December 2017 Moms

GTKY: Maternity leave

What is your timeline for maternity leave?

When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?

When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing?

Is your significant other taking any time off?
Me: 33 DH: 34
Married: Oct 2015
TTC #1: Sept 2016
BFP: 10/19/16 ~ blighted ovum ~ D&C 11/23/16
BFP: 3/24/17   <3  DD1 born 12/2/17
TTC #2: July 2018
BFP: 8/26/18 <3  DD2 born 5/16/19



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Re: GTKY: Maternity leave

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  • What is your timeline for maternity leave?
    I'm taking 13 weeks. I get 2 weeks paid from work, the next 10 will be PTO that I have stockpiled and the last week or so will be unpaid. 

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?
    When baby is asleep and DD1 is at her in home daycare, I will be napping/relaxing. When DD1 is home, I'm sure I'll be playing with stuffed animals, puzzles and blocks and watching some Elmo/Daniel Tiger/Disney Sing Along Songs.

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing?
    I have an awesome place that I found after I had DD1 that has a new moms group, along with an open play time, nursing moms group and a group for moms with infants and toddlers so I will be taking advantage of going there as much as we can! If you have something like this place around your area I encourage you to check it out! It was honestly a lifesaver for me with DD1 who was a January baby. (If you happen to live in the Southern NH or Northern MA area, go to Nini Bambini in Bedford, NH!!)

    Is your significant other taking any time off?
    DH just got a promotion to GM of his restaurant (yay!) but it starts October 1, so he is limited with the time he can take off. He will probably take 7-10 days off right after birth. Then my mom will be coming to stay for a week or two (she is amazing and wants nothing more than to cook, clean, and watch my kids so I can nap). But then he gets more vacation time after January 1 so he will probably take another week sometime in January. 
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave?  I own my own business, so I get to set my own timeline. Unfortunately that also means all time off is unpaid, but we've done a great job of planning for this. I plan to take a total of 5 months off - starting at the end of October and returning to work April 1. 

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?  Playing with my other two kids. I am hoping to get some time to myself, but realistically that will probably be unlikely given the juggling of three kids. Hoping to fit showers into the schedule somehow... 

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing? Considering it will be winter and freezing cold I'm not too sure! I'm excited to see how my older DD's interact with the baby. On milder days we'll probably head to the zoo or library...

    Is your significant other taking any time off? He gets 3 days. Boo America. He's saved paid time off and plans to take a week if his boss approves. 
    BabyFetus Ticker
  • @djd0404  Thank you for the validation!  I am sooooo prone to being a gross blob if I'm not intentional about stuff, especially since I telecommute most days.  The vicious cycle of early motherhood will be a tricky beast to navigate, but I'm hopeful!  Not to mention I'm not even remotely cute enough to pull off the "hot mess mom" look.  I look like Ms Trunchbull from Matilda if I am unkempt.
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave? If we make it fullterm, it'll be beginning of Dec-beginning of March. I'm taking the full 12 weeks.

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing? What time to myself? I have two other ones running around... I will send them to daycare a couple days a week, so honestly I'll probably be sleeping and folding laundry and if everyone is lucky making a meal.  

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing? It's such a blur from the first time. All I can say is don't have a plan, it rarely ever goes the way you want it too!  I'm hoping babywearing will win out with this one so I can get some other stuff done too. 

    Is your significant other taking any time off? He owns a business and we live where the business is. So he will be around, but not taking any significant time off.  
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave? I plan to work until I deliver, then taking 6-8 weeks off. I work part time and the baby will be coming to work with me. The first few weeks after I return I'll probably ease back into it 2-3 days a week. 

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing? Staring at her?! Also taking 9 million pictures. I want to learn how to use my DSLR camera I got for my birthday this year! I'll have to make showering and changing clothes a priority. I know how I am/feel when I don't do that. 

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing? Staring at her more?! I also want to find mom groups to join. 

    Is your significant other taking any time off? He technically doesn't get any time off and hasn't been there long enough to get PTO, but his work is sounding like they are going to let him take 1-2 weeks off! 
    Me 29 I Him 26
    Married 4/22/16
    TTC 9/2015
    **TW**
    BFP 2/1/16 I MC 3/21/16 (11w)
    TTCAL 6/15/16
    BFP 3/23/2017 Team pink! Quinn Leigh EDD December 1, 2017
    BabyFetus Ticker
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  • What is your timeline for maternity leave? I'm hoping to work right up until my due date (Dec. 21), then I'll start 12 weeks of FMLA leave. I'll get four weeks paid, then I'll burn through all my PTO (about two weeks), then I'll go unpaid for the last six weeks or so. It really sucks that the U.S. has such a pitiful maternity/paternity leave policy. I may end up not returning back to work because 12 weeks just seems far too short a time to be with a newborn. If I could work from home some of the time or not go back to work until LO was 4-6 months old, there's a much higher chance I would go back to work. So I'm not closing any doors at this point, but I'll just wait and see about returning to work.

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing? Sleeping and snuggling (my two favorite things)! Also, showering and having a chance to get ready/put on some makeup (vital for my well being).

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing? Snuggling some more and going on walks. I live in TX, so the weather should be pretty mild.

    Is your significant other taking any time off? Yes, thankfully he gets four weeks of paid paternal leave. I'm so excited for us to all be home and get a chance to bond over the holidays.
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave?

    My babies come super late (41+2 and 41+4), so I work up until I go into labor, otherwise I would go crazy from boredom. Then I'm taking 12 weeks.

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?

    Ha! This time is a myth. I will pee, shove food in my face and speed shower in the tiny window between wakings.

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing?

    Long walks with the stroller. Snuggles. Making my way through my Netflix/Amazon Prime watchlists during clusterfeeding when I am trapped on the couch with a baby who eats 20 out of 24 hours in a day.

    Is your significant other taking any time off?

    Yes. He gets 3 weeks of paternity leave, as well as the week between Christmas and New Year's. He also just has a ton of leave in general, so I think he will stay home with the baby for a few weeks after I go back. He did that with our first and I think it was helpful. Plus, with 2 other kids, he will want some solo time with this one.
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave?
    Taking off 11/21 (due 12/11) through May 7. This is mostly unpaid, but I wanted to take off the maximum I could with my job still legally protected. Then I'll just work 3 days a week until June 15 and I'll be off for the summer (I work in a school). It's a combo of FMLA, STD, paid time off required by our city (6 weeks paid!).

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?
    Sewing, sleeping or vegging out watching TV.

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing?
    Going for walks (I'm in California, so it'll be mild and hopefully not too rainy!). Taking pics of baby being cute during tummy time. Generally staring at baby.

    Is your significant other taking any time off?
    Yes! He gets time off from the city we work in (6 weeks paid!) and will likely take it in chunks. Last time he took 4 weeks off and then took the remaining time as a day or two per week for several weeks. My favorite part of this time as a family with DD was my husband making me a soft boiled egg and a cup of coffee every morning (we do pour over and he makes it really well!) while DD was still sleeping.
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @oldersis Oh, the clusterfeeding!!! I am not looking forward to that. One night I called the advice nurse since DD had been eating basically nonstop for 14 hours or so, and I was near tears with exhaustion. The nurse was like, yeah, that'll happen some days, sorry. The glamorous life of a new mom!!!
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @cait5413 so true. I would wait til my husband got home and sometimes  it would be 11 or 12 til I showered. I felt horrible waiting that long. I'm gonna try to do that while baby sleeps  I'll just put DD in with my. She loves to shower. 

    And eat folks. I lost 45lbs in the first 4 weeks because I literally didn't have time to eat or was too tired. Especially if you breastfeed. Try hard I make time for yourself. 
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave? I'm hoping to take a total of16 weeks. Although I'm not positive if it will be 16 consecutive weeks or take 12 consecutive weeks and then using the last 4 weeks worth (20 days) to work 4 day weeks for 20 weeks.  For the consecutive weeks, it will be a mix of paid and unpaid through disability and stockpiled PTO.  

    As for leading up to her birth, I'm hoping to work up until the baby is born.  I'm hoping to start working from home exclusively after Thanksgiving (due date is December 15), which should help.  Given my commute could take anywhere from 20 minutes (no traffic and not rush hour) to 90 minutes (rush hour), I'd rather not risk going into labor at the office and it being during rush hour and it taking forever to get to the hospital. And god forbid it snows or sleets or there is an accident on the highway.  The traffic could take 2+ hours.    

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing? I feel like based on what I hear from others, the answer should be showering.  Or napping myself.  

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing? I'd really looking forward to taking the baby for walks.  

    Is your significant other taking any time off? Yes.  He'll take about 3 weeks off when she's born.  He might also take some time after my maternity leave to delay placing her in daycare for a bit of time.  

    @peachy13 - cooking sounds like a great use of baby sleeping time!  

    ** December BMB Siggy Challenge - Animals in Pools **


    Me: 31+ H: 32
    TTC Since 11/2015
    #1 - MMC 6.5 weeks (2/16); #2 - MC due to cystic hygroma at 20 weeks (10/16); #3 CP (2/17); #4 - Due 12.16.17
  • What is your timeline for maternity leave? I'm not really sure... with my first two I worked for a larger company and was covered by FMLA. I was able to take 16 weeks (allbeit unpaid except for my accrued vacation and sick time). This time around I'm working for a small firm (there are 4 of us) and aside from a VERY casual conversation where I said I'd like to at least have 16 weeks, I have no idea what's coming my way for approved time off or any amount of compensation - our formal vacation policy is "unlimited" so I'm not sure how that works out from the "get paid with vacation" sense... Truth be told I'm considering not coming back, only because I don't know how I will balance it all. But I'm also considering cutting down my hours to 3 days a week 9-3 (currently 4 days 8-4), and trying to work from home until my oldest goes to Kindergarten next fall. ALLLLLL things I am planning on ironing out after the 10/15 tax deadline!

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing? Ha. I'll be entertaining my other two. When they are at day-care it will probably be showering and *trying* to relax for half a millisecond.

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing? I'm excited to see my kids interact with the new baby.

    Is your significant other taking any time off? He'll probably take a week off as he did with the other babies. He company allows for either 3 or 6 weeks for paternity leave but he said NO ONE ever takes it (he's in commercial construction, so it's mostly men in his office), almost like it has some sort of stigma attached.
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  • tmk0325tmk0325 member
    edited September 2017
    @clovelyone from experience with twins... take the 12 weeks if you can make it work! I took 2 weeks while they were in the nicu to recover from the c section, worked part time for 3 weeks while they were In the nicu, and took 9 when they got home. After the 9 weeks going back to work and I was like a zombie. I went back part time only and I honestly don't remember any of it and I was getting only 4 hours of sleep a night. My SO and I did all the feedings together too since they were on the same schedule. If you end up with a partner who doesn't help or twins who aren't on the same schedule it'll be rough! 
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • moonlady-2moonlady-2 member
    edited September 2017
    What is your timeline for maternity leave?
    I'm due 12/23 and the last day of school before winter break is the 15th. I am REALLY hoping I can make it to then so I dont have to use any of my time. Then my leave would officially start Jan 2. I'm taking my full 12 weeks. I will have like ~5 weeks paid.

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?
    Spend time with DH

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing?
    I can't waiting until we can make him laugh!

    Is your significant other taking any time off?
    6 weeks
    31 years young
    from Seattle(ish)
    5 years married
    FTM and PGAL
    EDD is 12/23/17
    -- It's a BOY! ---





  • What is your timeline for maternity leave?
    Hopefully working up until labor. Since I teach dance I will start having assistant teachers demonstrate for me soon. Then we have winter break. In the new year I will continue the work from home aspect of running my dance Program (a few emails etc) I won't go back to teaching till about March

    When baby is asleep and you have time to yourself, what are you excited about doing?
    Prob shower, nap, clean,play on phone

    When baby is awake and fed/changed, what are you excited about doing?
    Going on walks (beautiful time of year here) getting to know my LO

    Is your significant other taking any time off?
    he gets 8 weeks paid but will break it into two segments. Prob about 3 weeks in the beginning and the rest next summer so we can travel etc.
  • @moonlady-2 the 15th is my last day too and I had hoped to make it so my leave would start Jan 2. But the 15th Is my due date and since I'm a rcs, I'm guessing that isn't going to work. 
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • @dkizz82  Similar situation here too! I technically don't qualify for FMLA until Jan 3rd but am hoping and praying I have enough leave (plus the holidays) that we can make it over the hump.  If LO comes super early I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that HR is too busy with more important things to pay close attention!  My boss has been cool about it, so I think she will advocate for me but it's government employment so who knows...
  • @clovelyone that's great to have those options and to work from home with flexibility!! 
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • Yes, it is, thanks @tmk0325
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