Maternity Leave?

Kern91 · June 2012

How long are you planning on taking for maternity leave once your baby is born? My first baby I took 7 weeks. I ended up leaving 1 week before because I did not want my water to break at work (I work with a bunch of men and only two other ladies). Then it was about 6 weeks after my baby was born (I ended up getting induced).

We don't have a policy here since I'm the youngest and its a construction company and they told me to pick however long that I want. For this pregnancy I want more time but I want to make sure its in the ballpark that is standard for other companies.

Thanks!

OhMySpawn · June 2012

All 12 of my weeks.

happy_un-bride · June 2012

Ahhh... the joy of being Canadian! I would plan for my entire year! If my work wants to make me an offer to come back early I would consider it.

jnthurston · June 2012

I'm pretty sure that I will take all 12 weeks.

LeahEn · June 2012

I'm given 6 weeks, I'm hoping to take an additional 2 to total 8 weeks. That still doesn't seem long enough, but its better than just 6.

SEWF · June 2012

I think I get 12 weeks, and can also to use some of my sick time on top of that if I choose. I'm figuring I'll just take the 12 weeks, though.

letitbe3 · June 2012

I'll get six weeks from the state, and unfortunately no FMLA benefits since we are a smaller company (under 50). I havne't talked specifics w/ my boss about additional time off (I just told her in passing yesterday that I am pg). But I'd like to take at least 3 months minmum. I'm hoping I can use up the rest of my vacation time and maybe borrow from the upcoming year if possible.

bells039 · June 2012

I am planning to take 12 weeks not unless the baby is early like my first was. With him I took off 16 weeks since he had to spend some time in the NICU.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · June 2012

I am taking 13 weeks. I will get 8 weeks paid TDI because of a c-section, and then the rest will be unpaid FMLA leave.

Brummy14 · June 2012

I believe we'll get 6-8 weeks following delivery (depending on vaginal delivery vs. c/s), and then at least two weeks prior to the due date, but I believe it's longer for multiples (assuming the doc puts me on bed rest or has me out of work before then). 12 weeks max for disability -- then we have FMLA.

So....my plan is to take three months off following delivery. No idea how the pre-delivery time off will look, but definitely three months following. So, likely 6-8 weeks or so of FMLA, the rest being disability.

Rocklandholly · June 2012

I get 12 wks under FMLA (9 paid and I can use vacation/personal time) and my company allows you to take an add'l 2 wks unpaid. I took all of this with my first and am thinking of asking for 4 months unpaid. With my first I left saying maybe I'll take the 2 unpaid (was too nervous to outright say I'm taking it)....with this one I will not care. I am 8 wks and am less concerned about anyone finding out early (although I am feeling much better than last time)...no matter how much you take it never seems like enough. I also went out a wk before my first was born b/c I was past my due date and it was tough commuting. I think I will plan on leaving on my due date adn not try to push past it...

daniella2727 · June 2012

Standard in the US is 12 weeks. I plan to take 6 months

I won't be paid for it but my job will be preserved.

ALKR10292012 · June 2012

Our FMLA and PTO run concurrent so I will take either 6 weeks for a vag. delivery or 8 weeks for a C-sec. I went back at 4 weeks with DS so if I am up to it then i might go back sooner.

KMAXON · June 2012

I get 6 weeks, unpaid except for my sick time. However, I am taking about 12 weeks with FMLA. Not quite sure how the finances will work, but precious babes are more important.

Wild_flower25 · June 2012

12 weeks. My company doesn't have a policy but it has to follow FMLA so I'm taking all of it!

82Sonia · June 2012

My employer has to guarantee me at least 12 weeks but I have sufficient time saved up to take 20 weeks. I'm going to try to take it all if I can.

mrsjenni · June 2012

I worked right up until birth with my first two kiddos. I took 7 weeks of maternity leave with DS and 8 weeks of maternity leave with DD.

This time I'm taking a full 12 weeks of leave plus an additional 3 weeks of only being in the office 2 days/week (so the first 3 weeks of December.) I'll only be working 6 days total in December since we already have off between xmas and new years, but getting paid for the entire month. I'll take it.

I return to work January 2nd and will work from home 1 day a week after that.

mrsnala · June 2012

I get 12 weeks paid and can take an additional 8 weeks unpaid. I plan to take 12 weeks, not sure if I will take any upaid yet.

behapy2day · June 2012

I get 12 weeks bc of FMLA and then an additional 12 bc I work for a state university. 6 of the 24 are paid through STD, but between vacation, sicktime, and my aflac policies, I will be able to take 20 of the 24 weeks paid. I plan to take the full 6 months.

NicoleR524 · June 2012

I will definitely take 12 weeks but we've considered adding another 4 weeks which will bring me to the summer. I work in education administration and while I still work over the summer months it's just an easier time to get back in the game. I get paid 80% for 6 or 8 weeks (depending on how I deliver) so we have to figure out if we can afford the extra time after 12 weeks.

goofyteacher · June 2012

7 months. I teach school and plan to teach up until delivery then take the remainder of the school year and summer off. I could take an additional year unpaid, but that's just not in the cards for us financially.

kaleyandjason · June 2012

I will def. be using all 12 of FMLA. I am not sure what the rest of the policy is for my company, but I get 200 hours of sick time annually that I will be using at least partially.

ungraceful13 · June 2012

I'm given 6 weeks. I also have 30 days of STD, and about 20 sick days. If I can get it to work out I would like to have the second half of school off.

mrssmw · June 2012

I'm taking 6-8 weeks depending on vag/c-section. I could take the 12 weeks but after the 6-8 unless I'm approved for disability it will be unpaid. I don't want to put too my strain on DH with the finances so I'm returning sooner plus I work from home so it won't be that bad.

jobiann · June 2012

If my boss approves I may take 8 to 10 paid time off.

stellablue1972 · June 2012

I took 18 weeks with my first. All unpaid, but I had 7 weeks' worth of PTO to cash out. I took it at 20 hours/week so effectively I was paid at a 1/2 time rate for 14 weeks.

In Washington we have 12 weeks FMLA + another 6 weeks per the Washington State Family Leave Act.

Honestly, I don't know if I would take all 18 weeks again with this one. I was going stir crazy towards the end and was dying to go back to work!

theimpossibleastronaut · June 2012

Our policy only gives six weeks, but I am hoping I might be able to use some of my vacation to extend an additional week. We are not covered by FMLA.

pwyckhouse · June 2012

I will be taking 6 weeks without pay and I will get to keep my job. No FMLA we are a small company. Sad

Wish I got as much as a lot of you ladies get.

Beaglechon2012 · June 2012

The least I can. I hate to say it that way, it's not that I don't to be home w/ baby. I just just got my job, so I will not have my FMLA. I don't want to lose my job. Waiting to tell my employer until I am further along of course.

northhillsbride · June 2012

I get 12 weeks, 100% pay, with up to an additional 8 weeks unpaid. I plan to take the 12; I might try to swing 2 more unpaid, but we'll see.

With my first, I only got 6 weeks at 60% pay, and then I took an additional week's vacation. With my second, I ended up being laid off at 8 months pregnant, so I ended up with 6 months "leave" since it took me 8 months to find a job.

With having experienced "extremes" I definitely get very upset with our country and FMLA. With all of the health insurance debates, etc., I think it would cheaper to give Moms longer paid/partially paid maternity leaves than having children go into daycare at 6 weeks of age. My oldest son was sick all of the time that first year, and even ended up with ear tubes - this all placed a lot of stress on my family and my job (even though I had flexibility and tried to make dr. appts at lunch hours, etc.). With #2, the kids has had one ear infection in almost 2.5 years and is never sick.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I don't think so.

MoreThanABride · June 2012

12 weeks.

hoppingkitty · June 2012

I'm a contractor with no Maternity leave or fmla benefits so whatever I take is unpaid. I'd love to have at least 12wks but I don't see how that is possible. With my DD I had planned on 5mths off, only 3 paid but had saved 7wks vacation but was laid off and ended up being off for about 6mths. It's going to be different this time around. Hoping to take at least 7wks and then start back slowly part time. We'll see. Wish the magic fairy would send me paid time off.

janecanadian · June 2012

happy_un-bride:
Ahhh... the joy of being Canadian! I would plan for my entire year! If my work wants to make me an offer to come back early I would consider it.

Isn't it great? Yes, I think I will take all 52 weeks!

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