Time Off Before Baby

ktmcg22 · June 2014

Good morning ladies!

Is anyone planning on taking a couple of weeks off before baby comes? I am debating doing this...my son came at 37 weeks and with him my water broke everywhere! Not just a few drips, more like a flood! My husband wants me to take 3 weeks off before baby to spend time with our son who is 3 years old. Then I won't have to worry about my water breaking here at work. Just wanted to get some others opinions before I make a final decision.

Thanks everyone and I hope you are all having a good Monday morning!

tabaskoa · June 2014

I am not planning to take any time off before baby comes because I'm saving my vacation time for maternity leave, Christmas, and other times I want off. I am planning to ask my boss if I can work from home the last couple weeks before my due date though...I am able to do my job remotely so I'm hoping there won't be any issues with that.

It would be nice to have some time off before baby comes though so if you have the ability to, then go for it! Does your DS have to be with you the whole time though? I would say try to keep to his normal schedule as much as possible, and just have a few special days with him before baby.

caballablanca · June 2014

I'm taking my vacation days before baby but not in the traditional sense. I have this week off, then I go back for 2 weeks. Another week off. 2-3 weeks then baby. I had a week off 2 weeks ago too. That way I'm not accidentally taking more time off than necessary. I want all 12 weeks with new baby.

kaitm22 · June 2014

I wish I could, but the only time I work steady hours is during the summer, so I am planning on working up until baby comes. A little l=early wouldn't bother me though, so then I could be done working all that much sooner!

Third&goal · June 2014

I want to save leave for a full 12 weeks with baby, but I may try to work from home or take a few days off here and there when it gets closer to the end.

workmm01 · June 2014

No. I don't have an option. I wish I could take some time off! Thanks for reminding me to bring a beach towel to work to sit on in case my water breaks here! :P

BlckRoses · June 2014

I'm going to play it by ear. I only get 12 weeks off, but I may start my leave if I haven't gone into labor by my due date. I'm already starting to get pretty uncomfortable sitting, standing and walking, so these last 10 weeks are going to be a struggle. I want as much time after baby gets here at home, but I also don't want to be miserable.

BeachM · June 2014

I'm a SAHM this time so there's no such thing as time off for me, but I wish I had done this last time. Looking back I would have sat alone in a quiet room and just done nothing. LOL!

chase16 · June 2014

Not really. We're going on vacation to WI and MI next week(!), but other than that, just a couple of 4 day weekends here and there.

Valancyy · June 2014

flip_flops said:

I'm a SAHM this time so there's no such thing as time off for me, but I wish I had done this last time. Looking back I would have sat alone in a quiet room and just done nothing. LOL!

Me too! I wasn't able to start maternity leave until 38 weeks, and I planned to start it then with my first baby. I went into labor the weekend after my last day of work...and I spent all of that Saturday cleaning. Went into labor that night. I wish I had had some time to just relax.

With #2 I planned on taking a week vacation before maternity leave started (at 37 weeks). Ended up having daycare issues, so I needed to work up until delivery day. I ended up using bereavement for one day, then went into labor that night (again after just 1 day off). Had the baby the morning of my grandma's funeral.

This time I'm a SAHM, so I still won't have any "time off"!

I would recommend taking at least a week off, if you have the time available. I really wish I had had time to just relax, organize any last minute items. Plus, you want to be as rested as possible before you go into labor.

MC03 · June 2014

I am taking three weeks before my RCS. I have the time and it won't eat into my post-baby time, so I am taking it. I am already so tired and uncomfortable. I took it last time too and it was soo nice to have some time to relax and organize baby stuff. Although this time DDs daycare is closed the last two weeks before my RCS, so I will have her to watch and I don't think it will be quite as relaxing.

travelmunkie · June 2014

I'm in Ontario where we're lucky enough to have a full year of mat leave. I've banked 2 weeks holidays to take before my due date of Aug 15th. It can not come soon enough!!

mandyjimmy · June 2014

I am hoping to work up until I go into labor. I have vacation, but want to save it to use after the baby arrives and a little extra around the holidays. But...every morning when the alarm goes off I think it sure would be nice to start maternity leave early!

kristenpedersen · June 2014

Starting Wednesday I will be working 10 hours a week from home. I will still be able to take 12 weeks after the baby fully paid.

Allison7 · June 2014

I work at a college and I am off for the summer since I only work the academic year...but I go back 4 weeks before classes start and (of course) classes start the Monday after my due date. My boss and the college are great and I could totally not come back until midterms or the spring term, but I have no paid leave...so I am going to try and work starting in late July right up until the baby comes. I plan on bring towels with me to work and in my car...I am sure that makes me crazy!

SLMckinnon · June 2014

I also live in canada so we are lucky enough to get a whole year off. I also work in the school system so luckily I get almost 2 months off (sort of unpaid though, I have a 10 month salary paid over 12 months...) before my due date. I know this is not the norm at all but I'm thankful for all the time I can get!

JadaBlue · June 2014

I have to go back to the U.S. at 34 because of inadequate medical care where I live. It stinks because I will use all of my vacation before the baby is born and have to go unpaid during fmla...but at this point I'm so over work I'm pretty grateful to be leaving.

lbonga1 · June 2014

Last time I left work a week and a half before my due date (DD was born on her due date). I wanted to work as long as I could, but my job involves a lot of standing so I started to get very uncomfortable. This time I'll see how I feel as well, and I'll probably end up going on leave about 1-2 weeks before my due date again.

con07s · June 2014

I'm in the same boat as you... Debating on taking time off before or not. I would if it was affordable. I get 12 weeks but its all unpaid. My boss said I could take an early leave (which is also unpaid) because my doctor is concerned I've been pushing myself too much. I might try and save to take off two weeks before baby. Tough decision but I feel like your body will tell you what you need to do:) at least that's what I'm hoping for.

FrodaBaggins · June 2014

oooh it'd be nice, but like most other people I have to save all the mat leave for actual baby time.

ungraceful13 · June 2014

Due to when my due date fell I was off with both of my kids but that is only bc I work at a school. DD was born on Winter Break and DS will be born on summer break. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to have taken time off.

roxy531261 · June 2014

I wish i could but I own my own firm. I will start taking a day off here and there when I can since I am not getting any "set" time off and will probably have to come in to do the things that it is too much of a PIA to train other people to do.

I am cutting back on the new things and just trying to finish all the outstanding things right now.

awalter5110 · June 2014

I have 3 more weeks of work left and I'm done until November. I work in a salon and the standing in one place for hours is killing my back and I can't last more than a few hours anymore. I told my boss after these couple schedules she made to not schedule me anymore and she was cool with it. I don't qualify for FMLA (which I didn't realize at first, forgot you had to work with the company for a year) so she is just giving me whatever time I need. I am thankful they are being so cool about it and I will be happy to have a few weeks to myself to rest before baby comes. I can't imagine working up to my water breaking…I would feel so overwhelmed! I am going to take advantage of the time and make sure EVERY SINGLE THING is done, lol.

xxMiss2Mrs09xx · June 2014

I have the option to take up to four weeks before the due date..... I'm going to take off at 37 weeks.

sujana22 · June 2014

I wish I could take time off ideally. I just got approved to work from home in month of July. My EDD is 08/05. Since I won't be commuting I will squeeze in my me time or quality time with my hubby.

shevaCC · June 2014

I mostly work at a computer so my job isn't particularly strenuous. Last time I worked up until the day before I went into labor. I plan to do the same thing this time as long as my doctor is fine with it. Honestly I didn't want the time around the house -- those last few weeks dragged slowly enough. It was good to have projects to keep me busy and pass the time. If my job was physically demanding, I'm sure I'd feel differently.

mikescutie7 · June 2014

I have 4 weeks off from my job before baby is due. If I don't use it I lose it

cachoque · June 2014

I need to use all 12 weeks after baby b/c our child care provider doesn't accept babies less than 3 months old. I'm a little nervous about it all - getting the timing right to stay with baby long enough to meet this. If not, we'll need to dip into vacation time, which I'm hoping to save for holidays, etc.

BabyM82714 · June 2014

I don't have any of my leave paid. I also have no guarantee of a position when I return. So I definetly won't be taking time off before. I plan on working until my due date. I honestly think I'd be extremely bored if I took off. I can only clean so much and we are really tidy people. I would just go to lunch with friends, shop, decorate excessively, and spend way more money than needed right before baby. If I had time off paid I probably would take 1-2 weeks before baby.

marathonmommy82 · June 2014

No. I'd be bored. I don't have any court 2 weeks before my EDD but I am scheduled as the back up attorney

KathleenBean84 · June 2014

My contract ends July 31 and I'm due August 19, so I might have a couple of days before the baby or I might have almost a month. I'm hoping that it will be somewhere in between the two.

kaseface22 · June 2014

I'm already off work. I'm 33 weeks. I just took personal leave cuz work was just too hard on my body. I work part time in retail so I don't have vacation or sick leave anyway. I am supposed to be resting but I feel like I have done more at home than I do at work! I'm nesting though. Lol

robincody2013 · June 2014

I work in a warehouse. I have been placed on restrictions for awhile since I work in a shipping department. I still hurt when I go home after a 10 hour day. My OB said that he doesn't like his patients to work after 36 weeks. Have to get a bunch of paperwork filled out because work says it has to be a medically necessary reason for me to be off those weeks prior. But OB said he would do whatever. I will qualify for short term disability through my company so 60% pay. Then once I deliver 8 weeks 100% pay. Of course I can take longer but then its not paid.

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