at what point did you take leave from work?

Peanutz21 · November 2013

hi i'm a lurker, expecting 1st baby in may. i was curious as to when you decided to go on ML officially. some people tell me 2 weeks before EDD, i've heard 4 weeks and then i've even heard people work up until the due date. i don't believe my job has an official policy about when to go, how did you decide?

thanks in advance!

ASmallWonder · November 2013

If all you qualify for is FMLA (or worse, nothing), you'll likely want to work as close to the end as physically possible. Any time you take prior to the birth counts against your 12 week FMLA allowance unless you are in CA or NJ or your company offers a specific pre-birth leave plan.

With my first I went to 42 weeks and worked the Friday before my Tuesday induction. With the second I took a couple days before my induction but in both cases it was only because I knew exactly when the baby was going to be born

bullybutt · November 2013

My water broke WHILE I was at work. There is no way that I was going to "waste" maternity time before having my baby. I had a healthy pregnancy and no complications, so it wasn't an issue for me. I would recommend working up until the day you go into labor so that you have every bit of that SHORT time at home with your LO.

Karla CS · November 2013

If I remember right, with SDI you can take off up to 4 weeks before and 6 after. I took off 2 weeks early, and delivered 2 weeks late, so I had the full 4 weeks before off. I'm not sure how it would work out if you took 4 weeks off early and then were 2 weeks late.

I think it really depends on your financial situation as well as the leave your work is extending you. Some people will need a full paycheck up until the day they deliver. In my circumstances, I could take 12 weeks off after delivery, regardless of how much I took off prior, so it worked out well for me. (I didn't lose any of my time with baby by taking off early)

It also depends on how comfortable you are. I had a really easy pregnancy, but towards the end was starting to get really uncomfortable and not sleeping, so I was glad to be able to relax at home vs try to make it into the office each day.

chiboo9 · November 2013

I worked until I went into labor. My water broke at work on a Friday afternoon, so that following Monday was the start of my leave.

Like PP mentioned, it's a personal decision on when you want to start your leave. I wanted as much time as possible at home with LO so I waited until I literally went into labor. I just gave work a rough estimate of when I'd be gone since you won't really know when you'll go into labor, unless it's a scheduled C-section or you get induced.

ETA: I went into labor at 38 weeks, exactly 2 weeks before my EDD.

mb314 · November 2013

I worked until 7 pm, and started labor at 10 pm that night (I went into labor 3 days before my EDD). I wanted to save my paid time off for after the baby was born.

That said, if I had gone 2 weeks over my EDD, and felt really uncomfortable, I might have stayed home a few days. I think a lot of it depends upon how you feel late in pregnancy. Try to stay active as long as possible - that seemed to really help me feel decent in my last weeks.

One thing to consider is if you take a week or two off before your EDD, you may be sitting around for three weeks waiting for labor to start. I would have gone crazy - I wanted to stay busy.

JJ_13 · November 2013

I worked until the day before I delivered. I was almsot 2 weeks late and had an ultrasound that morning. They told me they wanted to induce by the next day if not before so I went back to work, collected my stuff and went home to try all sorts of natural induction. LO was born late the next day. I'm a believer in working until the end, unless you think you need some time to get mentally in the frame of mind of having a baby. Sometimes I think my body was resisting labor because I was still so busy at work. Who knows though.

jasminelorraine20 · November 2013

I took a week of leave before my EDD, and luckily I had DS the weekend before I would've had to return to work. My Mom came in town for the delivery, so I wanted to spend time with her and by the grace of God DS came the day before he was due. Of course, I got the standard six weeks of ML afterwards.

preggersin2011 · November 2013

My OB wrote it up to HR on the FMLA for my due date since there had to be an official date. I went to work, went home at lunch and was admitted that night. So I didn't take any time off before. I had tons of sick & vacation time that I could have used but my OB encouraged me to go to work since I have a desk job, just so that I am forced to shower and leave the house every day.

jennyelf · November 2013

I was due on a Monday, so I just worked up until the preceding Friday. Fortunately kiddo was extremely accommodating and I went into labor 11pm Sunday night before my EDD. I have a desk job and paid leave so I didn't want to use any of that leave waiting around at home.

QueSrah · November 2013

I didn't want to waste my FMLA time puttering around at home, but I ultimately started my leave the Wed. afternoon before my scheduled Monday induction. I was either 40 or 41 weeks then (I can't remember which date the doctor's office decided to use, since they changed their mind without telling me at one point), and I was too uncomfortable and bored at the office to stay any longer.

Leap08 · November 2013

With DD1, my MW had me stop working at 37.5 weeks and I was induced two days later due to some minor complications. With DD2, I worked until the Friday before my due date (a Sunday), and DD2 was born on her due date. I didn't want to take off time before my due date because I wanted as much time as possible with my baby.

jlaOK · November 2013

With DS, I was induced on a Monday and worked through the Thursday before because I was at a conference that week, had everything ready in case I went into labor at the conference, and wasn't going to come back for just the Friday.

With DD, I worked until I went into labor. Worked all day on that Thursday and went into labor around 9:00 pm.

Sep5Bride · November 2013

Check with your employer as to how this works. I worked up until the end, and later found out my FMLA/STD didn't start until the day DD was born anyway. Next time I plan to take PTO a couple days before my due date (or maybe starting at my due date) so I can plan a little easier and not keep wondering when my last day will be.

aeh72 · November 2013

I was induced on a Monday and I worked until the prior Friday. I wanted to save my maternity leave for after DS was born. If I hadn't had a scheduled induction, I may have taken off a few days before my due date at most, assuming DS cooperated with that plan.

Sunidaze · November 2013

I worked a half day the day before my induction. I didn't want to use up my leave pre-baby.

mexicolombiana · November 2013

I worked till the day I went into labor both times. However, I had really good pregnancies, no complications and was very active throughout. No issues for me to work until labor. Also I work in an office so it's not like I had a physically demanding job.

I wanted to use very single day of maternity leave for after the baby.

NicoleWI · November 2013

I worked pretty much until due date and then worked from home. I used some vacation time or sick time prior to the birth but didn't officially begin leave until the day they were born.

DD1 was born 4 days overdue. Her due date was MLK day, so it was a holiday. I think I worked from home the previous Friday. I went to the hospital to start induction on Weds. night so was able to have a couple days at home, rest, and get ready before going to the hospital.

With DS, my water broke at 6 days overdue RIGHT AFTER (really) I just signed off the computer and was going to use a couple vacation days to finish out the week without working.

With DD2, I had a scheduled c-section b/c she was breech. That was on a Wednesday and I still ended up having to WFH Monday to wrap things off, and then had Tuesday off as a vacation day. I would have liked Monday off as well but I still had too much to do.

I was very, very happy to work from home the last few days and it really helped me wrap things up and not get pulled into new projects/questions at work. It also helped me get some rest, as we were SUPER busy (home and work) right up until I was able to WFH.

Helenahhandbasket · November 2013

I gave bith on a Monday and was at work the preceding Friday. I wanted as much time as possible with LO (I took 12 weeks).

If I was taking a longer leave, I might have maybe planned to take one week before my due date-- however, DD was 9 days "early", so that would not have helped me at all.

I can't imagine what I would be doing sitting around at home for 4 weeks before my due date, but to each his own.

SLGILL1978 · November 2013

I started my leave a week before I was going to be induced. I took the week to spend time with my mom who was traveling from out of state to be with me (my hubby was deployed) and to do any last minute things. I also wanted the majority of leave to be with baby.

Karla CS · November 2013

I really enjoyed my 4 weeks not being at work - it had only been meant to be 2, but baby had other ideas.. I work in an industry where it was more convenient for me to have a specific cut-off date for dealing with clients and having an orderly transition to my back ups. And it was really good for me to be able to check out mentally from work.

I got paid out on STD for the time I was out, and financially, we were able to swing it. I appreciated the fact that I had time to get things done around the house, to go for a walk when I felt like taking a walk, sleep in if I wanted to, or just veg out and watch TV. My neighbor is a SAHM, so I had someone to talk to. My last two weeks were miserable just wanting to get that baby OUT, but I would have felt like that regardless.

I was also such a raging bitch my last few weeks that I'm pretty sure I would have lost a lot of friends in the office. (Okay.. I'm always pretty bitchy, but I had even less tolerance than normal)

DTNZ4Ever · November 2013

My water broke early Monday morning so that previous Friday was my last day. I was planning on working on Monday. I didn't want to waste my time off without the baby. I will do the same with #2.

skibunny59 · November 2013

I worked pretty much until I had DD. You have to use your own sick days where I work and I felt fine so I figured it was best to keep working.

*sparky* · November 2013

I also worked up until the end - went into labor on a Sunday and had worked through the previous Friday. I felt pretty good so there was no reason not to go to work and I wanted to save all of my time off for after the baby arrived. Unless you have some sort of complication that prevents you from being able to do your job until the end, I don't see any reason to take leave early, especially four weeks early.

This time I will get no paid leave, so I plan to work up until baby arrives again.

SLaBM2B · November 2013

39w2d - I couldn't get up off the floor after doing my hair, nor could I fit into my work pants, so I called it quits.

amberdanielle68845 · November 2013

DD delivered via scheduled induction turned csection March 26th and I took the 25th off to wrap up a couple things. But I also have a desk job so working up until last minute was physically possible.

ccam · November 2013

Even though I would have loved some time off at the end of my pregnancy, it would have dragged and I'd rather the time home with my LO. I was induced on a Friday at 41 weeks and my last day of work was that Wednesday. I took off one day to get a pedicure and take a nap.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

I would really like to have my last day before leave to be at 38 weeks 2 days. I am due December 26th. But I would like to take off Christmas week and the week before. I hope my employer doesn't bat an eye. I will use vacation time until the baby comes, then start maternity leave on the day the baby is born. I have 3 weeks of vacation to use and then 18 weeks of maternity leave, so I am not worried about having enough time with the baby afterward. No matter when I go into labor, I am planning to return May 1st. Also, I went into labor at 38 weeks, 6 days last time. Which would put me at December 18th this time around. Finally, it would be nice to hang out with my toddler son for a couple days before we become a family of four.

I am really worried about discussing this with my boss though. Hopefully he understands.

bibby32714 · November 2013

I worked half days the last week before my EDD and ended up a c-section on her due date. I only had limited paid time off and needed all of it to be with her after her arrival.

Zulixx · November 2013

I planned to work up til 4 days before my due date, so is go on leave at the beginning of a new week. Baby came 3 weeks prior to my last scheduled day of work.

SoMoNY · November 2013

Commuting to office till 37/38 week mark and then working at home till due date.

My commute is 90+ minutes by train so want to limit the chance of going into labor while in NYC and 2 hours from hospital.

sdlaura · November 2013

Even though I live in CA and could have taken time before, I didn't want to be out of work for any more time than the time I wanted to spend with my baby, in order to strengthen my advancement prospects and not put my work onto my coworkers for longer than I had to. I worked until the day before my due date, and woke up in labor on my due date. I was planning to keep working until I went into labor. I would have been bored at home and didn't want to waste days off.

misstut23 · November 2013

My doc took me out yesterday. Ill be off 3 weeks before my scheduled c section then can electively take 12 weeks for baby

laurakaz13 · November 2013

I went into labor at work at 40 weeks. I felt fine up until then. There is really no need to take time off beforehand. I would have driven myself crazy waiting and it would have wasted some of my ML.

If it doesn't count against your ML, by all means do it, but if it does I would say do not waste your time off pre-baby.

thedash · November 2013

I think an important consideration for your employer is how to transition your work. In some jobs it is more difficult to have somebody come in every day and never be sure if they will be out the next day.

I worked until delivery with both kids. With my first I left a memo on my desk at the end of each day for the last week or so with the subject "In case I have a baby before tomorrow." It had the status of everything I had going on and contact info for clients, etc.

FemShep · November 2013

hocus said:

It really depends on your job and your state. I believe CA and NJ have special laws regarding time before birth. In most states the federal law is the only thing relevant and so you work until your doctor writes you out. For most folks that point starts at the time of birth but not before. Any non-medical leave prior to that is not covered by FMLA time and would come from sick or vacation and would require employer approval.Note that going out early cuts back your time after birth in many cases but it just depends on how you company handles these things.

For both my pregnancies I planned to work until 41 week and take 1 week of sick leave until I gave birth/was induced. I delivered before 41 weeks both times so I just ended up working until labor which was fine given my sit on your butt office job. If you work on your feet or have a very physical or high stress job things maybe different for you.

This is a great explanation. Things vary by state and employer, but most employers do not offer "maternity leave"; you're paid through a short term disability policy that covers 6 weeks for vaginal deliveries and 8 weeks for c sections. Any time off before delivery in this situation would require a medical reason and a doctor's note. All of your time off also counts to your job protection under FMLA. And employers also often require you to take a certain number of sick days before your STD kicks in. Instead of asking your employer about their maternity leave policy, ask about the STD policy, which is what will likely cover your salary while you're out of work.

MickeyM04 · November 2013

I worked a full day the day before DS was born. My first day of ML was the day he was born. I see no point in taking off before baby is born unless it's because of a medical reason (physically demanding job, pre-eclampsia, etc.). I get 12 weeks. Every day I take off before baby is one less day to spend with baby when they get here.

Samiantha101 · November 2013

I stopped working a week before my due date, and 11 days before my dd was born. To be frank, I hated my job. I worked for a financial institution, where I was constantly beat down by customers. I was looking for a new job before I found out I was pregnant, which put a big halt on my plans. I absolutely could have worked up until I went into labor, but I didn't!

kristennd · November 2013

I had no short-term disability and only six weeks of combined paid leave saved up, so I worked up until the end. It was much easier to be doing a desk job for 8 hours a day than feeling obligated to do extra nesting projects around the house.

Peanutz21 · November 2013

wow thank you for all the helpful replies. i should add that i currently am in NJ. when i had asked my employer about maternity leave ~ 2 years ago, HR told me that they had a private disability plan and that i would't need to file a claim with the state. as for paid ML, between days 1-30 i get 100% of my salary, then days 31-90 I get 75% of my pay. Then my contract states when I come back to work I will only get 75% of my pay for the next 2 months.

HR had mentioned that NJ has additional "bonding" time that would allow up to 6 additional weeks but I'm not sure if this is paid or not... I really need to go talk to employee health/HR but i haven't spilled the beans yet at work that I'm expecting. I was planning on doing this in the next few weeks but just wanted to get an idea if I needed to incorporate time before EDD into my leave.

your replies are really helpful! i guess it all depends on how uncomfortable i feel. if i could work up till EDD i wouldn't mind but my work requires scheduling at least 1 month in advance so it might be a good idea to have a set "last day" for me.

thank you!!

dizzycooks · November 2013

I will work until I have the baby. Last time I worked a full day, was up at 5:30am to go to work and worked until 3:30pm. I went to the hospital at 9pm and had DD at 6am. It was a LONG day.

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