Working Moms: Maternity Leave

SparkT · April 2012

Hello ladies!! I'm new to the board so I'll intro!! My name is Susan, 31 yo and pregnant with my first!! I've been reading these posts for a while and it's been a life saver! So thanks!

A quick question for you gals!

I'm early on in my pregnancy ~6 wks but I have to start planning my leave with my boss pretty soon.

Outside of finances, how many weeks did you feel was most comfortable? Not too short/not too long for bonding, etc?

I know everyone's different, depending on C-sections, multiple children, type of job.....couple friends have said 8 to 10 weeks they felt comfortable to go back to work. When were you comfortable?

curtsgrl · April 2012

I originally had planned to take 6 weeks and then at about 2 weeks realized I wasn't going to be ready and moved it to 8 weeks. I think 8 weeks was perfect by then I was ready to get back to work and be with grown-ups.

JoyHerbie2011 · April 2012

I am only taking 6 weeks unless I can convince DH that it would be cheaper for me to stay at home. Unfortunately at my work, my maternity leave is unpaid so I have to save all my sick and vacay time to use. I will still be short about 3 weeks.

SparkT · April 2012

Oh good point, I didn't factor in family!!! Actually this is one the first grandchild on my side of the family (sister's pregnant too due around the same time), so that would be insane....

I've been told from others 6 weeks felt a bit short....

My leave will be unpaid also, I'm saving up like crazy....hehe I'm hoping to take about 8 to 10 weeks....we'll see...

MAtoMN · April 2012

I took 12 weeks with my first, and plan to do the same for this one. I am lucky in that we get 12 weeks paid leave and my company though.

Taylor11 · April 2012

I originally put in for 10, but called my boss at week 9 and told him I needed more time. So I came back after 12 wks, and couldn't have (sanely) done so any sooner. I am extremely lucky, in that I work from home and make my schedule and sales calls when I want to, so I definitely eased back into things the first couple of months. Worked my schedule to where I could be home when DD breastfed, scheduled appts when I could pump in between, etc.

Obviously everyone is different, and some can go back sooner and be fine. I had an awful, awful labor, so I had a long recovery mentally and physically, plus some baby blues and PPD. Therefore, I really needed to get right in my own head before I tried to throw myself back into things. I am hoping this time around, I will adjust more quickly, but not counting on it:(

GL!

MrsM2008 · April 2012

I tooko 12 plus an extra 4 weeks unpaid total 16 weeks. Of those 7 were paid the rest unpaid but totally worth it.

lmb5109 · April 2012

I plan on taking 9 weeks (3 weeks vacation, 6 weeks STD) and then DH is taking 3 weeks off. So it'll be 12 weeks before baby goes to daycare.

DebateThis · April 2012

I'm planning 4-6 mos off.

puppy_love6969 · April 2012

I'm glad you asked this question. I was curious too. I'm allowed a year. I am not planning on taking the full year, I may go a little crazy not working that long!

Starfish17 · April 2012

I took 10.5 weeks with DS. I'm planning on taking the full 12 with this one so I can be off through the holidays and return to work in January.

acardona1010 · April 2012

As a teacher, I don't get maternity leave. I just have to use my local and state days. I'll have 35 by the time my due date rolls around so I'm going to use 30 (6 weeks) and leave the other 5 for pediatrician appointments afterward. Luckily we start Christmas break on Dec 23 and my due date is Dec. 20 so I'll get those extra 2 weeks, bringing my grand total to 8 weeks.

dukemeli · April 2012

I get 13 weeks paid at 100%, but I am going to try to tack on 2 additional weeks of vacation onto that. It'll make it 15 weeks total. The baby will be nice and big by then and I'll feel better about going back to work.

RRL2012 · April 2012

I'm taking 12 weeks paid (I work for a great company) and then an additional 6 weeks unpaid.

tngrl3 · April 2012

Glad I'm not the only one already thinking about this. I get 7 weeks of paid vacation each year. I am due Dec. 5th, and will have about 4 weeks left from this year to get me though to the first of next year when it starts over. Not sure I want to use up all my vacation time at the beginning of the year though. I also have short term disability insurance through work that pays at 60% of my salary. I believe I can use this for maternity leave. I also have private long term disability insurance that kicks in after 12 weeks if I want to take longer. And I might have a week of long term sick leave left from a year or two ago that keeps rolling over at my job. Have also thought about going back just part time or changing positions so my schedule is more flexible. So many choices! I need to check in to my options before I really decide though (which means spilling the beans at work). All that to say I think my ideal would be 12-16 weeks.

melindam · April 2012

I'm planning on somewhere between 3 and 6 months, depending how it goes. I get 6 weeks paid STD, then 6 weeks partial pay through the California State Disability Plan, then 2 weeks vacation. The rest would be unpaid. I'm saving up like crazy to cover it.

laurakaz13 · April 2012

I took 3 months. 14 weeks total and all were paid.

sebailey6 · April 2012

acardona1010:
As a teacher, I don't get maternity leave. I just have to use my local and state days. I'll have 35 by the time my due date rolls around so I'm going to use 30 (6 weeks) and leave the other 5 for pediatrician appointments afterward. Luckily we start Christmas break on Dec 23 and my due date is Dec. 20 so I'll get those extra 2 weeks, bringing my grand total to 8 weeks.

Sounds like we aren't the lucky ones since we have to use sick leave to take the time off. As of right now, I have a total of 5 weeks. I am due Nov. 28...hoping to go a little early...so then I will have the week of Thanksgiving...take 3 of my sick leave weeks...2 more weeks off at Christmas...then maybe another week after Christmas. Which will leave me with a week or two left after baby comes. Total time off, hopefully 7 weeks. Maybe only 6:(

Luckily my husband will be a stay at home daddy when I go back to work!!

erbear · April 2012

I took 6 months with DD1 and wanted to off myself out of boredom. I took 9.5 weeks with DD2 and that was perfect.

sno&jmg · April 2012

I took 6 weeks with my first (all unpaid--no FMLA or STD). I would have loved to take more, but I needed to get back to work so we could pay the bills. I'm working at a new place now. Still no FMLA, but I'm hoping to use STD & vacation/sick time to hopefully be able to take more time...maybe 9-12 weeks. Six weeks just goes by SO fast.

Aloe0l · April 2012

I took 13 weeks off, unpaid (well I used enough sick leave to cover the deductions for my insurance, but that was it). Then DH took 8 weeks off after that.

For me, I had a hard time with PPD (which didn't get diagnosed unitl DD was almost 5-6mo) and didn't realize it, so I struggled with going back to work - mostly with being able to trust other people (including DH) to be able to tend to her needs. It really got bad when she started daycare - hence the timing of my diagnosis. And she was in our 3rd choice of providers at the time because everywhere else still had a waiting list. I didn't feel 100% comfortable with her at daycare until we switched facilities. And even then, she was pretty much a year old so there wasn't as much to worry about (I BF'd so I had anxiety about her starving at daycare, even though I sent/pumped PLENTY of milk).

But, overall, I think for me in those circumstances, I probably could have benefited from a full 6 months off, but, that would be dreaming, right? I'd say, plan to take off the longest amount you are allowed/can afford, because you can always go back early. It will be harder to negotiate more time off vs negotiate going back to work earlier.

Amegamogo · April 2012

I am taking my full 12 weeks.

Westing18 · April 2012

With my first I only could take 2 weeks because mine is all unpaid (lucky enough I do in home daycare so I still got to be home with my little one)

This time around we have the money saved and will be taking about 2.5 months off which I am pretty excited about.

ForeverEverAfter · April 2012

Wow, I have a ton of respect for all of you-I don't think I could face going back so soon. The norm around here is a year, some people come back a bit early for finances (we get about half pay on mat leave). Day care here wont take babies under a year, so care other than family is really expensive. I make more than DH, so as long as we can save enough $ ahead of time I'll take my full year. My work doesn't really change much (nursing), so I'm not missing anything career wise.

MariesWings · April 2012

I am tenatively going with 6 to 8 weeks because where I work they do not have a paid maternity leave, and because my pregnancy was a pleasant little surprise, I had not opted for the short term disability when open enrollment came around in December. Thankfully my boss is willing to let me work from home during my leave (I'm an accountant and working remotely will be fine) It's my second child, and I'll have lots of help from family so this should work out for me. If I need more time I'm sure they'll allow me to take it since my work will still be getting done without me having to physically be there.

elevendiamonds · April 2012

ForeverEverAfter:
Wow, I have a ton of respect for all of you-I don't think I could face going back so soon. The norm around here is a year, some people come back a bit early for finances (we get about half pay on mat leave). Day care here wont take babies under a year, so care other than family is really expensive. I make more than DH, so as long as we can save enough $ ahead of time I'll take my full year. My work doesn't really change much (nursing), so I'm not missing anything career wise.

Ya, I really feel for you ladies in the US. I can't imagine going back after that short of a time. I'll be taking the full mat leave of 50 weeks.

Carla6394 · April 2012

I am in Ontario so we get 17 weeks of paid mat leave and then 35 weeks of paid parental leave, which spouses can share.

DH is taking the first 2 weeks off with me and then I will take the rest.

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