Husband taking time off work

jess123456 · July 2014

Hey ladies! I don't believe this was asked yet (I searched and couldn't find it) but how much time does your husband plan to take off when baby is born?

I imagine my husband should plan to take off some time (at least a week of vacation time) but I also know he likes to take off time during Christmas. He has three weeks total to work with. What are you guys planning on doing and what have you done? I don't have family in the area but my parents plan to come shortly after the birth for a bit so I imagine that their help will be great especially if my husband is back to work. I know those first few weeks are really tough for adjusting etc. This will be our first child at home.

missnacholover · July 2014

DH gets 12 weeks paid 100%. Nuts. However, he isn't going to take that long for a few reasons. It's kind of career limiting, he's way too busy at work, and he WFH so he'll be around anyway. The plan, right now, is for him to take 2 weeks and then go back the 3rd week kind of on a limited basis. Then back FT the 4th week.

He will be taking the week between Christmas and New Year's off though.

PandaCon · July 2014

When my first was born, y DH got about three days. He may have taken more but there was a major snow storm and he drove a tow truck. Needless to say, he went to work 18+ hours a day when DS was only 4 days old.

I did have my mom come almost every afternoon and help me though. I got to shower/eat/put down baby while she helped me. She also did my dishes!!!!

This time, DH has no vacation time (started a new job at a small company. He doesn't get vacation until he has put in a year) so anytime he wants to take off will be unpaid. Not sure yet what we will do but I know that my Mom will probably help out again too!

Dimples0101 · July 2014

DH took two weeks last time and plans to do the same. It's sort of nice that we're due around the holidays (if your work gives holiday time off) because it seemed like as soon as he went back to work last time, he was home again for a couple of days.

dh2613 · July 2014

DH has been saving his time off for when the baby comes, he will have about 4 weeks to play with so he plans on taking 2 weeks right when the baby arrives and an extra 2 weeks right when I go back to work after my maternity leave. That way we can keep the baby home a few more weeks before starting him at daycare..

Also like others have said he gets time off for holidays already in November and December so we will have that to play with as well which will be nice.

kjmommy1214 · July 2014

With DD, DH only took the daddy's o if that I was in the hospital. I was released. Monday afternoon and he went to work Tuesday morning. This time he plans on taking 2 or 3 days depending on the day of the week LO is born.

ETA: He works in town and is home everyday for lunch. Also, he plans to stop and check on me.

venussapphire · July 2014

dh is taking two weeks off like last time. I had a section last tine and I cant imagine not having him there. he gets his vacation paid out on his cheques so he has been banking hours. as long as his boss knows when its fine.

he's an electrician and everything is closed down during Christmas/ new years so he will have that time off too.

im just worried he's going to take time off and then it gets slow and there is no work. I guess we will have to just wait and see.

carmelissa · July 2014

I'm lucky that my hubby is a firefighter so will be home most days. He did take off 2 days during the first 2 weeks so he'll be home all week, but after that he's home 5-6 days/week.

Kehlepop · July 2014

We're lucky enough that he can work at home if need be so he will be at home 2 weeks before my due date (still working) and probably just coming into work occasionally until January.

Lilwatz · July 2014

My husband wants to take 2 months (largely unpaid). Who am I to say no to a sweet request like that?

ETA: homonym issues.

turtles7 · July 2014

I would DH to take off a week off but we will see how he does take off when it's time. He has used most, if not all, of his leave on motorcycle racing.

marajay6 · July 2014

My husband earns a few hours of vacation every pay period (unlike me - I get x number of days per year). I never really know how much time he has banked up, but he has a spreadsheet. I think he plans on taking off 2-3 weeks. If the baby doesn't come early, than her won't have to go back to work until after Thanksgiving.

lincoln79 · July 2014

MH is planning on taking off 8 weeks (mostly unpaid) and go back after the New Year. I get about 4 months paid off, so we can handle it financially. We have been through so much to have this child and are doubtful there will be another, so we don't want to miss a thing!

Plus he is going to be a SAHD part-time (he'll work two days a week) after I go back, so we want to have a good foundation of bonding since we won't get to meet LO until his/her birthday since I am not carrying our child.

We are lucky to have this option!

mander82 · July 2014

DH has a very odd work schedule. 12 hour shifts, swing shifts, but gets one week off per month. He is supposed to be off the week I am due....but he also has one week of vacation he is saving. As long as baby comes within a week before or after my due date, he will get 2 weeks off.

MollMoll4 · July 2014

DH has lots of unused vacation that his boss is letting home store up and take 6 weeks off.

Celticlass6 · July 2014

DH doesn't have that much vacation to play with after other planned days (weddings, etc) thus fall. Fortunately, his company allows him to work from home most days. So while he'll still be working, he'll be around to help most of the time!

KMW08 · July 2014

Dh's company sucks regarding vacation, sick, pto. There isn't any given. We're pretty stable $$ wise, I'm guessing he will take off 1week unpaid. It will also be winter time & due to ice/snow his work also gets cancelled so he will get plenty of early time with LO.

skschumacher · July 2014

DH and I are both teachers, so we are lucky to both be home during Christmas break without having to use sick/vacation days for those. But DH plans to take 2-3 days off when baby is born.

SweetMelissa5 · July 2014

My husband has a lot of vacation time saved up, and I believe some of it will be use or less by the end of December, so he'll take at least a couple of weeks, I think. I'm hoping he can manage to be around until the holidays (possibly working from home during most of that time frame) since I'll probably need help getting the older kids off to school while dealing with a newborn.

abbyful · July 2014

DH will take 2 weeks off. He'll take them as FMLA, but will use vacation time to get paid for them.

JamieK1882 · July 2014

DH gets 2 weeks paternity leave with his current job. He said he will have to do some work, but at least he'll be home.

lizgrace03 · July 2014

DH starts his new job July 21. The one downside to this job is that he doesn't know the culture there regarding time off, etc. At his old job, he could have probably just taken a week sick, but I don't know how things will go with the new job. He does have 11 vacation days to use before February, only two of which are spoken for already (wedding/Christmas) so that will be helpful for sure. I don't think FMLA applies until he's been at the company for a certain amount of time. On the other hand, this seems like a great company so they may be willing to work with him. My mom is coming down for at least a week to help out as well.

Allisonville · July 2014

I'm hoping for 2 weeks. The first few days are spent being stuck at the hospital so one week just doesn't seem like enough. He might have to go in for a day or afternoon here and there because he works at a very small company though.

carcrashheart · July 2014

He will have two weeks. But like last time, he will still have meetings to attend nearly daily. So he will basically do half days and go in whichever half of the day has the meeting. I actually really like this arrangement because then I don't become dependent on his help. I get to transition in to being home 24/7 with the new baby. Everyone seems to be in such shock when their DH goes back to work, so it's something I don't deal with. I just have to adjust from being alone for half the day to being alone all day. It's a little less shocking. We also don't rely on family help, much for the same reason. The first week is easy with babies, it's after that it's tough. Having no other help means we are able to jump right in to relying on each other and getting in to a groove.

sweetbabyrahe · July 2014

DH took off ~2 weeks with DS. With this baby, he has less paid leave and he didn't feel like the 2 weeks were necessary. He will probably take off about a week and then might return for half days for another week.

mslynn2012 · July 2014

DH and I both teach. DS was born in late April. DH took 2 weeks off, then went back to work for a month before summer vacation. I was SO grateful that he was home for those first 2 and the later 10 weeks. His help and support was amazing.

DD is due mid-November, depending when she comes, DH will take 1-2 weeks off. He then gets a week off for Thanksgiving, and 2 weeks later he gets 2 weeks off for winter break. It's not the 10 weeks like last time, but I am grateful for all of his help with both our LOs.

Eta: I had a csection last time, so I REALLY needed his help. Hoping for a VBAC this time around, but if not, at least I know he'll be around!

absolutelymaybe · July 2014

DH doesn't have any paid paternity leave, so he is going to have to take vacation. At the point the babies are born, he should have aprox. 2 weeks and the plan is for him to take that. The exception will be if the babies end up with any significant NICU stay. In that situation, he will continue going to work and take the time off when the babies come home (there really isn't a lot to do if they're in the hospital).

krgriffin26 · July 2014

My DH plans to take somewhere between 2-4 weeks off. He has 2 weeks vaca that he is taking but has been thinking about also taking FMLA after my mom heads back home. It will all depend on the household needs since FMLA isn't paid leave and I don't think it would be a great time to dip into our savings if everything is going well at home. It is still all up in the air.

AbbeyH · July 2014

We think DH will take a full week off and short/ flexible days the next couple weeks.

momtojad · July 2014

DH is a SAHD so we get 12 long weeks together : )

lil_shocker · July 2014

With my son, my husband took a week off, but went in for a half day or two. I don't know what he plans this time.

MalachiteDrake · July 2014

I doubt my husband will take any official time off. He'll probably arrange his schedule for a few days off right after I give birth, but my mother lives with us, I'm sure his mother will be visiting then, and I have two close friends that will be around to help out.

We probably sound like weirdos, but I don't really expect him to connect with the baby while she's really young. He'll love her, I know, and he'll want to be around, but he'll be far more into the interaction/bonding with her once she's a bit older. I'm also a housewife and will be a SAHM, so we're not fighting any money or time issues on my end for taking care of an infant.

kayd8 · July 2014

My husband is hoping the baby comes about a week before Thanksgiving, because then he can combine his PTO with the 2 days off for that, making a longer leave. However it works out, he'll take about a week off after delivery. Then my mom said she'll take the next week off to help when he's back to work. Then the rest of his days he'll take between Christmas and New Years.

PennyLane26 · July 2014

Dh took 2 weeks off with DD, though he did end up working from home the last bit. He plans to do the same with this LO, although I'm hoping he or she arrives around Thanksgiving so he can add in some extra time around the holiday!

KLKilgore · July 2014

Unfortunately he is a retail manager, which means time off around the holidays sucks. He had a week of vacation saved for it they are going to let him use.

Ineedmorecoffee · July 2014

I beleive he will take about a week off.

CarrieAnne09 · July 2014

DH owns his own construction company so he won’t technically take any time off. He is super flexible because he has great reliable guys that work for him and doesn’t need to check on them ALL the time. I’m sure the first week he’ll spend from home and only do paper work etc. After that he will have to go back to his normal schedule because he can’t just shut his company down. On a regular basis he is home usually 3 half days doing paper work, quotes, etc. and in winter when he is less busy that goes up. So I imagine when baby gets here in November he’ll probably be home a couple days a week working from home. I feel super blessed to have this kind of flexibility and even happier that baby is born in the winter because he’ll have even more time for us!

lovingaddi · July 2014

We actually just talked about this last night! Dh said he wants to take at least the first week. Maybe I'll get lucky and go into labor on a Friday lol

Kristil2014 · July 2014

My hubby is planning to take all of November off. But he can work from home if he needs to. He said that he will probably have to go in for a few half days here and there during November, but for the majority of the month he will be with us.

jess123456 · July 2014

Thanks ladies! This is really helpful and interesting.

ccam · July 2014

For DS, DH took off the 5 days I was in the hospital plus a week at home, but he was in and out getting stuff done (we were building a house). He's self employed and the winter is his slow time, so he'll have a lot more time off for this LO.

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