Working mamas, how long do you plan to take for mat leave?

journeygirl3 · July 2015

I work in online advertising/marketing....& right now I am leaning towards taking the full 12 weeks. Though that sounds like a long time! What are you planning on doing?

MandahGirly · July 2015

8 weeks paid leave. I can't really afford to take an extra 4 weeks unpaid

but luckily it is right before Christmas break so I won't be away from her for too long.

basdenjn6 · July 2015

I'm a teacher- I'll be taking my full 12 weeks.

midge519 · July 2015

I work at a subway, no benefits. So if we decide for me to return (well be making that decision in the next few weeks) I'll only be taking 6 weeks

xlipservicex · July 2015

I get 52 weeks paid at 55% of my salary through the gov here. I'm starting 8 weeks before she gets here due to severe pregnancy induced nausea.

Littlehummingbird · July 2015

I'm planning to take 12, but am going to ask my work that my return date be flexible. I'd like to be able to play it by ear as it gets closer! I'm sure they'll need a decent amount of notice though since I'm a psychotherapist and others will be covering my clients.

rue:D · July 2015

I'm taking the 6-8 I get for short-term disability, because I can't afford to not be paid. My husband will be staying at home though, so it works out best for us.

gerbies · July 2015

I will take the 6 weeks paid leave, plus an additional 6 weeks unpaid. I may use some vacation time in there for some of the unpaid time. I will also be taking the last 2 weeks of the year as paid vacation.

mak1020 · July 2015

I am taking 12 weeks, and depending on when my shot term disability kicks in I might take 2 weeks prior off as week if I have to wAit 2 weeks to get a pay check. I have to call the company and find out the details.

sdnyc99 · July 2015

I'm a teacher and will be getting 6-8 weeks paid. Then I'm most likely (unless something changes with our financial situation before then) taking the rest of the school year off with unpaid leave and returning in Sept. 2016.

abkenyon · July 2015

I am taking 6 weeks because she can't go to daycare before. I will probably be working part time from home during those 6 weeks too.

bgriest · July 2015

I'm taking the full 12 weeks.

I'll get 2 weeks full pay and 4 weeks at 60% of my pay with STD. So essentially it'll be like going 8 weeks with no pay.

Thankfully I have managed to save every possible penny and will have just enough money saved up in order to pay my bills and stay out of work.

My due date is the 12th. I would LOVE for the 9th to be my last day and to start my leave on the 12th but I also don't want to give up quite possibly a full week of leave with my baby if he's like a week late.

star8627 · July 2015

I'm planning for 8 weeks, but if I deliver naturally I'll probably take 6. I get NYS STD for 6 weeks and have some sick and personal time to use. I may see if I can do a partial work from home, partial in office plan to ease back.

jrenee956 · July 2015

I'm taking 8 full weeks off and saved enough vacation time to cover it; then working 4 weeks part time and I don't quite have enough to cover all those days. But I have STD through AFLAC and will probably end up making money off it

margies2010 · July 2015

My company just changed policy this year and pays 12 weeks at 100%, so I'm taking that. And I'm stoked, because people at work have lost their damn minds. O.o

twhite080908 · July 2015

The week that we found out that we were expecting I took a full time position where I currently work so I will only get paid 2 weeks at 100% and then no pay for the rest of the time. My plan is to stay of until after the first of the year as long as little one doesn't decode to come to early. Which will give me about 9 weeks off.

morganabyrd · July 2015

DH and I were just discussing this last night. My work doesn't pay for one single day (teacher perk?) so it's all STD or sick days I've accumulated. Fortunately, we get 10 days/year and I've never taken many, so I have plenty. I know for sure I'll get 60% pay for 6 weeks under my STD, then I'm thinking 25 days (5 weeks) of sick days. Since those will overlap, that will amount to 9 weeks off work with pretty much no loss of pay. As I realized this last night, now I'm thinking I could take a few (3-4) more weeks without pay. Just stinks that for the days I take without pay, thus not getting a paycheck or 2, I have to pay my system for my benefits so we'll actually be out more than just the salary.

Sorry for all the words, just thought that since I was slow on the take and just realized this, maybe the full explanation could help someone else, too.

ameares721 · July 2015

I'm taking 12. I have 10 weeks of vacation/sick saved up and I will still get paid holidays (which is 7 days between when I'm due and New Years!) and I will continue to accrue time off while I'm on leave since I'll be in paid status. My employer will continue to pay my benefits and I signed up for private short term disability so they're paying my salary in addition to me actually continuing to get my regular salary. I couldn't have planned for it to go any better!

bishopgn · July 2015

12 weeks is not a long time. Trust me. It was horrible leaving such a tiny infant that first week I went back. : ( take it all, you'll never have another chance to spend one on one time with your baby, that first maternity leave was the most special time for him and I...I was all he needed day in and day out. I'm so glad i had 12 weeks. This time I'm hoping it all works out to take 6 months. I love my job , as a doctor of physical therapy, but there is nothing like spending time with your baby

mllelibbington · July 2015

I live in California so between my work and state benefits I'm taking 5 months or so fully paid. My husband gets 4 months from his work! I feel very lucky because neither of us could afford to take unpaid time off.

brebouds · July 2015

I run my own business so am only planning on 6 weeks, but then only going back part time for the following 6 weeks.

shantyrae · July 2015

I'm taking 6 weeks paid and then I have 2 weeks of possible part time or working from home. I work for a small company so we don't qualify for the FMLA rules where I could possibly take the full 12 weeks! At first it didn't bother me and now I kinda want 12 weeks with our LO before she has to head to daycare.....

Kbabs47 · July 2015

Taking the 10 weeks short term disability paid and then returning after that unfortunately. New Jersey grants on a short term disability if your job doesn't offer maternity 4 weeks before your due date and 6 weeks (8 for c section) after due date. I'll take whatever I can get! 5 more weeks til leave!!! Woo!

Sweet Sadie Mae · July 2015

I get no paid leave. As long as everything goes good I'd like to take six weeks (maybe even go back part time before that). I'm lucky that my boss loves me and will hold my position for me.

KLopez33 · July 2015

The military just changed their maternity leave from 6 to 18 weeks! So 18 weeks paid maternity leave. The perk is it doesn't all have to be done at once and can be spread out, but must be used before the babies first birthday! So I plan on doing 8 right away then spreading the remaining 10 over the first year!

shanti20 · July 2015

I thought that was only for the navy

jamieknowlton8 · July 2015

I'm taking 12. The first 4 will be paid since I've been saving all my pto for it.

sweet+cheeks · July 2015

16 weeks paid, 2 1/2 weeks part time. Puts me back at full time in early February.

kim1228 · July 2015

12 unpaid weeks. The unpaid part really sucks, but we'll be saving up 9 mths for it so it'll be ok.

Edit bc of typos sorry

feeohhnaax7 · July 2015

I'm still not sure exactly how many weeks I'll get paid for, but I'll be out for about 16 weeks altogether. I have a weeks worth of vacation time, and then my maternity leave will start.

Depending on how financially secure we are when the time comes, I might not go back at all (fingers crossed).

beanie1977 · July 2015

I'm giving myself 3 full weeks of zero work. I run a business from my home, and it's mostly on the computer from about September- March, so I'll ease back into it when I'm ready. I have a full time assistant that I'm putting in charge. My guess is my 3 weeks will turn in to 12. I have that flexibility. I don't need to really start my busy time until April, which is 6 months. But I'll need to spend a couple hours a day responding to email here and there. Otherwise I'm hopeful that I can work a very light schedule from my home office.

Nukke · July 2015

50 weeks total, paid for by the gov't here. I'll take the first 25 weeks at 70% pay, and the following at 55%. DH will get 5 weeks as well.

ETA: I'm starting my mat leave a month before my due date as well, due to layoffs at work.

KLopez33 · July 2015

@shanti20 its applies to the Marine Corps as well.

shanti20 · July 2015

The army needs to change to this as well

AshleyLowry · July 2015

@Nukke Where do you live?! That's so long for maternity leave compared to United States standards. I'm guessing Sweden?

Nukke · July 2015

AshleyLowry said:
@Nukke Where do you live?! That's so long for maternity leave compared to United States standards. I'm guessing Sweden?

Canada. Quebec specifically

KLopez33 · July 2015

@shanti20 I agree, every branch should have it, but maybe now that the Navy and Marine Corps switched it the other may follow suit.

koriemo · July 2015

I'm a teacher. I'm taking off the entire second quarter (9 weeks), then going back when third quarter starts in January. Including winter break, I'll be out 11 weeks. We have a short fall break between first and second quarter, during which the baby is due.

I am REALLY hoping that baby comes on time or up to 3 days early so that I get the full 11 weeks with him. If I go over due, I'll have to go back to work at an awkward time for my students and my sub. If he comes more than a week early, I'll be in the throes of giving or grading midterms- and as an English teacher, it's not the type of grading someone else can do.

LLynde5 · July 2015

My husband shockingly said today he doubts I will go back to work after baby is here. It has been my plan to go back after the new year. I will be stressed on a tight budget but love knowing he is open to that option:). It will be about 10 weeks off.

christina4436 · July 2015

12 weeks. 6 paid FMLA,4 paid vaca time, 2 unpaid. Wish could take longer as I would.

Knottie16832459 · July 2015

I handle reporting for major advertising and marketing holding companies, I'm not taking much at all. I'm prepping for my absence, but go figure, we've got major vendor matchmaking events in October that I'm involved in and as you know, everything has to happen in the advertising world immediately and perfectly. I get 2 weeks paid, then I'm probably doing a remote from home/part time in the office thing for a bit.

Want a personalized experience?

Working mamas, how long do you plan to take for mat leave?

Re: Working mamas, how long do you plan to take for mat leave?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards