Maternity Leave anyone?

[durhamjk1]

I was just wondering how long everyone was planning to work and how long they were taking off after their baby is born?  Just being nosey....

My due date was moved to 12/6, but I think I will go before then.  I am a teacher and we have a Thanksgiving break from 11/26 - 12/1, so I am supposed to go back on 12/2 - but I think that is the week that I am going to start my maternity leave.  I have 7 weeks saved up of sick days, but I don't want to use them all, so I was thinking of using 6 weeks, plus 1 week for thanksgiving and 2 weeks off for christmas, so I should be able to take a total of 9 weeks off, one before baby is born and 8 after.  Does that sound about right?  

[jenandjon]

Sorry haven't been on lately..been busy...here's my plan..
I worked with the first two up until they were born.  I actually went into labor with my son at work.  I'll have about two weeks of vacation and then will work from home for the next four weeks.  After that, I'm probably heading back to work.  I can't afford to take FMLA without pay and we have no paid maternity leave.  

[LPNGirl07]

I'm currently not working. I had just graduated from nursing school & was looking for a job when I found out I was pregnant with baby #2! I was pregnant when I took my nursing boards & didn't know it! lol I guess it worked out for the best this way though... The hubby & I wanted another baby, but I didn't know when the best time would be with nursing school. After the baby is born I would like to maybe get something part time or less than part time, so I can spend time with my daughter (6 years old) & the new baby. : )

[lisaywg]

I'm leaving a bit early...I'm so tired I don't think I'd make it to 2 weeks before!  My due date is Nov 10 and I'm planning my last day to be Oct 8.  I have a week of vacation then go into mat leave starting Oct 20.  That's the plan anyway.

[carpediemforlife]

Well Im planning on working up until Im about 2wks from my due date.  And in mid-October Im going to a 4 day work week.  My back has already started to hurt so Ive started massage therapy this wk too.  I plan on taking 3 months of FMLA plus vacation. So almost 4 months.

On the healthcare thing....I'll say this....Its nice that other countries dont have to worry about paying for healthcare I agree. But you do pay for it in much higher taxes....so its a more regulated pay.  But it has its down side too.  I have a friend who did his PHD on this very topic.  And I learned a TON.  So I live in the US and will adjust with what I have and try to find a job working from home to spend more time w/my son! I cant wait to meet him!!!!

[westcoastmummy]

The only reason we can afford it, which really we can't because we're moving to Vancouver and will be tight for cash since rent is so bloody high - is well, because we live in Canada.

I will be getting a monthly cheque from the gov't for my maternity/parental leave plus my child tax benefit, so at least 1500 a month. We pay enough taxes here that in my eyes I'm getting back the money I've earned over the years.

We are also very fortunate because we don't have to pay for healthcare at all. Only dental and some prescriptions aren't included, but my Husband is starting new work which will be paying our additional coverage which also included chiropractic, massage, physiotherapy, accupunture and homopathy.

I am thankful we live here, my sister lives in NYC and can't even afford healthcare for her family and is constantly deciding on food or medical bills. It's just way different here, you go to the doctor and don't even think about money, just think about getting better.

I visited my family 4,000km's away two weekends ago, ended up in hospital for a half day and the province I live (British Columbia) in covers those costs in Ontario.

Healthcare in the US is horrible and I really think that you all deserve to be covered and taken care of like Canadians and other countries in Europe, it's your right as a citizen to have good healthcare and be covered. :)

Maternity leave here is also at least six months and some employers will top up your wages so you're receiving your full salary the entire six months you're off.

[durhamjk1]

Those of you who can afford to not go back to work are so lucky!  I wish I could stay home with Landen, when he comes, but I will get 9 weeks with him and then summers and breaks off with him.  We can't afford for me to stay home right now, and it is not really b/c of money, it is because of insurance.  DH's company does not have great insurance and they want us to pay $400/month for it and it is a crappy plan.  I only pay $60/month for mine and it is much better.  I only have a max out of pocket of $800 so by the time I go to the hospital to deliver, I should have most of that paid off.  

[kindergal]

Hey, I am a teacher too!  I have 119.5 sick days...I plan on leaving whenever my Dr. tells me to do so.  My due date is Nov. 6 but with twins, he told me he might tell me to head to the house in mid-late September.  I will not be going back for the remainder of the year.  I want to stay home BUT also daycare for infants around here can cost $1,600 for twins.....uh, that big teacher salary is not quite worth it at that point!!  HA!  I am not sure if I will go back next year or not.....

[leetlebeanweasle]

My last day here at work is Oct. 31st. *tear* While I won't miss having a job I will miss the place and people I work with. I won't be coming back. I MIGHT try to find a part time job when the little guy is a little older but I am going to try and enjoy my time with him. (also it wouldn't be worth me coming back to work with what we would have to pay for day care.)

I'm pretty excited though. It will be the first time in our marriage (6 years) that I haven't worked! :)

[westcoastmummy]

I haven't been working since March. I quit my high stress job a week before I found out I was pregnant, maybe it was the hormones that made me decide to finally leave!

I was miserable and so happy I did leave. We then sold out house and relocated 600km south, closer to the city (Vancouver, Canada).

My Husband is a Seaplane Pilot, so we move around a lot anyway, we are actually moving again for November 1 to Vancouver, so I am hoping this baby won't come early as I'm due Nov 29.

I'm currently on Employment Insurance and I'm going to try for sick benefits which will allow me to get maternity leave then parental. All in all I'll get about 50 weeks or so...I'm planning on going back to work when our baby is between 7 months - 1 year.

I can't imagine having worked during this pregnancy, the first three months I was so nauseated and exhausted, and feeling like I just needed to rest a lot. I recently experienced a kidney stone, which was horrible and my side is still hurting and I'm on antibiotics...so to say I would have managed to go through all of this while working, well it just wouldn't have been possible.

I really applaud the women out there still working and who plan to work right up until the birth! You are strong and I don't know how you've managed. :)

[JosieHock]

My due date in November 14, so I think I'll work right up til October 31st, and then take a couple of weeks to relax.  I plan on taking the full year that I'm entitled to!

[FEOT]

My due date is November 12th, my plan is i will work all the way through Oct 31st. It will actually be my last day at work period. We are moving Dec 1st from AK to Cali. So im hoping the baby is born sooner than later that way he is not just a couple of weeks old. The plan is i wont be going back to work. If it comes down to were we have to or need the money then i will probably look for a part time job, or if i can find something that lets me work from home that would be great.

[pmperez]

Im not exactly sure when I'll leave work I'll leave that up to the baby or my midwife and then Im done unless I can work from home which I have already discussed with my boss and its a possibility

[sarge1]

I plan to work until 2 weeks before my due date. I work over an hour from home, and I take the train, so I have no easy way of getting to the hospital in a hurry if need be. Afterwards, I have enough leave time to take 3 more months off.