September 2018 Moms
samd6
member
Working Mamas - July
samd6
member
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 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
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!