My hubby can take up to 3 months off, but it's all unpaid. He will probably only take 3-4 days though, it really depends when lo is born. If it's after the new year his work takes all his vacation/sick days before they count it as fmla, so that means he couldn't call in the whole rest of the year, if he got sick we'd be in trouble. But if lo is born in Dec, my hubby is already off for Christmas vacation so we wouldn't have to worry about it.
Well after I am released to go bk to work, the plan is for dh to stay home with baby. We both work 3rd shift jobs, so we know how hard it will be to find an overnight sitter and then to get our sleep during the day will be tough. So we r getting all of our financial ducks in a row so he can stop working at that time. My job is much better and secure so it would make no sense for me to stop working. Besides, I work 4 12 hour nights then have 4 days off. His is monday-friday. Just seems best.
I am very lucky to have a husband who works from home as an author. He is crazy busy right now, and trying to get extra done ahead so he will have more time when baby comes. In the meantime while I go between exhausted from physical therapy, and a problem with my sciatic nerve, one of our "grown-up" (former foster, I'm not THAT old) daughters needs some extra cash, so having her come help with deep cleaning and baby prep seemed the best way to keep her from a second job working a 3rd shift gas station in the city, and preserves my strength and energy for what I have to do myself.
With owning our own business its hard to get time off without closing the whole shop, but I think we'll manage it for 1 week after the baby is born (that's what I've asked my parents for as a baby gift, is to watch the shop for us). After that he'll be back full time, which means at least 10 hour days, 6 days a week, so it will be tricky on my own at first I'm sure. Grateful we can manage even 1 week!
I have no clue what we are going to do. Military allows 2 weeks of paternity leave, but we may have to use to help me out for something else. I found out I need to have finger nail biopsy which I cannot do while pregnant unfortunately, so I'll have to have it after DS is here, and have a 2 year old at home. So I'm afraid we'll have to use his paternity leave to help me after my surgery, as I will have no use of that hand for a minimum of 2 weeks. Encouraging thing though, I read an article in military times that said paternity leave for active fathers is being considered to be extended! For Future children, that's awesome.
This is such BS!! One or two weeks off to spend time helping their wives/girlfriends recover and bond with their new baby and then back to work. Six weeks or so for women! Some woman may be fortunate and can recover completely in six weeks, but some don't.
Parents should get more time off when a new HUMAN is brought into being.
Re: DH or partner staying home
Parents should get more time off when a new HUMAN is brought into being.