Starting maternity leave?

[FireflyFan]

How soon/how late are any of you working-outside-home mamas taking maternity leave? A co-worker raised her eyebrows when I said I was working right up until, so I was just curious.

I don't get a whole lot of leave, which is why I want to maximize the time actually spent with, you know, a baby.

[bikruca]

last time I left about 1 month early..

this time 3 months early (but I am on short term disability so it doesn't cut into my year of leave)

I would say whenever you feel like it... I couldn't be working right now, but I could have worked longer last time I think

[MacKinnon]

Sneaking in from January to announce that I went on leave today!! I am 38wk3days. I was going to work up until the end but that idea went out the window around Christmas time. I am just too tired to keep this up! My m/w is writing me off on short-term disability, so the time is not deducted from my leave. I do, however, work for a big 10 university, and get amazing leave period (whatever short-term disability I am written for plus an additional 6 weeks parental leave, all paid). So I am feeling very fortunate. FWIW, most of the women I know have worked up to their due date/delivery date or taken leave on short-term disability at 38 weeks.

[anabellee]

i worked up until 4 days before ds1 was born. i would have stayed longer but we had a client with escalating behavior problems and it wasn't safe for me to stay. i haven't worked at all since then but i do go to school full time and intend on going to class right up until ds2 arrives

[PixelDust]

Julieanne is planning to work until the baby comes or as long as she can. She also works for a Big Ten university, but unfortunately doesn't have short term disability so whenever she leaves, her twelve weeks' unpaid leave starts. I know it is getting harder for her, and I so wish she could just rest these next few weeks until the baby comes.

[lindsayjean]

I will be working until the first week in Feb. I actually really don't mind working- I have a feeling I would get really bored and anxious for her to hurry up and be born if I had all day to sit around and do nothing. But I *am* MOST DEFINITELY looking forward to Feb and not working anymore. We will be moving 3 months after baby is born, so I plan not to work for quite a while after the birth, so I guess I'm getting my "fill" now.

[DreamsInDigital]

I started my leave as of the 1st. My EDD is 31 days from today.

[bikruca]

how much leave do mamas usually get where you all live?

Just curious..

[PixelDust]

Federal legislation here in the US guarantees most workers twelve weeks' unpaid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child. There are some restrictions, though, so not everyone qualifies; for example, you have to be at your job for a year before you qualify. Some employers offer a period of paid leave, and the length varies widely. The benefits Julie gets from her employer are otherwise wonderful, but there's no short term disability and only two of her twelve maternity leave weeks will be paid.

[mamabear&babybear]

I stay home now but with dd my water broke at work.

[bikruca]

Originally Posted by PixelDust

Federal legislation here in the US guarantees most workers twelve weeks' unpaid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child. There are some restrictions, though, so not everyone qualifies; for example, you have to be at your job for a year before you qualify. Some employers offer a period of paid leave, and the length varies widely. The benefits Julie gets from her employer are otherwise wonderful, but there's no short term disability and only two of her twelve maternity leave weeks will be paid.

12 weeks unpaid?

wow that is pretty tough, I can't imagine how most families manage with that???

God I am stressed about our finances once we go on leave and it is about 100 times better than that.

[Azza]

I only get 12 weeks unpaid leave so am planning to work up until the baby comes or until I get too uncomfortable. We dont get the option of disability leave here.

[Gray's Mommy]

I am planning on working up until my due date (5th or so) and then guage how I am feeling then.

I don't have disability, so when I start my unpaid leave, it is just that, unpaid. I do work for a public school system, so they have been garnishing my pay since school started so I won't go without pay, technically.

I will take 60 school days off, which is the 12 weeks, but since Spring Break is in there, I really get 13 weeks I do have to return in May to finish my contract, then a few more months off, then back to work. I only work part time, so that is a blessing also.

My biggest fear is that my contract won't be renewed since they (the school) is not able to find a sub for me & the classroom. I am NOT covered under FMLA since I work PT & I have no back up plan. My DH & I decided that if I am *released* then we'll just go from there. We are number crunching to see if I have to return in the fall, but I want to make that choice & not have my boss make it for me

[PixelDust]

Originally Posted by bikruca

12 weeks unpaid?

wow that is pretty tough, I can't imagine how most families manage with that???

I imagine that a lot of the families who are eligible for twelve weeks don't take it all because they can't afford the cut in household income.

[DreamsInDigital]

I work in Oregon and the Oregon Family Leave Act also allows a pregnant woman up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for "pregnancy disability" which is what I'm taking now. Once the baby is born, it will change over to my 12 weeks "parental leave" so I could take up to 24 weeks off.
But I'll actually be quitting my job at the end of my maternity leave anyway.

[Jowchar]

I am starting my leave on January 31st. At about 38 weeks. My first came around 41 weeks so I am hoping that leaves me in the clear. I live in Ontario Canada and we receive 6 weeks fully paid mat leave plus one year paid mat leave from the government but the money we receive (although much better than nothing at all) is about 50% of my normal income.
This is going to be the first time that I take advantage of the full mat leave benefits and I am really looking forward to spending that time with my new little one.

[FireflyFan]

Thanks everyone, for the replies.

Forgot to mention that I've not been at this job for very long, so I don't qualify for FMLA. Otherwise, I would gladly take 12 wks unpaid leave, starting when I gave birth. Well actually, if I had 12 weeks leave, I might allow for a little wiggle room and take off on my due date for a rest, knowing baby probably wouldn't come for another week.

But now that I only have 6, I feel compelled to spend every possible day off with the baby. It's tearing me up inside having to leave him/her at 6 weeks! so young!!!! (I was a SAHM for the first two, but then got started on my career, and this one is an "Ooops! baby" albeit much-loved already.)

[ryleigh'smama]

I started my mat leave at 36 weeks. In CA you get short term disability for the weeks before birth and that usually starts at 36 weeks (2/3 pay which is supplemented for me by my employer with my PTO/sick leave so I get full pay), then you get 6 weeks paid disablility after baby is born, and 6 weeks paid family leave after that. Both are 2/3 of your pay, and at my work it is supplemented until you run out of PTO so you get full pay. You can also take an additional 6 weeks of unpaid family leave, but most people don't because they don't have the PTO/sick time to cover it and then not only are you not getting paid, but you have to pay your employer to keep your health benefits...yuck.

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by FireflyFan

Thanks everyone, for the replies.

Forgot to mention that I've not been at this job for very long, so I don't qualify for FMLA. Otherwise, I would gladly take 12 wks unpaid leave, starting when I gave birth. Well actually, if I had 12 weeks leave, I might allow for a little wiggle room and take off on my due date for a rest, knowing baby probably wouldn't come for another week.

But now that I only have 6, I feel compelled to spend every possible day off with the baby. It's tearing me up inside having to leave him/her at 6 weeks! so young!!!! (I was a SAHM for the first two, but then got started on my career, and this one is an "Ooops! baby" albeit much-loved already.)

I would stick with working as long as you can & then using your 6 weeks after the birth. FMLA stinks sometimes doesn't it? I don't qualify for FMLA since I am part time, but have been working for this district for 4 years now. My job doesn't have to allow me to take the 12 weeks off, so I have a feeling they are going to push for a release of contract for me.

[bdoody11]

Originally Posted by ilovemyavery

Sneaking in from January to announce that I went on leave today!! I am 38wk3days. I was going to work up until the end but that idea went out the window around Christmas time. I am just too tired to keep this up! My m/w is writing me off on short-term disability, so the time is not deducted from my leave. I do, however, work for a big 10 university, and get amazing leave period (whatever short-term disability I am written for plus an additional 6 weeks parental leave, all paid). So I am feeling very fortunate. FWIW, most of the women I know have worked up to their due date/delivery date or taken leave on short-term disability at 38 weeks.

I'm working right up until birth, but also work for a Big 10 university. If things get too unbearable at the end I will put in for short-term disabiliity. Here's to hoping that my little babe decides to come out on his or her own!