So what do you do? Career Moms (and FTM questions about maternity leave)

ajmcarroll · May 2015

What jobs do my fellow bumpies have and how many will return to work after the baby? How soon? FTM and really unsure of how long my maternity leave will be.

As for me, I'm a paralegal in a child support prosecutor's office. I'm also volunteer for as a CASA. I'm not taking a new CASA case until after my maternity leave is up since court hearings, visitations, DCS meetings, etc., and they can be hectic and you'll never quite know what can happen in a CHINS case. I'm allotted 12 weeks of FMLA unpaid but can use sick time, vacation, etc., which I think will work out to 3-4 paychecks. I'm thinking I'll take 8 weeks and continue to work. On some level, I'd love to stay home but financially that may be tight and I really love my work.

How about you ladies? I'm trying to get a general feel for the norm.

Elyse1384 · May 2015

I'm a marketing manager and very fortunate to work for a company that has a generous leave policy. I get 10 weeks fully paid and then I will take 2 vacation weeks on top of that. For the first month back, I might use additional vacation time and work 4 day weeks. I did this with my 14 month old and it worked out well. I wish I didn't have to work as I would love to stay home with the kids, but alas that is not in the cards for me at this time.

PS - The first week or so at daycare (or whatever option for care you select) is the worst! Not for the baby... For you. I don't cry much (if ever), but I sobbed my entire way to work for the first week. Just remember you are doing what is best for your family financially and that your diligence in finding suitable care during the day will ensure LO is OK. It is OK to cry and want to quit a million times in that first week.

RaisingJulian · May 2015

I work part time in a gym as a childcare worker. I plan on going back to work after baby but hopefully full time as a parapro. I got certified before I found out I was pregnant and my fiancé doesn't want me to put to much on my plate since I'm potty training my son and trying to get all these other things in our life situated lol

kbonel · May 2015

Mechanical engineer for a large tech company. I'll take 14 weeks, 6 weeks are short term disability, 2 weeks paid leave, some vacation time and some unpaid. I think 3 months is the least I want to stay home. I wish the U.S. had better maternity leave. I like my job and it definitely pays the bills... But I would really like to make it to at least 6 months before having to use day care. We are looking into a nanny share for a couple days a week.

carabella11225a · May 2015

I'm a web/app designer in the U.S.. I'll be taking 3 months with partial compensation via my company's short term disability coverage and then returning to work full time and my SO will become a stay at home dad.

poprockS17 · May 2015

Teacher and since this year we only have 2 days vacation for thanksgiving break, I will have to go back in 3 weeks after baby. We were counting on a week for break!

I don't even know if my body will even be ready for that.

stahlxoxo · May 2015

I'm a teacher. They give us 60 duty days off but you must use your sick time. For me that will mean I get three weeks paid or 15 of those duty days paid and the rest will be unpaid. My husband has been putting in overtime to stock up our savings for this occasion since I really want to stay home the full time with our little man.

lisab1234 · May 2015

I'm a registered nurse and we get a year off for maternity leave- I think maternity leave pay works out to 50% (?) of what our regular wage would be. We are pretty lucky in Canada:) but we pay enough in taxes lol. I'm going back to work when my maternity leave is up, but I'm not sure if it will be full time again because it will be difficult to find child care to cover all the shift work. Are there any other shift workers out there? What are you doing for child care when you go back to work?

kesmeredith · May 2015

I'll be taking 8-10 weeks. 2 of those weeks will be vacation time, the other 8ish will be short term disability- which pays out 60% of normal pay

dsty1213 · May 2015

I'm an occupational therapist in home care. I'm taking 12 weeks. A few are paid time off that I have saved, 6 weeks of short term disability, and some unpaid. I'm hoping to reduce my schedule to 10 patients a week once this LO is born but it all depends on if my son gets into pre k or if we will still be paying for his daycare.

meganhead89 · May 2015

I am a Senior Accountant and travel 73 miles one way to work. My company does FMLA so I can take 12 weeks unpaid. I will use 6 weeks of short term and two weeks of vacation. I have heard that if you can get a doctors note that doesn't release you until 8 or 12 weeks then short term will still be active all 12 weeks. Has anyone else heard this? Hopefully when I return to work I can look for something closer to home. Being 73 miles away is going to break my heart and ATL traffic is always a nightmare.

ash413 · May 2015

I am taking a minimum 10 weeks off.
Depending on how much PTO I have left this year to roll over I may go ahead and take an additional month off

babycfitz · May 2015

I am an account manager for a digital marketing agency, and our entire team works remotely from their various homes. I already was pregnant when I started, so I negotiated full pay for eight weeks' leave (to be out through the holidays), with flexibility on coming back to full time. My husband works 12-9 right now, so we will likely only use day care for half days.

ks24119 · May 2015

Went to HR and I received 4 weeks before delivery and 8 weeks after fully paid. Then I will get another 12 weeks after that is up - mostly paid- I think only 6 weeks of that is not paid. Not too bad

kwaldy · May 2015

The military provides 6 weeks paid maternity leave. In addition to that, I think I'm going to save up my personal leave and take two more weeks.

MargaretC5 · May 2015

I am an analyst at a utility. I get the 12 weeks from FMLA and my company offers another 4 weeks unpaid it I want. I took all 16 weeks with DS. Only the first 8 was paid using sick time ( 6 weeks for vaginal or 8 weeks for c section ). I plan on doing the same thing this time.

And a PP mentioned that sending your LO is hard on you. I am going to sound heartless but it was not hard on me. I missed him at first but it was good to be back at work and I knew he was in good hands.

ooooner · May 2015

I'm an IT Systems Administrator and currently working a 3 year contract with Bank of America Merrill Lynch on one of the trade floors. While I have medical benefits through the contracting company, I do not have maternity benefits. I just submitted my FMLA paperwork and I am waiting for approval. FMLA entitles you to 12 weeks off however I am only requesting 8 weeks when the baby comes simply because it is unpaid leave and I cannot afford to take even the 8 weeks, let alone 12. It's sucky but it is what it is... best of luck to you!!

amh0411712 · May 2015

I am an Inside Service Representative in Operations. Unfortunately, I am classified as an Independent contractor so I do not qualify for FMLA and do not receive benefits.

Last time I took 8 weeks once my boys were discharged, I worked during our nicu stay, and it was unpaid and considered a general leave of absence.

This time, if no FT position as an employee is offered by Sept I won't be returning. Not worth it. I love my job, but 5 years as an Independent contractor is enough to make a person feel totally unvalued

Pontot31 · May 2015

I'm a journalist.
Depending on the type of delivery I get 6 or 8 weeks short term disability, which is 60% of my pay.
I can take a total of 12 weeks through FMLA, though. So I will use my remaining sick and vacation time to get as much of it paid and then do the last few weeks unpaid.

It's really sad in America they we have such shitty policies.

thefithuntress · May 2015

Self-Employed, working from home, FTM here. I'm not really taking "leave," per se. Just slowing down and leaning on my team a little more until we find a groove. I plan on answering emails and staying in the loop with my projects as much as I can. I love my job, though, so it isn't really a chore. Luckily the holidays means it naturally slows down and family is coming in to help us.

jeth · May 2015

Lisab1234 we are lucky in Canada to receive something for the first 12 months but FYI it is only 55% of your income up to an income level of $50,000 so in reality the maximum is roughly $25,000 for the year which is fully taxed... so what you will actually have in your bank from the gov each month is a little over $1,000

shanabull · May 2015

I am a freelancer, who owns her own digital marketing agency – I work from home and have already slow down my work pace ( well, at least during the first trimester). I am saving up so I can take off November and December. No maternity leave for those who own their own businesses.

AmoLovesAud · May 2015

I'm self-employed, I make and sell jewelry online and at Arts & Crafts shows in the tri-state area. I'll be placing my business on hiatus until I feel I can handle it again. Since the bulk of my job involves traveling to shows, I have to wait until DH can be the sole parent for an extended weekend. Hoping I can be back at it by Labor Day (kiddo will be 9-ish months). We have enough in savings to cover my part of the income for at least a year.

TacoSarah · May 2015

HR Director, FTM, I'm taking 4 months then going back 2.5 days per week for 1 month, then back to full time. I plan on working right up until the end of the week before I'm due, it helps I can work from home some days which is nice.

CarrieOct15 · May 2015

I work in human resources as a Payroll Administrator. I plan on taking six weeks of short term disability paid at 60%, & work from home part time for six weeks. I wish I could just take 12 weeks off from work, but new babies are expensive!

japostolova · May 2015

I'm an attorney. I'll take 12 weeks off, 8 of them paid. My husband has a flexible schedule so he will be home to help me out - both during and after my leave. After that I have to get back to work for my sanity and so we can continue to pay the bills. I've already financially prepared for the hospital bills and the time off if you can call it that. Would love a couple of more weeks, but I may ask for additional personal leave, unpaid

lanire · May 2015

I am a software engineer. I get 16 weeks paid leave through my company and plan to take some vacation days at the end to extend it a bit more.

aishajohnson3 · May 2015

I'm a Longshoreman i get 26 weeks pay at a percentage of my income,if i need more time i will have to apply for state disability. I will be fine i get plenty of vacation and holiday and bonus to hold me over until i go back.

mbates87 · May 2015

A lot of you are very lucky to have at least some paid time off. I wish I could take off 8-12 weeks but all my time is unpaid. I will have to use the 10 vacation days and 5 sick days I get for the year just to have a couple paid weeks. The company I work for does not have disability pay or other paid maternity policies. They did away with it 3 years ago because so many employees were getting pregnant. I will likely only take 6 weeks because that will give me two paid weeks and four unpaid. I am the bread winner in my family so even though id like to stay at home with my baby I will have to return to work to make sure my bills can be paid and my baby can be spoiled. Best of luck to everyone!

dramaphile · May 2015

I'm a payroll Admin as well, not sure exactly how long I will take. I get 6-8 weeks of STD pay (depending on if it's vaginal or C-section) and then I get three weeks of paid vacation on Jan 1, but it's my whole allowance for the year, so I am hesitant to use it all at once, as my baby will be in daycare and inevitably will get sick or have doctor's appointments and we have no nearby family to help out. I haven't asked about working part time/at home, not sure it would be an option with my company. DH is an IT contractor, so has no PTO or leave. If he has trouble finding a new contract, he may stay home with baby until he gets a job (his contract is up right around my due date).

BritniB86 · May 2015

I'm a controls engineer -- just got my job in May and I'm due in November. I don't qualify for FMLA yet but my company offers short term and long term disability and the HR manager told me the length of time I get off depends on the leave my doctor's note stipulates. My doctor says that the note depends on my preferences. I think 8 weeks will be what I try for (possibly more, but I'll talk to my doc) -- my first baby though so I don't know how it'll go. I'm a big believer in day care once baby gets older since the social interaction is definitely needed but I can't imagine what it'll be like handing my barely three month-old infant over to someone else.

There are things I love about living in the US and things I absolutely hate. I'm lucky to have what I have (short term leave pays 100% of your wages for 6 weeks and 60% for 4 weeks after that, any more than that would fall under long term, I think) but I can't imagine if my company didn't offer the leave as a norm...I wouldn't know what to do, financially!

In any case, I do plan on going back to work. I love what I do as well and I don't trust myself to be a stay-at-home Mom. Though, it does suck that we have to make a choice as to how much time we spend with our babies during their first year of life.

Ceridwen77 · May 2015

I'm a Sr. Manager over the human resources division of a large company. I will be taking 12 weeks fully paid, but have the option of 16 weeks. I think 16 weeks is a bit too long for me to be away; 12 sounds about right but we will see how it goes.

frasch21 · May 2015

My sister owns a pottery/canvas studio in our town and I work for her. I know I will take a solid 4 weeks off for sure and then may help out here and there since November/December is a super crazy time for us. Luckily since my sisters the owner I am able to bring my little one with me to work. I'm thinking I will help more with orders and do marketing from home to help out in December to reduce some of her work load during our busy season.

SarRes08 · May 2015

poprockS17 said:

Teacher and since this year we only have 2 days vacation for thanksgiving break, I will have to go back in 3 weeks after baby. We were counting on a week for break! I don't even know if my body will even be ready for that.

Where do you teach? I'm a teacher, too, and I'm pretty sure that 6 weeks is standard (8 weeks for a c-section). Even if your school counts calendar weeks instead of school weeks, you shouldn't have to go back at 3 weeks. You should talk to your HR right away. You may also be able to get temporary disability insurance to cover additional time.

Pontot31 · May 2015

SarRes08 said:

poprockS17 said:

Teacher and since this year we only have 2 days vacation for thanksgiving break, I will have to go back in 3 weeks after baby. We were counting on a week for break! I don't even know if my body will even be ready for that.

Where do you teach? I'm a teacher, too, and I'm pretty sure that 6 weeks is standard (8 weeks for a c-section). Even if your school counts calendar weeks instead of school weeks, you shouldn't have to go back at 3 weeks. You should talk to your HR right away. You may also be able to get temporary disability insurance to cover additional time.

Also most doctors won't even clear you to work that soon.

abraleesy · May 2015

I'm a program manager at a tech company. I'll get 3 months paid plus whatever disability pays? My work let's you take up to a year unpaid with benefits and job security. .. I'll probably end up taking 5 months. .. that just feels right to me.

Michsmelle · May 2015

I'm a copy editor at a mid-sized nonprofit. I get 12 weeks FMLA, half of it (or up to 2 weeks more, depending on delivery) paid at 60%. I plan to take the full 12 weeks.

Bettytteb · May 2015

I'm just finished my phd in psychology and I will be starting a post-doc position in september. I feel a little guilty that i will be needing to take leave so early in my new gig, but when I accepted the position I told them that we were trying to get pregnant this year. I plan to take 10-12 weeks off (all unpaid unfortunately)...although I'll see if I can get on short term disability.

ckeneda · May 2015

I'm a hair stylist, plan on going back after delivery. This is my first baby, so I'm not sure how much time to plan off.

Mwatts1214 · May 2015

I am also a paralegal. Assist in personal injury at a large law firm in Florida and I specifically assist in litigation cases. I will take 2 weeks vacation, then receive 6 weeks paid time off, and take 4 additional weeks with no pay, totaling 12 weeks. It is already giving me anxiety to think about how much work will build up while I am out.

nikki1223 · May 2015

I am a CPA and work at an accounting firm. From what I know I will get 8 weeks and then can use my vacation time. I can also take time unpaid if I feel I am not ready to go back.I am planning to take about 12 weeks off.