Maternity Leave: How much time did you take off before?

jemali_2003 · January 2013

Hello ladies,

I just entered the third trimester and want to get some ideas on the amount of time other women took off before their due date. Depending on the amount of time, was it enough, did you wish you had more?

Sunidaze · January 2013

I was induced and really the only time I took off prior was a half day the day before. Unless there are complications leading up to the pregnancy, I am of the mindset of why waste it before you really need it. Everything that needed to be done ahead of time was done well ahead of time (just in case something happened where I went early).

shannm · January 2013

None either time and I was fine. My job is both sitting and standing so I was lucky in the sense that it physically wasn't a challenge for me. I wanted to use all my time off with my babies.

lilsquirt75 · January 2013

I planned to take the week of my due date off so I worked till a Friday, but my water broke on Saturday so I ended up not taking any time off. I am actually glad I didn't waste my time before LO arrived. I was ready and felt great so I worked as long as I could, which is what I suggest for you. Make sure everything is ready weeks ahead of your due date and then just wait.

IdigDirt · January 2013

I took 2 weeks because my work would not allow me any more than 6 weeks after anyways so it did not effect my time after the birth. I was 34cm dialated for weeks so they thought I would go early and I was 2 hours from my hospital and work lifting stuff and on my feet all day. If it would have taken away from my time after birth I may have taken a few days at most if I was still able to do my job.

iluvmylab · January 2013

None. I had contractions most of the day at work and my water broke when I got home.

katieh1017 · January 2013

None. I started contractions on a Sunday night and emailed my boss Monday morning. I delivered 8 days before my EDD.

jemali_2003 · January 2013

Thanks ladies. A lot of people did tell me to work up to the birth, so I do not sit at home thinking about delivery.

My situation might be a bit different since I am a teacher and I have to make sure my long term sub is set up before I deliver.

I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).

cecilyandgautam · January 2013

I worked up until my due date. My supervisor suggested I work from home in the last two weeks, which was awesome. I'll do it again if I'm healthy enough for it - the less time off during pregnancy means more time with the baby once she's here.

Europe's the only place I know of that encourages women to take off before the baby gets here - it's a nice idea but most of us American moms don't have much leave so we just stick it out if we can.

honeybee111 · January 2013

jemali_2003:
Thanks ladies. A lot of people did tell me to work up to the birth, so I do not sit at home thinking about delivery.
My situation might be a bit different since I am a teacher and I have to make sure my long term sub is set up before I deliver.
I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).

I'm a teacher too, and worked up until I delivered(DD was 2 weeks early). As far as getting a long term sub ready, I had my sub picked 2 months before. At 1 month before, she came in a few times to observe classroom routines and familiarize herself with my classroom. I gave her the TEs so she could look at them and start planning. When I went into labor, she was all ready to go, just had to pick up my laptop.

cecilyandgautam · January 2013

jemali_2003:
I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).

If those were paid weeks and didn't eat into time with my baby, I'd definitely do it! The final month is uber uncomfortable.

leah2b · January 2013

None. I worked until 5:30 pm - conractions started getting worse so I went home and was at the hospital by 8. I work for the federal government and we do not get any paid time off, nor are we eligible for disability so I wanted to preserve my time for when the baby was here.

Can you roll over the time to use after the fact? If not, perhaps consider using some of that time. Perhaps a week before would be nice so that you could get any last minute things done and just relax a bit and sleep as much as possible. I am sure it is a tough consideration as you have to factor in what is best for the kids in your class.

MamaAllison · January 2013

I would not take four weeks off beforehand. I think you would probably sit around bored or worried, and probably go but tons of stuff you don't need at least that's what I did. Maybe a week if you still feel like you have some stuff you need to get done and it doesn't affect how much time you can take after, but I wouldn't suggest too much more!

iluvmylab · January 2013

honeybee111:
jemali_2003:
Thanks ladies. A lot of people did tell me to work up to the birth, so I do not sit at home thinking about delivery.
My situation might be a bit different since I am a teacher and I have to make sure my long term sub is set up before I deliver.
I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).
I'm a teacher too, and worked up until I delivered(DD was 2 weeks early). As far as getting a long term sub ready, I had my sub picked 2 months before. At 1 month before, she came in a few times to observe classroom routines and familiarize herself with my classroom. I gave her the TEs so she could look at them and start planning. When I went into labor, she was all ready to go, just had to pick up my laptop.

I teach too and all of this is true for me. DS was born at 37 weeks. My sub was "on call" and knew once I hit 36 weeks to be ready. I called her when we got to the hospital and were sure he was coming. All my plans were ready to go at the school, all she had to do was show up.

I don't think I would take it. I would have gone stir crazy sitting around waiting. As long as I felt ok, I would probably work. I took 12 weeks off after baby.

flyingsaucer · January 2013

Are you in NJ? I taught in NJ and we got 4 weeks before our due date as part of disability. I took it. Most people work until the last minute because they want to spend as much time as possible with the baby, but if your 4 weeks doesn't effect the time you have after birth then do it! I spent the weeks before the kids were born washing clothes, shopping for last minute things, etc

PunkyBooster · January 2013

None. I planned to work right up until I delivered. However, I was working from home and my boss was very much in the camp that once you hit 37w you worked from home most days.

I did have it planned to take Thanksgiving week off (was due 12/2) to get things prepped, but that was vacation time I had to use or lose before the end of the year. I ended up having to be induced mid-November so that plan didn't work out so well! It was all okay though.

SunAndRain · January 2013

20 weeks total = 8 weeks paid (2 of those were b/c I had a c-section) plus 12 weeks unpaid.

It was about right.

EastCoastBride · January 2013

None that was planned, perse. I planned on working up to my due date. I only got a certain amount of time off and I wasn't going to waste it on before the baby was even here.

I hit my due date, though, and my doc said that after that Friday, to stop. I went into labor early Tuesday morning. So... basically a day!~

Jinsy80 · January 2013

No time, I wanted to have more time with my babies.

moonfaerie · January 2013

I had scheduled c/s on Tuesday morning, and with DD1, I took of the Friday and Monday before it. With DD2, I just took off the day (Monday) before the c/s. I'm a fan of working until the last minute if possible, to have as much time with baby as possible.

dizzycooks · January 2013

I didn't take any. DD was due two days after MLK day which is a holiday for us and then it was a staff development day so I knew it would be a pretty low key week for me. I ended up having her a week and a half early. I worked all day (not sure if I was feeling contractions, but in retrospect I had them from 2am on that day). I went home at 3 and was in the hospital at 9pm, delivered at 6am. I would do it again.

ridesbuttons · January 2013

Both kids were born on a Monday. I worked the preceeding Friday with both.

Strunella · January 2013

My last day of work was six days before my due date. And boy, did I have things to do with those six days! Manicure, pedicure, finish Christmas shopping, plan Christmas Eve dinner with my parents, wrap a million gifts. None of which got done as my water broke my first day of maternity leave and DS was born the next day.

Honestly, couldn't have planned that better if I had tried. Not one day of maternity leave wasted before baby!

jennynorene · January 2013

With my first, none. She was 10 days early. With my second I took the week before my scheduled c-section as vacation. I was miserable and very happy not to have to go to a high stress job. My mom was there and we hung out and ran errands, put some finishing touches on the baby's room etc. oh, and went to my best friend's Bday bash. Ha. As other people pointed out my one week did not eat into my time after baby. If it did I might not have taken it (although maybe I would have - I was really hurting with the second. I didn't have that situation with #1).

anvloveskme · January 2013

I had to make sure my calendar was clear or covered about a week prior to my EDD bc I needed court coverage. DD came 4 days early so that was perfect. This time I will have a RCS and may try to schedule it on a Friday just to try to maximize DHs time off. That way he could only miss 6 work days (Friday and the following Monday - Friday) but still get like 10 days at home with us. I'll bro ably take 1-3 days off before this time.

KScheibe12 · January 2013

jemali_2003:
Thanks ladies. A lot of people did tell me to work up to the birth, so I do not sit at home thinking about delivery.
My situation might be a bit different since I am a teacher and I have to make sure my long term sub is set up before I deliver.
I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).

Hmmm that's tough to say. I planned on working up until the day she was born and I did. My water broke at work! haha I was only 36 weeks though so I wasn't quite at the point yet where you're so big that you're miserable.

If I could get paid time before hand without it affecting time after the baby was born, I would probably take a few days; maybe even a week. I just think that I would go crazy after 4 weeks of anticipation, just sitting around waiting. Especially if you go past your due date.

KScheibe12 · January 2013

anvloveskme:
I had to make sure my calendar was clear or covered about a week prior to my EDD bc I needed court coverage. DD came 4 days early so that was perfect. This time I will have a RCS and may try to schedule it on a Friday just to try to maximize DHs time off. That way he could only miss 6 work days (Friday and the following Monday - Friday) but still get like 10 days at home with us. I'll bro ably take 1-3 days off before this time.

Totally unrelated but I love your tattoo!

laurakaz13 · January 2013

I took 14 weeks paid. I would have taken around 5-6 months (even unpaid) if my company offered that much time. However, I will say that I was pretty bored at home and happy to return to work.

itsmevkb · January 2013

I didn't take off anytime prior to my leaves with all four of my pregnancies. I just didn't see the need.

preggersin2011 · January 2013

I went home from work when I went into labor..... i don't regret taking time off before since it was my first child & I didn't want to stay at home watching Law & Order reruns going bored out of my mind. A few friends did the same thing but with their second they took off 2 weeks before their scheduled due date for personal vacation time with their 1st child was in day care every day.

1026pumpkin · January 2013

jemali_2003:
Thanks ladies. nbsp;A lot of people did tell me to work up to the birth, so I do not sit at home thinking about delivery. nbsp;My situation might be a bit different since I am a teacher and I have to make sure my long term sub is set up before I deliver. nbsp;I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? nbsp;Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 68 weeks after depending on the type of delivery. nbsp;nbsp;

I would if I were you. My employer pays for 4 weeks prior to the due date and I didn't think I'd need it. Sure enough I was completely miserable my last month. Especially if you're a teacher where you're likely to be on your feet most of the day and unable to take breaks when you want, I'd take the time. The only way I survived my last month was by doing office work when normally I'd have been on my feet a lot more.

Eastie156 · January 2013

I was due on a Friday and ended up being induced the next day on Saturday for different reasons. I didn't take any time before off, because I wanted to maximize my maternity leave.

whynotwhynot · January 2013

My work technically allows women to leave four weeks before their due dates with 100% pay. While this is what HR says is allowed, no one actually takes this much time off. Unless there were serious complications, anyone who tried to take a month off would be talked about and their reputation would be hurt in a non provable way. I went out 7 working days before my due date. Leaving when you can round up and say you are due next week seemed reasonable to me. Also, you should factor in that it is pretty common to go up to a week past your due date.

jess9802 · January 2013

None, really - my first full day of maternity leave was June 14, and I checked into the hospital that night at 10 to start the induction. DS was born the next day.

I was feeling pretty good toward the end of my pregnancy and so work wasn't hard. I think I would have gone stir crazy if I'd been sitting at home, waiting to go into labor. But in hindsight I probably could have used the sleep b/c Lord knows I haven't had enough since.

court115 · January 2013

I had planned on working up until my due date but my doctor took me out of work at 37w5d. It's been nice to be able to relax and do random things around the house but I lost about a week and a half of time that I wish I could have spent with my baby. My firm was very serious in only allowing me to have off for 8 weeks so anytime I had to take prior to delivery came out of those 8 weeks.

financialdiva · January 2013

Worked a full day, then went in the next day for my induction with DS1. Plan on working until birth this time around as well.

jf198400 · January 2013

jemali_2003:
Thanks ladies. A lot of people did tell me to work up to the birth, so I do not sit at home thinking about delivery.
My situation might be a bit different since I am a teacher and I have to make sure my long term sub is set up before I deliver.
I guess another question would be, if you were given up to 4 weeks off before without it affecting your leave after the baby arrives, would you take it? Under my district and disability, I am covered 4 weeks before and 6-8 weeks after (depending on the type of delivery).

With both of my children I worked up until i went into labor. Both kids were over a week late. With DD I worked from home the last 2 weeks (I had an hour commute and my hospital was by my home). I was induced on a Sunday night. With DS, I worked in the office (still hour commute) a week past my due date. Went in to labor on a Saturday. I did take 2 vacation days before he was born so I could get stuff done at home.

If I had the option to take time off before and still get full pay, and not affect my time after at all, then I would probably take a week off before my due date. I wouldn't want to be home too long, b/c it gets boring, and it makes you more anxious for LO to come.

chardonnay24 · January 2013

I was induced, so I worked until I had to go to the hospital at 5 pm.

I kind of wish I had taken a couple days off to just relax, sleep, get a massage, and have lunch with friends, but it wouldn't have been necessary.

heyitsme · January 2013

I work in So Cal and was able to get pregnancy disability for 4 weeks prior to my due date. It was wonderful.

cchill01 · January 2013

5 months with DD#1

4.5 months with DD#2

That was the perfect amount of time for me.

cchill01 · January 2013

cchill01:
5 months with DD#1
4.5 months with DD#2
That was the perfect amount of time for me.

So, it helps if I read the question. I started my leave with #1 on my Due Date, which totally backfired. She was 15 days late, so I wasted a ton of vacation time sitting around doing nothing.

With #2, I took castor oil while still working (I don't recommend this), the day before going in for my induction.

If there's a #3, I will probably try to take a week off before my induction date. I could have used some more time to prepare.

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