Hi Workin' Mamas!
Our editors have a few questions for you and we would LOVE your feedback for other moms who are entering this stage:
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
-How much maternity time was paid?
You can respond here or email community@thebump.com with "Maternity Time" in the subject with your story!
Thanks ladies!
Re: Maternity Leave?
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? 12 weeks - max allowed from FMLA
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? N/A? Not sure what you mean here, I guess FMLA limited my time off to 12 weeks.
- How much maternity time was paid? I have STD that pays 90% for 6 weeks for a vaginal birth, after a 9 day waiting period. It comes out to about 4.5 weeks paid. I used PTO to cover the remaining 7.5 weeks.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? I took 12 weeks which was the alloted time given to me.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? I took as much time as was possible as allowed by my employer
-How much maternity time was paid? 6 weeks - 2 weeks LTD - and I took 3 weeks of PTO so that I wouldn't go unpaid. However I did just hear that our maternity policy changed and now they are paying the full 12week period. So whenI go out this September with #2 it will be paid for. Yay!
With DS:
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? 11 weeks total. I planned on taking the 12 weeks for FMLA but had to go back a week early because of DH's travel schedule.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? I wanted the max amount of time and could afford time w/o pay, so I chose to use the full FMLA time.
-How much maternity time was paid? Around 8 weeks were paid. I only had about 2-3 weeks of sick/vacation time and the rest was donated by fellow employees. I had 3 weeks of unpaid time.
With DD (due in June):
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? I will take 8 weeks off. I work for a small company and don't qualify for FMLA. I negotiated up from 6 weeks with my employer.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? 8 weeks was the minimum amount of time I wanted off. I was excited that my employer agreed to this time.
-How much maternity time was paid? I will have 4 weeks paid. 2 weeks vacation and 2 weeks paid maternity leave from my employer. I am the first in my company to have a baby and 2 weeks paid maternity and paternity leave is now written into our company policy. I am proud to be a part of that added benefit.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
2 weeks before birth and 20 afterwards. This is two weeks beyond my company's maximum policy. An exception was allowed since I had a huge vacation balance and the last two weeks fell during the holidays which are slow for us.
-How much maternity time was paid?
Company fully paid 100% for 2 weeks before (would have paid up to 4 weeks with a doctor's note) and made my salary whole after SDI/FLMA for 12 weeks after birth. I was then able to use sick and vacation to make my salary whole for weeks 13-20.
Was not asked, but my husband also took time off under FLMA.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
I took 3 months total (13 weeks)
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
My company's generous maternity leave policy. I could have actually taken 4 months off and still had job protection, but I knew that being gone that long could potentially be detrimental to my career, so I took what I considered to be the "normal" amount of time.
-How much maternity time was paid?
I was paid during the entire maternity leave (just not all by my company). The first 6 weeks I was on STD and then my company paid me the difference between STD and my salary. The next 6 weeks, I was on California's Paid Family Leave, which pays the same rate as STD and my company did not pitch in anything. I had to write a check to my health insurance company to cover me during that time because I had no paycheck to be deducted from. And, honestly, because a) I wasn't commuting and b) there were no deductions from the STD check, the amount of money actually coming in wasn't too far off my regular salary. The last week of maternity leave I used some of my accrued time off.
One thing I wish I had known was that the 4 weeks you are entitled to prior to giving birth do not count against you after the baby is born as far as STD is concerned (at least in CA and at my company). I thought I was "saving" my maternity leave to bond with baby by staying at work right up until I had her, but I actually could have still taken the full 3 months after she was born and taken a couple weeks before she was born. Oh well.
How much maternity time did you take, if any?
12 weeks under FMLA
Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
It was the max time allowed
What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
The fact that if I wanted my job back and they would only hold it open for 12 weeks due to FMLA
How much maternity time was paid?
4 weeks of STD at 60 percent of wages
12 weeks if all goes as planned (due in October)
Max allowed by FMLA
As of now, only about 5 weeks will be paid and will use all of my Personal and Sick Time I've accumulated. This may be an issue if my hubby doesn't find a better job before then. I am the primary earner and bill payer and will have no choice but to return earlier. I am an accountant for a state university and they don't pay STD or have any paid time for maternity leave.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? 13 weeks with DS1 (teacher, so 12 wk FMLA + xmas) 14 wks (FMLA + 2 extended weeks) + 2 mo summer with DS2
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? I wanted to take as much time as possible!! We can't afford for me to stay home, but I wish we could.
-How much maternity time was paid? I had about 3 weeks sick leave saved with DS + short term disability I pay for that pays back a month's income. With DS2, I have only the disability insurance for 4 weeks pay, the rest is unpaid leave.
With first Child:
How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
12 weeks, chosen b/c of FMLA, standard at my company
What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
FMLA
How much maternity time was paid?
STD covered 100% for 6 weeks, also used 1 week of PTO, so 7 weeks out of 12 were paid
With second Child:
How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
I took 14 weeks- 12 weeks FMLA plus 2 weeks vacation
What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
I would have liked to extend my leave (unpaid) for another month, but I was not guaranteed a job to return to, so I had to come back or I probably would have been terminated and not eligible for unemployment.
How much maternity time was paid?
STD covered 100% for 6 weeks, also used 2 weeks of PTO, so 8 weeks out of 14 were paid
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
I took 15 weeks of Maternity Leave.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
I went out 4 weeks before my due date, but my son was born a week early so I only got 3 weeks there. I got 6 weeks of disability due to a vaginal delivery and then got 6 more weeks of Paid Family Leave from the State of California. My HR department told me that I could stay out until May 6th....so 6 more weeks (a total of 21) if I wanted to, with my job secure, but those last 6 weeks would not have been paid and DH and I need my income.
-How much maternity time was paid?
All of the leave that I took was paid. I went back to work the day after my paid leave ended. I'm very envious of other countries that have months and even years of paid leave, but thankful that I at least had that extra 6 weeks paid because most states don't have programs like that.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? I took 6 months of leave. That is the max that my job would be protected so I took advantage of it.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? We have been saving so that I could stay home for the 6 months. I probably will never be able to do that again so I went for it.
-How much maternity time was paid? I had about 4 months of sick/vacation/personal time banked and was able to use all of it. 2 months was unpaid.
___________________________________________________________________________
Trying for #1 since May 2010 l DX ~ Unexplained Infertility June 2011
IUI #1&2 = BFN; IUI #3 = BFP, m/c @ 6 weeks
November '11 ~ IVF#1 ~ ER 11/18 (29R, 17F) ~ 5dt of one beautiful blast on 11/23 = BFP!!
Beta #1 9dp5dt = 116, P4 = 28 ~ Beta #2 13dp5dt = 700 ~ Beta #3 20dp5dt = 9500, P4 = 26
1st u/s 12/27 - hb of 156!! EDD 8.10.12 **TEAM GREEN!**
Sweet baby boy born 8.18.12
Trying for #2
FET #1 - October '13 - c/p l FET #2 - December '13 - cancelled l FET #2.2 - 1.30.14 - BFN
~ More testing - hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy & more b/w - all normal / negative~
Surprise BFP while waiting on FET #3 ~ beta #1 500; beta #2 1600; first u/s 4/3 - measuring 5w5d, no hb yet!; 2nd u/s 4/10 - hb 132, measuring 6w6d - EDD 11.29.14 **TEAM GREEN!**
Beautiful baby girl born 11.24.14
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
I took the full 12 weeks under FMLA. My company also offers a 4th month unpaid, but I was ready to go back at 3 months. Our finances also couldn't take the hit of a month completely unpaid.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
Personal finances and job benefits.
-How much maternity time was paid?
The maternity benefit was only six weeks. The first two weeks were an unpaid waiting period and the next four were paid at 70%. My company allows us to bank up to a year of leave time, so I was able to use accrued leave to be paid 100% for the additional six weeks off, bringing the total to 12. If I'd wanted to take the 4th month mentioned above, it would've been unpaid - no supplementation with leave time is allowed.
DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? I took 6 weeks. It was my accrued sick leave. I would have to go unpaid (while the bills kept coming in) or use my 2 weeks vacation. I want those 2 weeks later in the year when LO is sleeping better.. hopefully!
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? Same as above.
-How much maternity time was paid? All of my 6 weeks were. Unpaid is just not an option for us unfortunately.
Katherine Quinn | 9.16.2012 | 38w4d
Ryan Lanman | 9.12.2014 | 40w
2 Losses | 10/2010 @ 5w | 9/2013 @ 10w4d
Little Sprout Blog
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? With my first, I took about 10.5 weeks total. I took 9.5 weeks, then worked a week or two just before Christmas and took the week between Christmas and News Years off again. With my second, I took 10 weeks off.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? I had my first baby in the busiest time of year in my job, so felt obligated to come back and do my job. With my second, I didn't think I needed more than 10 weeks because I was getting bored by that time on the first maternity leave. Also, my husband and I work for the same employer and I wanted to leave 2 weeks (under FMLA) for him, though he only took a few days of it.
-How much maternity time was paid? None was paid by my employer--I had a few weeks of sick/vacation time and had several weeks unpaid with both children.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
I am planning to take 6-8 weeks off. I will receive 6 weeks (or 8 weeks for C-section) 100% paid after 5 day unpaid waiting period. I can take as much as 12 weeks under FMLA but the remaining will be unpaid.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
I am a commission-paid employee. I am not given any PTO -- vacations, sick, etc are all unpaid. I'm lucky that I am entitled to 100% STD for 5 weeks as many others are not. As the primary bread-winner, we cannot afford to have me home not earning anything. I also would not be able to handle the anxiety of knowing that I was depleting our savings. For 13 years, I was entitled to 12 weeks fully paid maternity leave. It changed last year. I was very upset that I spent so much time here waiting for the maternity leave only to be screwed when the time finally came. I had turned down previous job offers due to our formally amazing maternity leave accrued.
My boss thinks I'm amazing superstar that I will be back so quickly. I took 4 weeks for my wedding but now only 6 weeks for a baby. Irritating. Damn to BM for not paying any child support for SS1 and SS2 or I could stay out longer.
-How much maternity time was paid? 5 weeks 100% pay based on my average pay over the past two years.
full time stepmom to SS1 and SS2 since 2010
married since 2011
TTC since 7/2011 (no planned bc since 2008)
HSG 11/2011: one blocked tube
S/A 2/2012 and retest S/A 3/2012: normal
Bloodwork: normal
2nd HSG 5/2012: clear
Femara cycle 5mg #1 7/14/12 + IUI #1 7/23/12 = bfn
New RE appt 8/14/12
IVF #1 meds 8/30/12. ER 9/14/2012: 7 retrieved, 6 fertilized. ET 9/19/12: 1 perfect embryo 5dt.
Beta #1 BFP! 97
Beta #2 234
Beta #3 4937
ultrasound #1 heart beat 127
10/20/12 graduated!!!
EDD 6/7/12
Team PINK!!
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
I took 12 weeks with my first two kids.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
I had saved enough vacation / sick time to be paid. And FMLA protected my job.
-How much maternity time was paid?
ALL times 2.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? I took two weeks off before DD was born and 6 1/2 weeks off after she was born. That was the max amount of time I could take with pay.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took? I would have loved to take more time but 6 weeks STD is the max. I actually ended up taking another 1/2 week off so that DD didn't have to start daycare on my first day at work.
-How much maternity time was paid? I used PTO for two weeks before DD was born and was then paid STD at 60% for 5 1/2 weeks.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
16 Weeks - that is what I chose.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
We couldn't afford any unpaid time off.
-How much maternity time was paid?
12 Weeks paid maternity leave
4 weeks vacation that I saved up.
How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you? I took 13 weeks off. I had 12 weeks of FMLA leave and snuck in an extra week because I knew my company wasn't really counting.
What circumstances impacted how much time you took? Finances. I would have loved to have taken at least 6 months - a year off, but we couldn't swing it financially. Plus, my company would not have held my job for that long.
How much maternity time was paid? I got 6 weeks paid. I used 4 weeks vacation and then took 3 weeks unpaid.
-How much maternity time did you take, if any? Why did you chose that amount of time, or was that the time given to you?
12 weeks. I wanted to take the maximum amount of time as I could.
-What circumstances impacted how much time you took?
FMLA limits
-How much maternity time was paid?
No real paid maternity leave benefit. However I had enough sick/vacation time built up to cover my 12 week maternity leave.
I'm a new hire, so I only get 6 weeks and it's unpaid. :-( My fellow school teachers often plan their births to be right before summer break. That way, they'll get the summer off plus the weeks that their school will pay for. My cousin was a teachers' aid, and she saved up her time off to score 5 months!
I know another school teacher who was a new hire, but she had to be on bed rest during her first trimester (so that took away any extra days). She took exactly 6 weeks off, and she delivered in March (during Spring break, actually).