Haven't noticed that this has been discussed yet- but feel free to point me towards the thread if it has! I'm just wondering how disconnected you working ladies are planning on being during maternity leave. I work at a really small organization and am the only one that does what I do (and the only one that knows how, for the most part). I'm trying to prepare others as much as I can to take over the basics but there are undoubtedly going to be questions and issues that come up. I'm thinking that I'll WANT to be kept in the loop... and I really can't imagine just not checking my work email for 8 weeks. I'm also the person that checks (and usually responds) to work email on days off and during vacation, for whatever that's worth. I also feel like if I'm somewhat accessible during my leave, I won't feel as badly asking for flexibility when I come back. They don't expect me to be working at all, in fact they keep saying I shouldn't worry about it and just enjoy the time with baby. But it also seems less stressful to know that they can just email/text me a question rather than having to try to think of every single little situation that could happen while I'm gone and document what they're supposed to do ahead of time.
S+TMs, what has your experience been? FTMs, what are you thinking?
Re: Disconnecting During Maternity Leave?
I have been delegating duties and training others how to do my daily tasks since I announced my pregnancy at work. I am trying so badly to not even give my work a single thought during my maternity leave.
Luckily for me, I have someone here at work that can kinda cover for me while I am out. We cover for each other when we go on vacation and such. Most of my daily duties will be taken over by my employees during my leave though.
I am sure they would yell at me if I even tried to answer emails during my break. If they have any questions for me, they can text or call my personal phone. That way I won't feel like I need to keep an eye on my inbox for odd requests.
Nov. '14 January Siggy : Work Sucks!
Me 32-DH 38
Married July 14, 2007 ----- TTC # 1 October 1, 2013
BFP March 7, 2014 ----- EDD November 17, 2014 ---- Baby boy born November 16, 2014
baby to my coworkers, but that's it.
DH is taking 2 weeks FMLA, his company completely locks you out. They shut off all network logins and deactivate access badge for the duration of leave.
Me 32 and DH 40
Fur-baby named Bella
1 MC Nov. 2013
DD born Nov. 2, 2014
Little 2 EDD Oct. 1
One fear I have is what if I like not working. I know it's not an option but the transition to go back to work will be very hard.
As a STM I am already dreading going back to work in March/ April and I'm going to enjoy my leave as much as possible with DD and baby#2!! I look at it this way...if you got hit my a truck (God forbid) they would have to make due without you so... for the time during your leave they'll just have to make due as well! I know tons of people always say this but it is soo true...they grow up VERY Quickly and before you know it you're chasing a toddler and no longer cuddling an infant!!
I'll likely log on so I can clear out my emails, but have no plans to respond or initiate anything, it'll still be there on January 2nd when I return.
The thing is, there's really no way to know this ahead of time. How you've behaved on vacation is not an indicator of how you'll behave postpartum. I can't say, JUST YOU WAIT, because some women really do stay connected during mat leave. So maybe you will. But for many women, the intensity of the transition to motherhood is pretty consuming. And of course, you don't know what your baby will be like. I have friends who were bored on mat leave because their babies slept all the time. My baby, on the other hand, screamed when he wasn't being bounced in a yoga ball 24/7. It's hard to do work while bouncing an infant on a yoga ball. I did stay very minimally connected, but for the most part my leave was all about launching motherhood.
But maybe it will be different this time around. I just don't know. I'm trying to set things up so that no one is counting on my input, but if I want to have some low-level involvement I can.
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
I haven't had time off like this since I started working at 16, I am totally taking advantage of every single day away from work. 12 weeks is just too short
N14 Nov. Siggy: CELEBRATION!
I'm soo in need of a break and really it won't be a break because having a baby (and a toddler) is hard work!!
TTC since Sept 2011, Unexplained IF
Oct 12 - Jan 14: 3 clomid/TI cycles, 2 hysteroscopies, 2 IUIs, 1 BFP (MMC @ 12w), 2 more IUIs
Feb 14: Gonal-f + IUI #5 = BFP! (EDD 11/4/14)
Baby boy arrived 11/13/14!
^^this!!
___________________________________________________________________________
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
But I will not eat green eggs and ham, and I will not mark.
I'm not taking work until January but I will still be doing lots of client communication.
Praying unceasingly for a miracle. ALL welcome!