Question about Maternity Leave?

Question

I am due on March 8th, and I plan to take the full 12 weeks off for my leave (3 months).
I have a desk job at the airport and nobody is trained yet to take my position, so I wanted to give them warning about when I am leaving. Also there is only one person staffed every evening for my position, so If I went into labor at work, they would have to scramble to find someone to take my spot, and well I would feel bad...
Should I plan on leaving a few weeks before my due date considering I am taking the full 12 weeks off. I have heard alot of woman to take 1 month off before and 2 months after. Should I take this route. What do you think is a better option. Should I continue to work, or stay home and relax in prep for labor and delivery?

Answer 1

Do you have any vacation time? I took 2 weeks off before I had my son, but I used my vacation time instead of using the time I needed to stay with the baby.

Answer 2

I wouldn't take off but a few days prior to your due date. You need to spend as much time with your baby as possible.

You will probably feel like you are going stir crazy when you are on maternity leave & feel like you want to go back to work early, but DON'T!! One of the hardest things I have ever done is returned to work after I had my first child. I was off for less than 5 weeks. When I returned to work one of my co-workers asked how I was & I started crying because I was just distraught from leaving him so quickly.

Also, you can't stress about what they will do at work without you. You have done what you are supposed to by informing them of your intentions. There is someone else over you who is dropping the ball by not getting someone trained to fill in for you. Ultimately that person should have their tail-end in your chair if they aren't doing their own job, they can do yours - right???

Hope I have helped you in some way.

Answer 3

I'd say work as long as possible so you can spend all that precious time with your baby. Also, don't know if this is your first baby or not, but you are going to want all the time you can get if for some reason you have to have a c-section. I would tell your work that you plan to take 12 weeks and would like to start training someone. If they don't get to training someone it isn't your fault, you gave them notice. Congratulations!

Answer 4

Do whatever is best for you honey. The obviously know that you are pregnant and if they haven't made plans for you being gone yet, that's on them, not you. I would continue to work as long as you can because 3 months off is going to really hurt the pocketbook. the last month is not about prep for labor a delivery not matter how hard you try. all i did was think about how miserable i was and wondered when it was all going to end.

Answer 5

The best way is to start your Maternity leave two weeks before your due date. This will give you approximately 10 weeks after the baby is born to bond with your child. Although most bonding is completed (i.e. voice, sight and smell) within the first 8 weeks, an extra 2 weeks ensures that your child will feel safe without you around for times other than feeding or sleeping.

Answer 6

Doh! You guys only get 3 months? I love being Canadian, we get a full year. I took off from the end of my 7th month due to extreme stress at work and stayed off until my baby was 9 months old then went back to work. So really it depends on when you feel you're ready to take leave. Split it up however you'd like.

Answer 7

If they have to scramble to find someone to cover you when you go into labor, that is their problem. I'd rather take 3 months off after the baby comes. Maybe take one week at the very end, if anything.

Answer 8

I would continue on as long as you can work and be healthy. You WILL get bored at home just 'waiting' to go into labor.

I started my maternity leave 5 days before my due date. Just enough time to take care of last minute arrangements.

While you work, you earn your PTO...keep earnin' it, you'll need it. Once you have exhausted all your PTO, you can stay away from work for however many weeks FMLA leave allows you to. But it is un-paid leave. So earn up the $$ and the PTO while you can.

Good luck with the little one! Congrats!

Answer 9

I took 2 weeks prior, 2.5 months after. I worked 5 minutes from the hospital and my OB's office and I wasn't on mandatory bed rest or anything.

I commend your loyalty, but it's not your problem that your manager has failed to begin training a replacement. Also, if you go into labor at work just call your OB/gyn, there is only ONE thing you need to know: Do you go to their office or go straight to the hospital? You have to leave work if you even think you're in labor, replacement hired or not.

I would put in writing the exact date you're going on maternity leave and personally give it to your boss. Tell them you are going on maternity leave on that specific date and do not waiver. Leaving can feel weird if you think you're leaving them in a lurch, but you have to, and the rest is up to your boss.

Best of luck to you!!

Answer 10

I wouldn't go off till 1 wk before my due date. So that way I could spend as much time as possible with my baby after he/she was born. In my case I had to go off work 6wks before my due date because of complications and I ended up staying home. Good Luck!