s/o maternity leave - "baby bonding time"

Re: s/o maternity leave - "baby bonding time"

• shouldbworkin

  January 2012

  No.  My OB wrote me for 8 weeks off for c/s.  Not sure what additional baby bonding time would do for a parent.  You're either covered by FMLA or you're not.  FMLA keeps your job secure (or a similar job) for 12 weeks.  Beyond that, you're at the mercy of your company's policies.  And, the writing someone out of work is more for insurance purposes than anything.  I've never heard of an insurance policy that covered more than 6/8 weeks.

  DS1 age 7, DD age 5 and DS2 born 4/3/12

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• busywifey

  January 2012

  with my employer in my union contract, i am entitled 6 months. but if you need/want additional time, u need a doctor's note.

  i know several women who had their doctors write something about backpain or something along those lines.

  for me, i was still breastfeeding. so my doctor wrote a note saying i needed additional time ( 3 months) for the well being of my son to breast feed.

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• busywifey

  January 2012

  but every employer is different.

  i am lucky that with my union contract, this type of extension is allowed.

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  January 2012

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• sbost0118 member

  January 2012

  busywifey:

  with my employer in my union contract, i am entitled 6 months. but if you need/want additional time, u need a doctor's note.

  i know several women who had their doctors write something about backpain or something along those lines.

  for me, i was still breastfeeding. so my doctor wrote a note saying i needed additional time ( 3 months) for the well being of my son to breast feed.

  This is so important!  Six weeks is not enough time to establish an appropriate milk supply.  It takes about three months.  I wish this was more recognized and supported in the US.

  

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• ninjabridemom

  January 2012

  sbost0118:

  busywifey:

  with my employer in my union contract, i am entitled 6 months. but if you need/want additional time, u need a doctor's note.

  i know several women who had their doctors write something about backpain or something along those lines.

  for me, i was still breastfeeding. so my doctor wrote a note saying i needed additional time ( 3 months) for the well being of my son to breast feed.

  This is so important!  Six weeks is not enough time to establish an appropriate milk supply.  It takes about three months.  I wish this was more recognized and supported in the US.

   

  Yeah that would be so amazing if my doc wrote me off for that, lol.  Even just a few more weeks, not months, would be so helpful -- especially with two. 

  

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• mrs_j_may_08

  January 2012

  busywifey:

  with my employer in my union contract, i am entitled 6 months. but if you need/want additional time, u need a doctor's note.

  i know several women who had their doctors write something about backpain or something along those lines.

  for me, i was still breastfeeding. so my doctor wrote a note saying i needed additional time ( 3 months) for the well being of my son to breast feed.

  This is more of the type of note that I was meaning. 

  I have been approved for 12 weeks of time with FMLA. I can use a doctor's note from my OB for 6 or 8 weeks (depending on the type of delivery that I have). If I have an additional note that excuses my absence for medical reason (ie baby bonding or breastfeeding, etc), then I will have to use less of my vacation time. I can't use 'sick time' unless it is excused by a doctor. Hope that makes more sense. My co-worker's pedi gave her a note for 2 weeks of 'bonding' time, but her baby was a preemie, so that might be why.
  

  
  
  

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• shouldbworkin

  January 2012

  mrs_j_may_08:

  busywifey:

  with my employer in my union contract, i am entitled 6 months. but if you need/want additional time, u need a doctor's note.

  i know several women who had their doctors write something about backpain or something along those lines.

  for me, i was still breastfeeding. so my doctor wrote a note saying i needed additional time ( 3 months) for the well being of my son to breast feed.

  This is more of the type of note that I was meaning. 

  I have been approved for 12 weeks of time with FMLA. I can use a doctor's note from my OB for 6 or 8 weeks (depending on the type of delivery that I have). If I have an additional note that excuses my absence for medical reason (ie baby bonding or breastfeeding, etc), then I will have to use less of my vacation time. I can't use 'sick time' unless it is excused by a doctor. Hope that makes more sense. My co-worker's pedi gave her a note for 2 weeks of 'bonding' time, but her baby was a preemie, so that might be why.
  

  I haven't really found this to be an issue.  I just followed DD's cues, which often included nursing constantly in the evenings (before and after my return to work) and being up hourly at night to increase my supply during a growth spurt.  Work wasn't an issue as long as I had good support from my spouse at home. 

  DS1 age 7, DD age 5 and DS2 born 4/3/12

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• dixee.deluxe

  January 2012

  wilburbud:

  Nope. Doc will write you off for 6-8 weeks unless there are complications. 

  No, but remember that PPD is a complication (though, a normal one).  And doctors not only could, but SHOULD understand that and weigh it appropriately when deciding if they can write you a work note. 

  But also, if you are covered under FMLA, your employer can't deny additional time up to 12 weeks.  But, that's unpaid.  So, if you need a work note to get paid, that's a different story.

  

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• mrs_j_may_08

  January 2012

  dixee.deluxe:

  wilburbud:

  Nope. Doc will write you off for 6-8 weeks unless there are complications. 

  No, but remember that PPD is a complication (though, a normal one).  And doctors not only could, but SHOULD understand that and weigh it appropriately when deciding if they can write you a work note. 

  But also, if you are covered under FMLA, your employer can't deny additional time up to 12 weeks.  But, that's unpaid.  So, if you need a work note to get paid, that's a different story.

  The possibility of PPD is a good point, I hadn't thought of that.

  I would take the unpaid time if I had to, but would obviously like for it to be paid if at all possible.
  

  
  
  

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• Monicagail1 member

  January 2012

  There are really 2 components to 'maternity leave'.  First is the period of disability-that's the amount of time you're body is physically disabled from work.  It's usually 6-8 weeks depending on a vaginal or c/s delivery.  If you have a subsequent medical condition that warrents additional disability time (i.e. PPD, etc) then you're doctor could write you out for longer.  This time period is supposed to be treated the same as any non-maternity medical condition that would put you off work.  Most employers are not going to accept baby bonding time as a medical reason to be off work (as much as we wish they would).

  To me, it's the period after disability that's really "maternity leave".  That's the period of time that you could physically return to work per your doctor, but you are choosing to stay home with the baby.  Some people are covered by FMLA and can use up to 12 weeks for time off of work due to illness or baby bonding time.  Others have additional protections under union contracts or company policy.  Your doctor does not usually need to write you a note for baby bonding time.  You get whatever additional time you are entitled under FMLA or various company policy.

  Love: 8.10.99
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  DD2: 4.11.12

  #3 EDD 4.23.16
  

  
  

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