March 2017 Moms

Working, Commuting & Maternity Leave

Anyone else plan on working & commuting until the very end?  To get the most out of maternity leave this is my plan.  We shall see, what is everyone doing?
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Re: Working, Commuting & Maternity Leave

  • edited December 2016
    This is my plan too. Especially considering I'm not eligible for maternity leave and will have to take unpaid leave and my job is not guaranteed... I'm trying to take as little time off as possible. 
  • Yep.. hoping to work until I go into labor! Here's to America's atrocious parental leave! 
    For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.
    1 Samuel 1:27
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  • They were just joking at work that my water will break and I'll finish the haircut before leaving. All jokes aside though, I plan to switch to receptionist a week before my due date and will work to the very end. That's what happens when you don't qualify for any leave. 
  • I plan on working up to the end. I'm an outside sales rep and don't work out of an office so I have flexibility planning out my schedule. My territory is all within an hour or so of my house but I will probably stick closer to home in the last month. Last time I felt off (exhausted and back ache) the day I went into labor and went home early. My water ended up breaking at home that night. Preferably something similar will happen this time! :)
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  • @samm1225 and @JustAnotherUsername16 I wish there was a dislike button. I'm sorry you don't qualify for any leave :( 
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  • I'm planning to work until 39+4 with my due date being my first official day off. I'm questioning whether or not I'll be able to make it. Sleep is already difficult and I'm starting to get pretty uncomfortable. Not to mention I commute 45 minutes each way and my workplace is in a really stressful limbo right now. 
    DH: 29
    Me: 27
    Married 9/20/14 
    BFP: 7/3/16
    EDD: 3/13/17

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  • I'm planning on working right up until baby is born. My due date is a work from home grading/planning day. So in my mind I will have all my grades done on Saturday, rest on Sunday and I can go into labor on Monday or any day after. Praying very hard it goes just like that.  

  • @korpisar I'm a sales rep too! I haven't been at my job long enough to qualify for FML so will probably try and make it as close to the end as possible. Being in Sales I worry how much my maternity leave is going to affect my accounts and I feel guilty, but I have to remember it's just a job. What makes me nervous is how well I'll be able to drive with being so big and sleep deprived as I imagine I'll be at 39 weeks. I hate that baby is on his own schedule at that point. I'm a planner and not being able to plan his due date is infuriating. 
  • @BaylieGirl sorry you don't qualify for fmla yet :(  I know what you mean about worrying about your accounts. Last time I stayed on top of my email just to make sure I didn't have a mess to come back to. But Im trying to be in the frame of mind that everything can be handled by my coverage while I am off. I am not that important :) I will still check into my email but try to limit it. I am also worried about driving - DS came at 32 weeks so I wasn't that big yet and driving was fine. So we will see this time! I have an overnight regional meeting at almost 37 weeks - Im sure that's going to be a ton of fun lol.
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  • I plan on working until my delivery, but feel fortunate to be able to work from home hopefully the last two or three weeks. My commute is about a half hour, with the hospital being an hour from my work down  the highway. Would really rather not go into labor at work.
    Alex
    married to M since 6.13.09
    T - 3.3.14
    A - 2.24.17
  • I'm planning on working right up until baby is born. My due date is a work from home grading/planning day. So in my mind I will have all my grades done on Saturday, rest on Sunday and I can go into labor on Monday or any day after. Praying very hard it goes just like that.  
    Praying is wellandgood, but only something like 5% of babies are actually born in they due dates! Speaking from prior experience, you want to make sure plans are in place from 37 weeks onward....just in case. It will was way reduce your stress. And give you leeway in case you find you need more rest as the due date approaches. 
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • My current plan is to work up until the baby is born or through the end of March (due March 28). I don't qualify for FMLA but my employer does offer both personal leave and medical leave. I believe I can use both and get 12 weeks off. It is a bit stressful since I just started this job a month ago, but luckily I work for a great organization and so many of the people I work with are working moms so they get it. I have been assured that they won't take away my job while I am gone, especially as one girl put it today "your position didn't exist until you started working here. If they have lasted this long without it, they will be fine for 8-12 weeks". Whew!

    But yeah, American maternity leave is a joke. 
  • I'm having twins so it gets harder to move around earlier.  I'm lucky that I have a really generous paid maternity leave, but it doesn't start until the day they're actually born.  I'm going to stop working completely at 34 weeks, use up the 8 or so vacation days I have banked and just go unpaid or on short term disability until I deliver if I go longer than that.  I'm already mainly working from home but it's still SO hard.  I have trouble breathing during the day since one of the babies sits up so high and can't sit up for very long, and I take long naps during the day.  

    My job doesn't even require me to be on my feet so I don't know how you ladies who stand up for work are managing!  I take public transportation to work and even though I almost always get a seat, the few blocks of walking are so exhausting already at 30 weeks.
  • I'm feeling pretty guilty now that I told my manager I am going to leave for March 1st, I'm due the 17th. I've been swaying back and forth whether or not I want to take some leave early.. Now that I confirmed with her that I'm aiming for March 1st I keep telling myself I should just work up until my due date. We're still in the process of house hunting so if we find something we might only be actually moving beginning of March. This was my main reasoning for taking some time before the due date. With a 3 year old at home and packing our entire place then unpacking shortly before I'm due it just sounds exhausting as it is. I also work on my feet and don't get to sit at all for the whole day other than my lunch break which I'm really starting to feel... And I'm not even 30 weeks yet! I'm really trying to justify leaving early. 
  • I'm planning on working until I go in to labor or until I can't physically do my job. I teach special ed preschool and spend a bulk of my day crounched down or on the floor so I have a feeling I'll be tapping out physically before baby arrives, but we'll see. My aides in the classroom already have a plan worked out, who calls DH, who drives me to the hospital, who drives my car home, etc, just in case. 
  • @longliveregina Yea I know. I was joking. Besides this is my 3rd baby and if I was a betting person I would say I'll go a little early. My first was almost 2 weeks late but my 2nd was 3 weeks early so there is no telling. I've already started thinking about what my classes will be doing once I go out. I need to find out how long I need to have plans ready for. The one good thing is the long term sub they are bringing in is the person i replaced. He retired and decided this year to come back and be a sub. So at least I know my kids won't struggle. 

  • Foersty Foersty member
    edited December 2016
    My work is small enough that we don't qualify for FMLA, however, they are willing to allow me 12 weeks leave. I'm able to use my saved up PDO's, but anything past that will be unpaid. My EDD is March 7th, and I plan on working up until the end of the week before, which is March 3rd. 
    ETA: I"m hoping this is realistic, like many of y'all I'm already feeling fairly uncomfortable with backaches, swollen feet, etc. I'm sure I can push through, but it's just going to get more uncomfortable from here on out. 
    Me: 27
    DH: 33
    Furbaby: Walther, 4 year old Rottweiler/Coonhound mix
    EDD: 3/7/17<img
  • I'm working up until 36 wks. I am having a scheduled c-section at 39 wks. I pretty much had to take off because I'm considered high risk and will have to go to the hospital 3 times a week the last month until delivery. My last day of work will be feb 3rd. I believe my leave is unpaid until I actually give birth then I qualify for disability. It sucks but it's the only way I can have a peace of mind that I'm doing everything to ensure a healthy baby and delivery. I plan to go back to work in May but in the mean time also work more on my business. I had stopped running my business prior because of all the stress with last baby but after this one is born I won't have that concern lingering over me. 
  • I'm working right up until the baby is born, I want to use as much of my CTO as I can for leave (I estimate I will have about 4-5 weeks saved up) because I only get 6 weeks of FMLA at 70% pay so I am hoping I'll only have 1-2 weeks unpaid (I'm taking 12 weeks off total).
  • I don't qualify for FMLA so I'll be using my 4 weeks paid vacation time up. After that I'll be relying on short term disability and an Aflac policy I have. EDD is March 8th but I've already told my employer my last day will be March 3rd regardless. I went back and forth deciding if I wanted to work until the day she gets here or take a little bit time off beforehand and I feel like this plan is sort of a happy medium. I really didn't want to take any time off that would cut into my time when she's here but I'm only 30 weeks along and already feeling uncomfortable.  :/ 

    Echoing PP's, mat leave in the US sucks. 

    Pregnancy Ticker

  • Yep. Raises hand for working up until delivery for me too. I did with DD and it was fine. I'm delivering a couple short blocks from my office in the city so it would actually be more convenient to head there from work rather than commute into the city from the burbs,  through whatever crazy traffic might be going on. 
  • I honestly have no idea. I'm at 28 weeks + 3 with twins right now and am already measuring full term for a singleton. I commute from the suburbs to the city via train (35 - 60 min ride depending on the train) and have a 1/2 mile walk each way. Like @anonellis I am lucky to get a seat most days. I am VERY fortunate that I have a desk job, and have been allowed to work from home 2-3 days a week for the last month. Even that is getting exhausting, so I really doubt I'll be able to work all the way to delivery.

    I had been planning to be a SAHM after the babies are here. I've checked with HR and I am under no obligation to pay back short term disability or maternity pay (my company gives 2 weeks @ 100%), but may be required to pay back insurance premiums that the company paid. To get around that I'm considering going back to work for a day or two. I don't really want to be "that girl" but, I have to do what's right for my family. To be completely honest, my company has really let me down (pay wise, promotion wise, respect wise) over the last couple of years, so I don't really feel that badly having this plan. 

    Also, my boss just put in his notice (while on a 2 1/2 week long vacation... he'll come back for 5 days and then be done...), and there is no succession plan in place. They barely have a plan for my maternity leave. I KNOW I'll be tasked with handling much of his day to day until I go on leave, and that irritates me. He let slip how much he got paid, and its 40K more than me! Knowing I'll be doing some/most of his job while in my third tri for no extra pay, and I'll probably have to train his successor irks me to no end (but really makes me feel even better about not planning to return... I just feel badly for the team under me).
  • Interesting reading everyone's answers. I'm working from home most of the time these days so I plan to work up to the end of my pregnancy given the fact that I have no commute to contend with and my job isn't physically stressful. I have so much respect for the ladies who are on their feet all day... this whole pregnancy thing is getting pretty tough!
  • I drive 45 minutes to an hour each way to work and am a teacher so I am on my feet a lot. I'd like to work right up until the baby is scheduled to arrive - csection planned for March 8th, last day of work March 7th. With my older son the doctor put me out three weeks early though so we really are just waiting and seeing what happens. After the baby rest here, I can use 8 weeks of paid sick time to stay home with him and then I will return to work. 
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • I am going to work until my due date unless there is some kind of issue.  I already work at home 3 days a week.  If I need to be home full time I am sure my management will have no issue with this.  My commute is about 15 miles each way.  Takes 35-45 depending on traffic most days.
    ****TW****

    Me: 39 DH: 40
    Married: 12/6/2014

    BFP#1: 1/20/15      MC: 2/14/15
    BFP#2: 10/28/15    MC: 11/24/15
    BFP#3:  3/20/16     MC: 4/26/16
    BFP#4:  7/15/16     DD: 3/18/17
    BFP#5:  5/1/18     EDD: 1/12/19
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  • I'm also planning to work right up until the baby comes. My company decided they're changing our short term disability leave policy effective Jan 1 (and just notified us all 10 days ago) dropping the length of time permitted for it and the amount paid from 100% to 66% which is stupid but whatever. The STD coverage begins after a 1 week waiting period so I'll use a week of my PTO for the first week, then 6 weeks STD, then another 3-5 weeks of PTO (I have exactly 6 weeks PTO stocked up that I can carry over into 2017) - planning to return to work after 10-12 weeks depending on how things go. DH gets a full month of paid paternity leave (plus could take additional time if he wanted to) so he'll probably split it up 2 weeks after baby comes and then 2 weeks after I start back at work.
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @korpisar I appreciate that. I'm actually really lucky that I work for a great boss. I do hair so every time I don't have a client they tell me to sit and relax. I know many don't have that option. Plus they are under no obligation to allow me to switch to hourly (reception) or keep my job for me, but they are! I don't think I could handle some of the commutes you ladies make, I'd have to stop half way for a bathroom break!
  • I am hoping to work right up until my due date this time. Last time around I was due the first of September, and it was a long, hot summer. I had saved up a ton of vacation time and sick time so I worked 4 days a week most of the summer and left at 36.5 weeks. This pregnancy I have felt much better, and the nature of having a toddler is that I have less time saved. Also  the later I get done, the later I go back. My DH is a teacher, so if I hold off long enough, I won't have to find a sitter for DD for as long between when I go back and when he is off for the summer. I am planning on taking 12 weeks, but we will see if that is feasible. I think a lot will ride on how quickly we are able to sell our current home, since that can offset some major bills. My in-laws are loaning us the cash to buy our new house, and we don't start paying them back until our house sells, and they said if it is too much once I'm off short-term disability (6-8 weeks after delivery, depending on what type of delivery I have) they would give us a month or two off to help out. 
  • I'm planning to work up to the date I deliver, but I'll work at home for several weeks leading up to my due date since I work 1.5-2 hrs from my office depending on traffic (one way!). Right now I have a 4 day in the office/1 day from home schedule but I'm considering asking for 2 days at home pretty soon. The drive is really uncomfortable for me at this point. (I wonder if my doctor will recommend NOT driving so much if I ask her??) My company is very flexible with me so it just might work out. I will start my leave (8 weeks short term disability 66.6% of my pay, followed by 5 weeks unpaid) on the day I have the baby. I plan to be out for 13 weeks total, which is what I am allowed by FMLA. When I return, I am hoping to return gradually, max 3 days in the office/2 days from home to start - but I'm planning to ask for 2 days in/3 days from home at least for the first few weeks. DH gets 2 weeks paid paternity leave and has a lot of vacation, so he will likely take 2 weeks when the baby is born, and 1-2 weeks when I go back to work. 
  • I'm absolutely planning on working up until I deliver. However, I have the ability to work from home sometimes (and hoping my manager will allow me to do that if I go past my due date) and my office is literally across the street from the hospital. Seriously, I park in my work garage when I go for appointments.
    Team Green turned Pink!
    Samantha - 4/5/2017

  • I'm planning to work right up until my csection date as I rather have my time with baby after he gets here.  I only work three 12 hour days a week its a long day and I am on my feet a lot  but with my last two pregnancies I was able to maintain working 12 hours a day with out any issues. My cesction is scheduled for 3/14 so hoping to work  3/12,  have a day off before my csection to get everything in order. My job is about 20mins away and I usually park off site and take a shuttle to work luckily  during my last trimester my job lets me park on site so it males it easier.  I am taking 12 weeks off which is what I'm allowed without losing my job. I have short term disability at 75% for 6 weeks and the other 6 weeks I get paid from PTO. I'll be back to work mid June.

    BabyFruit Ticker
  • I'm feeling pretty guilty now that I told my manager I am going to leave for March 1st, I'm due the 17th. I've been swaying back and forth whether or not I want to take some leave early.. Now that I confirmed with her that I'm aiming for March 1st I keep telling myself I should just work up until my due date. We're still in the process of house hunting so if we find something we might only be actually moving beginning of March. This was my main reasoning for taking some time before the due date. With a 3 year old at home and packing our entire place then unpacking shortly before I'm due it just sounds exhausting as it is. I also work on my feet and don't get to sit at all for the whole day other than my lunch break which I'm really starting to feel... And I'm not even 30 weeks yet! I'm really trying to justify leaving early. 
    You don't need to justify it. Some women have to work up until the day due financial reasons...I totally get that. But where dud we get this idea as a culture that women are supposed to function exactly the same as before until the day they pop out their baby, and return to normal within 6 weeks? Its not realistic. I'm taking my leave starting at 37 weeks, since after that point able could really happen any time realistically. And I don't feel the least bit bad about it. My "job" at that point will be taking care if myself and my baby girl and prepping my son. 

    My boss likes to brag that I was still working the same day I went into labor with my son. I don't think thats anything to be proud of. I think it was a fail on my part, lol. 
    ^^ this for me! I think my stress levels were 100% the reason I was being watched for BP, and continuing to work wasn't commendable, but stupid!

      
  • Unless I have the baby before my due date, I plan to work until the 2nd, which is a Thursday, I work M-Th. I'm due Friday the 3rd.  I figure nobody is going to want me around if I haven't had this baby by 4 days after my due date the next  Monday.  But I also have a desk job and only commute 15-20 minutes each way.  I can't even think about sitting in a car for 2 or 3 hours a day like some of you ladies do.  I would be throwing in the towel way earlier.

    Me 28 DH 28 Married 2012

    TTC #1 since March 2015

    Metformin + Femara + Gonal F + Trigger = BFP 6/24/16 

    EDD 3/3/17

    Found out it's a girl! 9/23/16

    Pregnancy Ticker
  • I am planning to take the 4 weeks off before my due date (3/28), since I'll lose it if I don't use it anyway.  And then take the full 8 weeks for recovery + 12 weeks bonding afterwards.

    DH: 39 Me: 38
    DD 6.14.14

    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @longliveregina thank you for making that comment. I think I also feel guilty because I was laid off at 3 months pregnant the first time, this put me into a bad depression because I've always been a worker. I had it in my head that I should be working til I go into labour but you're completely right, realistically my job is to take care of myself and baby and I shouldn't feel guilty having a couple weeks to physically and mentally prepare. Also side note. We found a new listing for a house yesterday with everything we need. Closing date? March 3rd. So I'm pretty glad and thankful I chose my leave March 1st. Due date March 17th so I will absolutely need that time to pack and move my family. Where will I find the energy? 
  • I am planning to take the 4 weeks off before my due date (3/28), since I'll lose it if I don't use it anyway.  And then take the full 8 weeks for recovery + 12 weeks bonding afterwards.
    Wow! Where are you that you can take 24 weeks?
    Team Green turned Pink!
    Samantha - 4/5/2017

  • I'm taking 12 weeks, even though I only get 6 weeks paid and that is a long time to be out of the classroom (longer than summer, which was only 9 weeks this year), on the principle that puppies legally aren't allowed to be taken from their moms until they're 8 weeks. Why should a human baby be taken away at 6?? It means I'll return to the classroom with only a month left of school, which is a lot of switching back and forth for my students, but... my baby will only be an infant once, so I'm trying to do what's best for him. I've been reading a good book I got for Christmas, "Present Over Perfect" by Shauna Niequist, that's helping to remind me that I don't need to be a sacrificing, superwoman, over-achiever at work when family relationships are what truly matter in the end. 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    *TW* - BFP & MC in March 2016.
    BFP in June 2016; EDD March 2017.
    Samuel born February 2017! 

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