in Canada and taking a 12 months off. I have a great employer who tops up my full salary to 100% for 20 weeks.

caffinated_tulip · June 2011

Indefinitely? I'm becoming a SAHM Big Smile

ecartstan · June 2011

I thought I only got 6 weeks, but I was informed today by my supervisor that I get 12 weeks minus any FMLA time I took due to my pregnancy. So, I think I've had 2 weeks off total due to bed rest and vomiting, so I would get 10 weeks off. Paid with STD at a percentage of my pay.

Abb21 · June 2011

I am taking 8 weeks .... I could take 12, but I am only getting paid for 6 weeks (unless I have a c-section- then it would be 8). I do think we deserve to get paid for way more than 6-8 weeks, I don't know how I am going to be able to go back to work after only being home with the LO for such a short amount of time....

babybuckley · June 2011

bellethebride:
I think it might depend on what state you are in, but for CA, my doctor would sign off a standard 6 weeks for vaginal delivery or 8 for C-section (and no more). After that time, FMLA kicks in for another 6 weeks - totaling either 12 or 14 weeks depending on delivery type.

I was going to say the same thing. There is a lot of conflicting info being posted so I think it depends on where you live. I also live in CA and my HR dept told me the dr will put me off a couple weeks before my due date until 6 to 8 weeks post partum. After that the FMLA kicks in for another 6 weeks. Those 12 to 14 weeks are paid by disability. I also have STD which I will receive in one lump sum for a total of 6 weeks.

So basically, I will get 6 weeks of mostly my normal pay and then 6 weeks of disability. I don' know if I will be able to do it financially, but if I can, I will take the whole 12 weeks.

stardust317 · June 2011

I'm due late in October and will not go back to work until 2012. I have STD, but it pays less than half of what I make normally. I'm also contemplating a job change, which may effect how long it takes me to go back to work.

jeninedesouza · June 2011

Yeah for living in Canada! I have a year off! But because I am a teacher and I am due in September I wont start my mat leave until September, but I also get July and August off! So Ill have 14 months off!!

Yeah!

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