FMLA for IVF?

Lillovebug79 · April 2014

Hello, I did my intro about a month ago a and it looks like we are moving forward with IVF/ICSI. We were originally planning on starting BCP my next cycle (which should start in a few days) but I think we have decided to sit out a cycle and start in June. I really just need a month off before starting the process, I've been doing treatments for 9 months in a row. Ugh!
So my question is, has anyone used FMLA for IVF? My boss has been great with allowing me to move my days around up to this point and I'm grateful for that. But with IVF there will be many more appointments and I'll need days off with short notice and we aren't allowed to take any vacation days without 2 months notice. I'm a nurse in a hospital so I also don't have the option to go in late to leave early. But I am lucky to only work 4 days a week. I just can't imagine the stress of trying to rearrange everything and take days off for ER or ET without FMLA. When I spoke to my hospital'a human resource department they just said "fill out the paper work and we'll see". I'm a planner so that makes me nuts, I need to know!! I work for a children's hospital so it will really anger me if it isn't approved. Everything we do is driven on a family centered approach that I can't even believe they would say we just have to see! I'm just nervous that since I don't have any medical issues and our problem is MFI that it will be denied. Anyone have any experience to share?

diamante1181 · April 2014

YES! Def file FMLA. It would fall under "Intermittent FMLA". My boss has been really great, also, but it's best to CYA. GL!!

dp21 · April 2014

Hello fellow peds nurse! Which shift do you work? I understanding the difficulty of a nurse's schedule!

katib77 · April 2014

For my job is was actually under "Short term disability" leave so I could get paid for three days of being out (Because six days counted and they pay you after three days). Because my job requires me to be on my feet, walking all the time, and lifting up to 40lbs. - I talked to my RE about taking time off for it. But I do know if you're just looking to not be "punished" for having to be late a few times or take a day or two or three of FMLA would be a great way to go. I'm sure it will be approved, but be aware, your HR uses a 3rd party to do the background usually - so even if they are a childrens hospital it's probably an insurance company that will call and check with your doctor about it all.

Lillovebug79 · April 2014

Thank you all for your responses!
@dp21 I work straight days but 40 hours a week so sometimes 3 12s (7a-7:30p) and a 4 (3p-7:30p) or sometimes 2 12s(7a-7:30p) and 2 8s (7a-3:30p) . It's tough because the 12 hour shifts make it impossible to schedule appointments! I'm a NICU nurse so at least there usually isn't any heavy lifting!

@katib77‌ that sounds similar to my use of FMLA. I think my first 40 hours of intermittent have to come from my vacation time or be unpaid which I'm okay with. I have to fill out a bunch of paperwork, then my doctor has to as well. There is one lady in HR that makes the final call in approving it. I went through it for surgeries in the past (sinus surgery x2 and gallbladder). I'm just hoping they consider IF as a serious medical condition, which it is!!

dp21 · April 2014

@Lillovebug79 ugh, I feel you. I'm straight evenings 32 hours, which was actually great for IVF. Was able to do all morning appointments and ultrasounds without interfering with work. The only days I had to worry about were ET and ER. I switched out a bunch of a days ahead of time and worked my weekend off to open up the weekdays around the possible ER and ET days. Also lined up a nurse at work to give me trigger shot if I happened to be at work that night. That worked out great for me. ET fell on Easter, I was scheduled to work but did clear out days around it by making switches, figured if it fell on Easter was prepared to call off because no one was going to pick it up. I found someone to cover 1st 1/2 half of shift OA but not second half (not surprising). I told my manager what was going on and she actually approved it off! We also get 3 call-ins in a 6 month period without getting talked to. So also had that to fall on. Also when you start IVF, you will know your schedule, blood draw and ultrasound days (all in morning)...just transfer and retrieval will be up in the air, but you have a good idea of approximately when. Mine actually followed my calendar pretty closely. Usually evening people hate eves and probably wouldn't mind working days for two weeks if you worked their eves if that is an option! I know I'd jump for it as an evening person if the FMLA doesn't work out!

My blood draw, ultrasound week was kinda crazy because I had finals for grad school that week.

I did tell a few close people who worked my shift about what I was going through, told them, if I'm asking for switches, that is what is going on, and people were extra accommodating and made it happen.

Lillovebug79 · April 2014

@dp21 we don't really have any evening people, mostly all 12 hour people with a few people who do some 4 hours shifts mixed in. It's just really hard to rearrange with my 12 hr shifts. My 3p-7:30p shift is really the only one that allows me to do any monitoring. My position is also really specific and we only have a few contingents and they are working around their family's needs. It sucks but I'm sure I can figure out something if I have to. We are only allowed 4 call offs in a 12 month rolling calendar year and I've already used 2 just with IUIs and monitoring. I only work every 4th weekend so it's nice to be able to switch to those days if I need to.

Lillovebug79 · April 2014

Also, my paperwork said I needed to be off work for ER and the day after as well as ET and the day after. Hopefully those 4 days don't fall in the same week if I can't get FMLA! Is it normal to need that much time off?

dp21 · April 2014

@Lillovebug79 Darn for being mostly 12 hour shifts! I think the NICU at my hospital is all 12s as well. I work every other weekend. Every 4th weekend is awesome!! At least you have a sweet work schedule for life

I will be praying for you, I hope you can get FMLA or short term disability. I didn't even think to look into it at all. It will all work out, you will make it happen!!! I know you will. I know it's stressful. Shoot, I've cried the past three days! In 5 days I'll know if all of this has worked.

On a side note, I love getting preemie babies from the NICU. Especially lately, I hope they give me good vibes

They give the best snuggles

ikrystal · April 2014

I never used FMLA, but I do know it was an option for me. It will help when you have to take some time off, since then you can take it without question. Good luck!

MKateG · April 2014

I'm a nurse also im not sure how your scheduling is done but we self schedule and have our sched a month ahead of time, I knew that we were doing a cycle in april and so I scheduled myself just where I would be off on days that I needed, we did fet so it doesn't have as many monitoring apts as ivf. the other nurses in the floor are really good about switching if anyone needs a day off. Good luck with this cycle!

FMLA for IVF?

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