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My Boys!
Maternity Leave
How long did you take before the baby was born? My doctor said that he would tell HR whatever I wanted. I'm due Feb 1st, so I was debating whether two weeks before would be enough (especially since I have the last two weeks of December off for winter break).
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Re: Maternity Leave
With DS1, I went out at 38 weeks. With DS2, I went out at 37 weeks, which turned out to be good because at my 38 wk appt we decided to have a c-section at 39 weeks.
If we were to have a third child, I'd probably go out at 37 weeks again.
if you go out at 36 weeks could you just not return after the December break and really have almost 6 weeks off??
In theory, yes. However, the more I work, the more vacation time I accrue. At this point, along with Paid Family Leave, I will have enough vacation time for about 9-10 weeks after the baby is born. Unfortunately, I can't use my sick leave for this, since part of that will be used for disability before the baby is born. I'm just wondering if, with the combined time of winter break (we're not planning on going anywhere) and two weeks before the baby comes, that will be enough time to get ready for the baby.
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I think it depends on your personality, and what type of job you have. I was given a note to take four weeks, but didn't use it. I'm a teacher and ended up having Addie before students came, but taught a couple summer sessions, and was in my classroom working the day before my water broke. I wanted to get as much done as possible before the visiting teacher came....not working would have just made my job harder, and I think I might have gone stir crazy.
If it doesn't cause you more work in the end, then you might want to take advantage of a couple weeks before your LO arrives (mine came a week early). Then you have some time to cook meals, get your house straitened up, rest, and do any other little things to prepare.
I had planned on working until a week before my EDD, 2 weeks and 2 days prior to my EDD I was SO exhausted and wished I would have taken 3 weeks before my EDD off.
And R was born 2 weeks early so it would have been really nice to at least have the week prior off.
DD2: February 2014
So, you'd take 2 weeks off in Dec, work for 2 weeks, then go out at 38 weeks? I think you could get a decent amount done in that time, and that's probably what I would do if I wanted to continue accruing more vacation time.
I went out at 38 weeks last time, and then was over a week late by the time I got induced. I definitely enjoyed the time, but I was getting a little bored by the end!
This time I don't really know what to expect and whether I'll be late again or what. Since I'm due Feb 11th, I'm left wondering what to do after the holidays too.
i'm one of those crazy ladies who worked until the day before their induction. i felt fine and i didn't see any reason to sit at home and go stir-crazy. i had a VERY limited amount of time off (7 wks) and i wanted to maxmize it AFTER she came, rather than before.
In a lot of cases (mine included), the 4 weeks off with pay beforehand is "use it or lose it" paid (by the State) time off. The only downside to my taking 4 weeks off instead of two was that I was only paid 60% of my salary during that entire time. But it had NO bearing on the time I got/get off with Cli now that he's born. My time off after baby is 6 weeks of disability with pay followed by 12 weeks of CFRA job protection, unpaid time. If I'd worked right up until he was born, I'd have the same thing.
Depending on what industry you work in, you'll have to check and see if they pay into the state (if you qualify for SDI or PFL). The teaching/education industry sometimes doesn't pay into the state (we don't and are required to use up our sick and vacation before disability kicks in), so this is a factor in my decision on how much I take before. So it may be worth a chat with your HR department to see what disability programs you pay into/qualify for.
Depending on the size of your company, you'll definitely have CFRA coverage like Stefanie mentioned.
Initially I planned on working up to the week before my EDD, then I changed my mind to two weeks before & then my OB talked me into going out three weeks before.
I ended up with zero weeks off before since LO was early!
Yes, its the same for me. I didn't mean to imply I would get less time. I just don't want to be gone from work that long. I'm hoping to be gone a total of 4 months from work and would prefer most of that is when the baby is here. I actually have enough sick time to get paid for the 4 weeks before my due date and 6 weeks after. I get another 12 after the disability, but the amount of pay depends on other stuff (vacation, etc).
I work in a very fast paced industry with all men.. so being gone from work for my full maternity leave (6 months) would be very tough for me. I'm not sure what I want to do exactly, but for now.. 4 months is what I'm thinking. Its a very tough decision for me.
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