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January 2012 Moms
mamacat123
member
Maternity leave...withOUT baby? Need advice!
mamacat123
member
Hi everyone--going through a dilemma and need some advice.
I'm due on Wednesday (1.18) and it doesn't look like the bebe will have made her appearance by then. I'm thus trying to decide when to start my mat leave. I'm a teacher, so I pretty much just have to call in the absence and let my school know that I'm starting it X day, and they'll adjust my FMLA to cover the full 12 weeks.
Pros to starting ML on my due date-have a doctor's appointment that day anyway, will be able to rest and relax for a few days at home
Cons-every day I spend at home without her is a day I'll have to give up in 12 weeks to go back to work, what do you DO all day at home with no baby?
Anyone have experience either working past their due date or starting mat leave early with no baby? Advice is much appreciated! Thanks 
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Re: Maternity leave...withOUT baby? Need advice!
I took it before both times - but only bc my work paid for up to 2 weeks before as disability and then they pay 6 weeks after as maternity regardless of if I took the time before off or not. Since I will go back then and not take more unpaid FMLA time after the birth, it makes sense for me to do so.
This time - I loved my time off. I spent precious time with my dd before ds was born and took my time away from her. I still had things to do to prepare - make lots of freezer meals - bc before that I only focused on christmas. I was also a lot more uncomfortable this time around.
Last time - I was BORED! I walked the dog a lot. I swam every day. I watched a lot of tv.
I am a teacher too and I have been home since xmas break. I will go back April 23rd after spring break. We also have a week of in February that I don't count so it has worked out. I am also due the 18th. I had second thoughts about being home when I first started, but went out to do errands one day and realized how tired and sore it made me and decided it was a good decision to just be here and relax. It is my third so I know all too well to enjoy the quiet days and naps in the afternoon and looong hot showers. Also, my husband is on break from school too, he is a college student, so with the other boys at school all day it is nice quiet time for just the 2 of us. I will admit, I am starting to get a bit impatient and running out of little projects to work on around the house. Can;t think of anymore baby stuff to due before he gets here so I am spending my time, watching movies, playing mahjong and reading birth stories on the bump
It really is better than working.
With my first 2 I could only stay home 6 weeks so even if baby is late I will have more time with him then I did the other 2. (and then summer is right around the corner
I started Mat. leave on Friday...so my first "official" day off is Tuesday. Honestly, just being able to sleep till DS wakes up and 0630 every day will be worth using my own leave instead of waiting for baby to arrive.
My biggest consideration was having to constantly over-analyze and think about calling into work...I work 30-40 mins away, and I didn't want to drive in, then leave an hour later because I'm not feeling well.
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v247/indie_chixor2/?action=view
I work in a school as well and was due this past Sat, 1/14. No baby yet though. I'm going to take my maternity leave as planned starting Tuesday on the 17th. It does subtract from my 12 week FMLA, but work was getting tough to be on my feet all day.
Good luck!
no advice but grappling with the same question myself. My leave, taken on either side of the birth, is all FMLA and any pay is from my accrued PTO so everyday pre-birth is one less day PP I have home with LO...so I am taking it day by day an dhoping to work till I go into labor but also know that any day I could hit a wall and just need to throw in the towel a bit early
[url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt17701b.aspx[/img][/url]
I'm due Thursday and have been thinking about the same thing. Here is what I decided:
I'm going to hold off for a couple of days until my due date appointment (also on Wednesday) and see what they say. They may want to schedule an induction or will maybe give me some idea of when they think it'll happen. My dr doesn't like to let anyone go much past 41 weeks. I will probably pick a few days before the induction date and call it my last day. That way it won't be a week sitting around eating up baby time but I'll hopefully have a couple of days to get some R&R before delivery. Also, if you try to work through next Friday, you'll have the weekend and the odds you'll have baby by then are pretty good!
Married my best friend 5/2/2008
TTC our first miracle since November 2010
BFP 3/16/2011 Chemical Pregnancy 3/20/2011
This for me too!!!
I'm a teacher too.... with my 1st, my maternity leave started with April vacation (I was due the Monday following) However, she arrived 5 days late.... I was so glad to have the time off at the beginning, but after being home for about 2 weeks with nothing to do but sit & wait, I was making myself crazy by the end. This time around I'm working right up to my due date. I don't want to waste any time off ahead of time that I could be spending with her once she's here. I don't think there's any right/wrong answer to this one... just depends on what you have to do to keep you busy while you're home & waiting (and just how long the wait may be!)
My first was due on a Thursday and I took that whole week off. my thought was that I was uncomfortable and would have time to get stuff ready.
Big mistake. I was bored out of my mind. Nothing to do but sit and wait for baby Ws torturous. PLUS she was ten days late!!
I would keep working, especially since it will mean more time off on the back end.