I know we had a working mom thread a while back but I couldn’t find it to revive it. Now that we are all inching closer to the end (thank goodness!) I am sure some plans have changed.
I’m being really selfish in starting this thread because I want to know how long you plan to stay at work before your EDD?
My parental leave allows me to 2 weeks prior to my EDD but honestly, I’m not sure I can last another 8 weeks. I work retail (management) and the demands of being on my feet all day, not being able to take as many breaks due to low staffing and the stress of having peers who frankly suck at their jobs is becoming too much for me. I was off work today and spent the whole day worrying about and thinking about the store. That’s not OK with me. Is it possible for my doctor to recommend an amended schedule or anything like that through the next 8 weeks to keep me sane?
What’s going on for you at work? Share your Struggles & successes
I’m planning to take off 2 weeks before my due date, although I’m expecting to give birth early (c section or induction due to GD) so it won’t really be 2 weeks. I have a desk job, but it’s still getting to be a lot! Getting up, dressed, drinking, walking, etc....but mostly the work stress! I’m very frustrated with my job right now, and frustrated that I feel “trapped” because of the pregnancy, too. I’m trying SO HARD to not let work get to me, but definitely not succeeding.
@MandyMost sorry Work stress is sucking and I second the “feeling trapped” sentiment! I know my husband is over hearing about my work situation, I guess that’s why I came here.
Are you doing anything to reduce stress? I could use some pointers for sure
I’ve been shutting emails off my phone on weekends, and trying not to check it in the evenings. I think I really need to be doing yoga, but I’m not :-( I think it would help my mental state enormously. i know I need to be doing more about the stress, but I don’t know what!
Work is one of the reasons I struggle to be here! I’m finishing up my pediatrics residency so I’m finally in a decent spot career-wise for one of my babies. It’s been a long journey since we had our first baby straight out of college in our first year of med school. Anyway, I only have 3 more weeks of residency and it’s all easy stuff because I’m just making up time from my last maternity leave. I am so grateful to be home for awhile before this baby comes. Last time I worked up until I delivered, including a 24 hour shift at 38 weeks pregnant. Bleh! I’m starting my next job in Dec. Meanwhile as of July 1st, H is starting a 3 year fellowship so that’s new and busy and I’m having a hard time with our insurance changing. I am working on a back up plan but I may need to change hospitals / OBs and one of my daughters is going to have to give up speech for awhile because our copay switched to $70 per weekly session. Sorry, can’t do it!
DD1 6.2011 DD2 4.2013 - vbac DS1 9.2016 - vbac, team green Baby #4 due 9.2018
Oh man I can complain on this one HAHA. I own a dog grooming salon and I wanted to stay on as long as possible but honestly I am struggling. Between lifting dogs and fighting with them for nail trims and being on my feet all day I'm about done. I'm physically ready to hand over the reins to my staff and stay home but mentally I cant handle it. I'm so worried about how my business will continue without me there micromanaging ha. Starting tomorrow I am taking a step back because I have had contractions for 2 days now. I'm at risk for pre term labor and I know my body is telling me to stop. So I guess TECHNICALLY starting tomorrow I'm off but we will see how that goes. I see myself still showing up every day to check in on things. Also I either pay a nanny for the next 5 weeks to watch my kids until school starts or I just do it myself so... I'm choosing the more reasonable (and budget friendly) option.
My plan is to work up until I deliver so I can maximize my time off. I work 7 on/7 off (3-10 &4-12 hour days), so I get no PTO days but we have an extended leave bank that I can use as soon as I’m admitted to the hospital. So far it hasn’t been terrible other than some contractions but it’s a physically demanding job pulling and pushing on patients and equipment. I’m just hoping I can stay in until I go into labor.
@samd6 unfortunately a lot of what this boils down to for me is what my H and I can afford. So I'm planning on working up until my due date, partially because we need to financially and I don't want to cut into time actually spent with baby, but also partially because I know I would drive myself crazy if I was at home alone with nothing to do.
How straight forward of a conversation can you have with your manager? I think it may be an option for your OB to recommend a reduced schedule for you, but that might cut into disability for you if you're planning on using that. If it were me, I would set up a meeting with your manager and ask for some accommodations. Maybe something like an extra chair on the floor of your store so you're able to sit, pre-determined break times where maybe you're available by phone only, if at all. I'd take a good look to see what happens if you start your mat leave early and if that makes sense for you and your H.
As for me, I'm counting down the weeks until I stop traveling to one of my sites that's located an hour away (7 left!). Otherwise, I'm working on some miscellaneous projects along with my regular work and nothing seems to be too much at this point. I'm uncomfortable and easily tired, but I would be no matter what.
@samd6 that sucks. Would your management team pick up the slack if they knew you were struggling? Can you be scheduled for less busy times of the day or take on more of the office tasks? Leaving work at work is hard but would likely help the stress level
@MandyMost yes find some yoga! It feels so nice to clear your head and stretch for an hour. I also feel better if I do something between leaving work and going home (the store, ice cream)
@ellbeedee I think it's perfectly reasonable for you to stop in and see how things are going even if you aren't grooming. Could you schedule smaller dogs for yourself a couple days a week?
I also plan to work right up until delivery. I'm trying to get my field work finished up this month so I don't have to worry about it but it's nice that i have control over that schedule. I'm stressed because I have a new boss and he's nervous about doing everything right which is making me nervous that I'm missing something. Also I'm not super confident in the person they chose to cover for me to the point that I offered to start back to work a little sooner part time to make sure things get done correctly
@samd6 sorry your work is causing so much stress. Is there a way to lighten the load without completely leaving work yet?
I am planning on working up until I have the baby. I stopped traveling three weeks ago except for one potential visit in early August for some major issues. Things have been pretty hectic at work the last couple weeks, but I am hoping they will level out soon. Right now I have so many clients with major issues I am worried about going on leave, but also looking forward to it.
With DS I worked from home the day I went into labor while having contractions all day. My first day of leave was the following day, the day he was born.
I'm due 9/20 and currently planning to have my first day of leave be Monday 9/17. I'm currently considering pushing it up a couple days so my first day out would be 9/13 which is DS's birthday. Figure it would be nice to do something special with him if I haven't had the baby yet.
I have a desk job though and the ability to work from home so barring medical reasons it doesn't make sense for me to use much leave time prior to giving birth.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
I’ve been shutting emails off my phone on weekends, and trying not to check it in the evenings. I think I really need to be doing yoga, but I’m not :-( I think it would help my mental state enormously. i know I need to be doing more about the stress, but I don’t know what!
The phone thing is huge. I have a work phone too and people are very aware that I am not checking it at night and on weekends. My boss has my personal cell number so if something THAT urgent came up he could get a hold of me, but as an accountant that really should not happen. I find it helps a lot to completely disconnect from work when I'm not working.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@EErin86 unfortunately it’s not me that’s struggling, I am able to get my work done but am having to pick up the slack for my peers. The main issue I am having is that my one peer manager is terrible, like a terrible person and hard to work with. He’s very stuck in his ways and the team keeps complaining about him. Gah. I need to disconnect badly.
I am talking to my manager today do hoping hoping that goes well.
I plan on working up until the day i deliver- my work pays us for 6 weeks maternity leave so i will most liekly utilize that before i return!
I am a nurse recruiter so also work a desk job but can relate to high pressure/stress that can come with the job! I have just started to let my travelers know i will be on leave soon and have been dealing with the worry they will switch companies/recruiters by the time i get back EEK!
Hi, I'm doing work for 2 people at an office job because my colleague cannot be bothered to abandon Facebook or any other site to work...I feel big and clumsy and tired but I'm still the one running around with papers, he has no undestanding that I'm struggling, he sees me everyday being sick, also fainted at work, no remorce at all. May God give him some common sense or at least some brain! I cannot wait to be at home, I'm entitled to 126 days off work before or after delivery, as I please. He will be off too during that time, getting married and going in their honeymoon. I pity the person who will take on that office, I'll do my best to leave everything in order, sure the other one hasn't even thought about the mess he 's leaving behind. I cannot wait to meet my baby...forget about work for 4 months and not give a monkey...Health to all of you and your families, let's not talk about work anymore...I'm getting annoyed in here!!!!Ta-da!
I’m planning to work up until I’m in labor or I have an induction date. I’m already low on PTO and will have to take a 40% pay cut for STD for half my leave anyway. The other half will be funded with PTO/sick hours. Last time around I had more PTO to burn and took some time off before my induction date. Turns out being at home was super boring and dragged on. I probably would have preferred to work to pass the time and saved that PTO.
Since I have a desk job and can work from home let me clarify why I’m taking off 2 weeks before my due date! I actually get 16 weeks of maternity leave, and the company shuts down between Christmas and New Years...but if I don’t come back from leave before then it counts as one of my weeks of maternity leave. This timing has me officially returned to work the week before Christmas, then I’ll take a week vacation, then get the week holiday, and not need to go to work until the new year.
The great maternity leave is one of the only reasons I haven’t left my company and found a new job!
@MandyMost that is amazing maternity leave!! Enjoy that!
lots of very busy ladies here! This will be a good thread for people as it seems most are trying to make it till the very end.
I’m going to try for the very end, but I lightened up my in court room (attorney) load the week before I’m due. The other attorney I split the firms case load with in our area is taking off almost all of August... haha, prepping herself for taking my whole case load during my maternity leave. So August will be a nightmare, and then hopefully mid spetember I can take it a bit easy.
Last time I planned to be off for about a week before my due date and went into labor on what was supposed to be my last day of work. This time I had my OB put me off work for 4 weeks before my due date, mostly because the state of CA will give me disability pay for 4 weeks before, I have stuff to do around the house, I will probably deliver early, and most importantly: I want to spend extra time with dd. I plan on taking 3 months after delivery.
I worked right up until I had DD, took 15 weeks off and used my additional week as sick time over the next month or two as needed (baby starting daycare in January was rough). I'm also planning to work until I have this baby and will take the full 16 weeks my state allows. Depending on when he arrives, I may return to work the day before the week of Christmas so I will be paid for that whole week, return after the new year and do PT through January to use up my remaining time.
My job is mostly a desk job along with a lot of meetings and presentations, although those don't typically ramp up until September and I will likely arrange for someone else to cover those starting at the beginning of the month.
It seems like we all would like to work as long as possible! The breakdown for me is kind of weird, we get 2 weeks prior to our due date as standard but it is short term disability, which is at 75% pay, but we have to use a week of benefit time at the beginning so it is really only 1 week at 75% pay if you only take the 2 weeks. Then we get 14 weeks at 100% pay which starts the day after the baby is born, and the option to take an additional 6 weeks at 0% pay (you can use benefit time for this). So I will be taking 16 weeks off (minimum) with 1 week of vacation at the end. Basically I will be out of work Sept 10th - Jan 13th so long as everything goes as planned. I don't know why they have to make it so confusing, I have to use a combination of short term disability, parental bonding leave, maternity leave and PTO, which all have to be applied for individually, gah!
But I should note: I feel very fortunate to have the coverage I have as a retail manager. I know many people working retail just get FMLA and no paid leave.
My conversation with my manager regarding my peer went REALLY well. He recognized we have a problem here, and assured me that he is working toward a resolution for this peer and another (who is just bad at his job, not mean, just not good at what he does). He's hoping to have it all resolved before I go on leave so that I can feel confident coming back into a positive work environment. He let my peers know that I am allowed to take sit down breaks as I need them, and work from a seated position as appropriate. This all makes me feel a lot better about everything. He told me his primary concern is my health, and if I feel like I need to amend my schedule he is open to talking about it. He'd rather have me in store part time for the next 8 weeks than dipping out entirely.
It’s really interesting to see the different plans everyone has.
@samd6 I hope the talk with your manager went well!
I took a month off before my EDD with DS. He ended up 11 days late (it’s his 2nd birthday today!) I’ll be doing the same for this one. So I only have 15 more days of work until I have 18 months off! DH took a higher paying job that he’ll enjoy 1000x more, so I was able to go back to the original plan of taking the 18 and not the 12.
@dairygirl93 happy birthday to your DS and yay for 18 months off!
I have a couple coworkers that keep asking if I'm coming back to work after this baby. It's super annoying and sexist. Also, Stanley, you didn't stay home and raise your kids how do you know it's a wonderful experience??? Honestly if anything DH would be the stay at home parent because my benefits are much better and I like my job more. Woah sorry for the rant
I get zero paid time off. It's really bumming me out. The state of California actually has decent maternity pay, but I don't qualify for any of it because my (very large) employer opts out. They don't do anything to make up for it either. So, I have 6 weeks of disability (that I pay into each month). But, there is a mandatory 2 week waiting period. So, I have to take off 2 weeks early (and not go into early labor) otherwise I will lose some of that 6 weeks. I then have about 5 weeks of sick time saved that I will use. I would like to be out August 31 - January 2. That's 17 weeks. I would get some pay or full pay for 11 of the weeks. 6 would be unpaid. 1 of those weeks is a paid week off - so maybe I would go back to work the second to last week in December and then work 1 week and have another week off...Also, as I've complained about here many times, my whole HR department quit. So this plan is entirely in my head and not worked out officially or approved.
@EErin86 I find people asking that question over and over to be annoying. My boss asked me, to which I told her of course I’ll be back. Mentally thinking who on earth can afford to live on one salary in our area?? But then, she went behind my back and asked my coworker if I was coming back. Like seriously?! And like you said, no one ever asks the guy if they’re coming back. Or at least I’ve never heard it..... hmmmm... part of me thinks the reactions to that question would make a good study/video.
@EErin86 & @Lcardinal04 - nobody has asked me if I am coming back, but I have been asked by a few peers what my childcare plan is. My response? "the child's father".
Only 1 person asked if I was coming back last time. I had planned to return in December but pushed it back to January and a coworker/friend texted me to make sure I was actually coming back. I didn't mind though because we are friends in addition to being coworkers.
No one else even came close to asking.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@samd6 I am glad your conversation went well. @magnolia209 your plan sounds incredibly confusing, I am sorry you have to deal with trying to figure it out and yet not officially having it approved.
I am a teacher so at the moment I am "off" but will work for about a month, pending whenever the baby comes. I am currently trying to get motivated to get my lesson plans going for leave. My district allows me to use sick time for 6 weeks (or 8 weeks if c-section). After that, I can use 5 family days that I have banked and 5 personal days I have banked. They will not allow us to use any other sick time we have accrued in excess of the initial 6 weeks. I am taking 10 weeks and will not get paid for 2 of the weeks. My district does not believe in allowing for paid "bonding time" with child. Shaking my head....
I'm not taking any time off. For some unknown reason, I'm an hourly employee and the parent company currently only has a (very awesome) plan for salaried employees. Hourly employee maternity benefits to come in 2019, not soon enough for me unfortunately! On the flip side, the subsidiary I work for has strong family values and they've agreed to let me work from home for however long I need, at whatever hours I'm comfortable with. I'm okay with this, since I was really uncomfortable handing off my responsibilities to anyone else. I know I'm taking a full 8 weeks out of the office, and after that I'll slowly transition back into the office during our off-season. I don't expect to be back working full time away from home until Feb-March. I'm planning to move my office home the first week of September (around 38 weeks). I delivered at 37 weeks with my first born and had been dilated since about 32 weeks, so we'll see what happens this time around!
I plan to work up until I go in to labor. If I took time off before, it would have to use PTO and then I could not take as much time off after the baby comes. My company does not have any maternity leave benefits other than the short term disability, so I will take the 4 weeks STD, 2 weeks PTO and then take another 4 weeks unpaid under FMLA.
Ugh. I had intended to work up until my due date. I have a desk job, my office is 6 minutes from home and 10 from the hospital. My boss decided RIGHT NOW is the perfect time for us to make a huge change and switch offices. It’s not a huge commute, around a half hour. But I’m less comfortable having to drove home a half hour (more at rush hour) if I’ve started feeling contractions. I may need to work from home as it gets closer, which is a nightmare bc I have to train my replacement. My boss left everything for the last minute just in case I needed more stress. The good thing is my new office is 2 miles from DH’s office so he could just come get me.
I am planning to pack my hospital bag this weekend - is it crazy to have it with me at work? I assume if I start feeling contractions I’ll just go home until it’s time to go to the hospital. Is there any reason that I’d need to go to the hospital immediately?
@ashh2018 I think it makes sense to keep the hospital bag in your trunk if you’re worried. It seems unlikely that you would need to go straight to the hospital from work, but you never know.
I'm having the hardest time at work. I just can't seem to find someone to replace me and my hip pain is only getting worse! The maternity belt I got a couple of weeks back is really helping, but ultimately I just need to not be on my feet for 12 hrs a day.. I feel so over running our own business and some days just want to give up! I don't want to overdue it and force this baby out sooner than he's ready for..
I’m working through the entire time (hopefully.) I will try to lighten up my schedule about a week before delivery. Maybe two because DS was born at 38 weeks. So that means jamming everything in ahead of time but what can you do?
I worked up until the day I had ds, I worked from home the last week since I was past my due date. This time I plan on taking a week off prior to my due date and using vacation time.
I wi then take 12 weeks off. It 6 weeks will be paid, but I made the decision early on that is what I wanted t do so I have been saving $$$ to supplement the bills while I will be off.
Canadian here so our leave is much different from the majority.
With our first I was planning on working up until 2-3 weeks before the due date. And then I went into Preterm Labour at 32 weeks. So I was put on sick leave prior to my maternity leave. And took a 1 year Maternity/Parental leave following Sick Leave at 55% of my wages (still needed to have income tax deducted so its not great pay)
This time around is quite different. Canada has the option now for an 18 months leave. So the first portion which is Maternity leave is the 55% of your wages and if you extend to 18 months instead of 12 months then your pay drops to 33% of your wages when you hit Parental leave. Approx 15-17 weeks after baby is born for the remainder of your leave. I actually decided to take the 18 month leave this time around and took the summer off with our 4.5 yr old Autistic son. It made more sense for me to take an early Maternity leave at 31 weeks along then stay working all summer and having to pay for camps plus a support worker to join him for his enhanced needs. Plus I have a job where you stand all day. So I started Maternity leave at the end of June ( Dud date is September 1st) and if I return to work it will be December 2019/January 2020! It’s so strange to register for daycare that far out but spots in an infant room are so difficult to get with our ratios here. Even a toddler room will be difficult. So we shall see how this all plays out. This is likely our last child as well.
I’m hoping to work right up until this time but last time was pulled out at 36 weeks. I have a job that requires me to drive quite a bit, two hours one way for a half hour meeting and then back to hours isn’t out of the norm. So around 34 weeks I’ll get a note restricting my travel to near the office and mainly desk work.
Hi all! 31 weeks FTM and I'm a teacher on summer vacation. I was actually attacked by a student the day before we let out for spring break so I have not been back to school since spring break. My doctor signed paperwork for me to stay home on short term disability leave due to unsafe work environment because of my class. I went to the ER twice while pregnant because of that class and had multiple threats on my baby. I am getting nervous because school starts August 9th and I do have to go back until delivery. The EDD is September 17th so I am not looking forward to establishing procedures and setting up a whole new class right before my baby comes. I also have terrible carpal tunnel syndrome and edema. I know pregnant women are supposed to be super strong and put up with whatever comes their way but I am super exhausted all the time and have no idea what to expect when school starts. I really wish there was a way for working moms to have adequate time to rest while pregnant and after the baby comes to bond for a good amount of time before returning to work without going completely broke. Good luck to everyone!
Knottie sorry you are having the anxiety leading up to going back to school. I hope you are able to find some peace and a way to feel more safe at work. If you can change your screen name we would love to interact with you more and then we can tag you in our responses.
Re: Working Mamas - July
Are you doing anything to reduce stress? I could use some pointers for sure
*edited to finish the post lol
DD2 4.2013 - vbac
DS1 9.2016 - vbac, team green
Baby #4 due 9.2018
BFP#1: 11/15/2010 * Missed M/C 12/28 * D&C 12/29/2010
BFP#5 12/26/2017 *SURPRISE* Due 09/02/2018
How straight forward of a conversation can you have with your manager? I think it may be an option for your OB to recommend a reduced schedule for you, but that might cut into disability for you if you're planning on using that. If it were me, I would set up a meeting with your manager and ask for some accommodations. Maybe something like an extra chair on the floor of your store so you're able to sit, pre-determined break times where maybe you're available by phone only, if at all. I'd take a good look to see what happens if you start your mat leave early and if that makes sense for you and your H.
As for me, I'm counting down the weeks until I stop traveling to one of my sites that's located an hour away (7 left!). Otherwise, I'm working on some miscellaneous projects along with my regular work and nothing seems to be too much at this point. I'm uncomfortable and easily tired, but I would be no matter what.
@samd6 that sucks. Would your management team pick up the slack if they knew you were struggling? Can you be scheduled for less busy times of the day or take on more of the office tasks? Leaving work at work is hard but would likely help the stress level
@MandyMost yes find some yoga! It feels so nice to clear your head and stretch for an hour. I also feel better if I do something between leaving work and going home (the store, ice cream)
@crispy11 congratulations on being almost done!!!
@ellbeedee I think it's perfectly reasonable for you to stop in and see how things are going even if you aren't grooming. Could you schedule smaller dogs for yourself a couple days a week?
I also plan to work right up until delivery. I'm trying to get my field work finished up this month so I don't have to worry about it but it's nice that i have control over that schedule. I'm stressed because I have a new boss and he's nervous about doing everything right which is making me nervous that I'm missing something. Also I'm not super confident in the person they chose to cover for me to the point that I offered to start back to work a little sooner part time to make sure things get done correctly
I am planning on working up until I have the baby. I stopped traveling three weeks ago except for one potential visit in early August for some major issues. Things have been pretty hectic at work the last couple weeks, but I am hoping they will level out soon. Right now I have so many clients with major issues I am worried about going on leave, but also looking forward to it.
I'm due 9/20 and currently planning to have my first day of leave be Monday 9/17. I'm currently considering pushing it up a couple days so my first day out would be 9/13 which is DS's birthday. Figure it would be nice to do something special with him if I haven't had the baby yet.
I have a desk job though and the ability to work from home so barring medical reasons it doesn't make sense for me to use much leave time prior to giving birth.
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
I am talking to my manager today do hoping hoping that goes well.
I cannot wait to meet my baby...forget about work for 4 months and not give a monkey...Health to all of you and your families, let's not talk about work anymore...I'm getting annoyed in here!!!!Ta-da!
The great maternity leave is one of the only reasons I haven’t left my company and found a new job!
lots of very busy ladies here! This will be a good thread for people as it seems most are trying to make it till the very end.
I’m going to try for the very end, but I lightened up my in court room (attorney) load the week before I’m due. The other attorney I split the firms case load with in our area is taking off almost all of August... haha, prepping herself for taking my whole case load during my maternity leave. So August will be a nightmare, and then hopefully mid spetember I can take it a bit easy.
My job is mostly a desk job along with a lot of meetings and presentations, although those don't typically ramp up until September and I will likely arrange for someone else to cover those starting at the beginning of the month.
@crispy11 Congrats on almost being finished!!
BFP #1: 1/23/2012 DD: Born 9/20/2012
BFP #2: 12/30/2017 DS: Due 9/10/2018
But I should note: I feel very fortunate to have the coverage I have as a retail manager. I know many people working retail just get FMLA and no paid leave.
My conversation with my manager regarding my peer went REALLY well. He recognized we have a problem here, and assured me that he is working toward a resolution for this peer and another (who is just bad at his job, not mean, just not good at what he does). He's hoping to have it all resolved before I go on leave so that I can feel confident coming back into a positive work environment. He let my peers know that I am allowed to take sit down breaks as I need them, and work from a seated position as appropriate. This all makes me feel a lot better about everything. He told me his primary concern is my health, and if I feel like I need to amend my schedule he is open to talking about it. He'd rather have me in store part time for the next 8 weeks than dipping out entirely.
@samd6 I hope the talk with your manager went well!
I took a month off before my EDD with DS. He ended up 11 days late (it’s his 2nd birthday today!) I’ll be doing the same for this one. So I only have 15 more days of work until I have 18 months off! DH took a higher paying job that he’ll enjoy 1000x more, so I was able to go back to the original plan of taking the 18 and not the 12.
@dairygirl93 happy birthday to your DS and yay for 18 months off!
I have a couple coworkers that keep asking if I'm coming back to work after this baby. It's super annoying and sexist. Also, Stanley, you didn't stay home and raise your kids how do you know it's a wonderful experience??? Honestly if anything DH would be the stay at home parent because my benefits are much better and I like my job more. Woah sorry for the rant
And like you said, no one ever asks the guy if they’re coming back. Or at least I’ve never heard it..... hmmmm... part of me thinks the reactions to that question would make a good study/video.
No one else even came close to asking.
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@magnolia209 your plan sounds incredibly confusing, I am sorry you have to deal with trying to figure it out and yet not officially having it approved.
I am a teacher so at the moment I am "off" but will work for about a month, pending whenever the baby comes. I am currently trying to get motivated to get my lesson plans going for leave. My district allows me to use sick time for 6 weeks (or 8 weeks if c-section). After that, I can use 5 family days that I have banked and 5 personal days I have banked. They will not allow us to use any other sick time we have accrued in excess of the initial 6 weeks. I am taking 10 weeks and will not get paid for 2 of the weeks. My district does not believe in allowing for paid "bonding time" with child. Shaking my head....
edited to tag the right person.
I am planning to pack my hospital bag this weekend - is it crazy to have it with me at work? I assume if I start feeling contractions I’ll just go home until it’s time to go to the hospital. Is there any reason that I’d need to go to the hospital immediately?
I wi then take 12 weeks off. It 6 weeks will be paid, but I made the decision early on that is what I wanted t do so I have been saving $$$ to supplement the bills while I will be off.
With our first I was planning on working up until 2-3 weeks before the due date. And then I went into Preterm Labour at 32 weeks. So I was put on sick leave prior to my maternity leave. And took a 1 year Maternity/Parental leave following Sick Leave at 55% of my wages (still needed to have income tax deducted so its not great pay)
This time around is quite different. Canada has the option now for an 18 months leave. So the first portion which is Maternity leave is the 55%
of your wages and if you extend to 18 months instead of 12 months then your pay drops to 33% of your wages when you hit Parental leave. Approx 15-17 weeks after baby is born for the remainder of your leave. I actually decided to take the 18 month leave this time around and took the summer off with our 4.5 yr old Autistic son. It made more sense for me to take an early Maternity leave at 31 weeks along then stay working all summer and having to pay for camps plus a support worker to join him for his enhanced needs. Plus I have a job where you stand all day. So I started Maternity leave at the end of June ( Dud date is September 1st) and if I return to work it will be December 2019/January 2020! It’s so
strange to register for daycare that far out but spots in an infant room are so difficult to get with our ratios here. Even a toddler room will be difficult. So we shall see how this all plays out. This is likely our last child as well.
31 weeks FTM and I'm a teacher on summer vacation. I was actually attacked by a student the day before we let out for spring break so I have not been back to school since spring break. My doctor signed paperwork for me to stay home on short term disability leave due to unsafe work environment because of my class. I went to the ER twice while pregnant because of that class and had multiple threats on my baby. I am getting nervous because school starts August 9th and I do have to go back until delivery. The EDD is September 17th so I am not looking forward to establishing procedures and setting up a whole new class right before my baby comes. I also have terrible carpal tunnel syndrome and edema. I know pregnant women are supposed to be super strong and put up with whatever comes their way but I am super exhausted all the time and have no idea what to expect when school starts. I really wish there was a way for working moms to have adequate time to rest while pregnant and after the baby comes to bond for a good amount of time before returning to work without going completely broke.
Good luck to everyone!