to be on maternity leave? I know work/finances and other things are considered according to the individual but I'm just curious to know what other soon-to-be moms are doing? I want to be off for at least 3 months. Most likely I'll be getting paid 6 wks and not paid for the other 6 wks. I really wanna stay off for a year so hopefully that will workout while my fiance works two jobs. I don't wanna make him do all the work but he won't mind since I'll be with our little one =] Thanks so much for your answers/input!
23 wks & 6 days pregnant w/ baby #1
2007-10-16 07:22:03 · 17 answers · asked by Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷAℓεx & Aаяöи have my ♥ 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Well I'm not a mom-to-be anymore... but my husband and I made some changes so that I could stay at home.
I quit my job about a week before I had my daughter, we moved to a much smaller place, gave up one of our cars, cut the cable, we rarely eat out, only check out movies from the library, took lots of baby hand me downs, for entertainment we go to all the local free festivals & shows
I believe most women who go back to work don't really HAVE to (or at least one parent stay home). If they & their partners were willing to make some major life changes to accomodate the new financial status, most could stay home. But many are not willing to give up a lot of things. Nothing wrong w/ it, but almost everyone has a choice.
Single moms, married/committed moms who must contribute or there is no food, or with deadbeat partners, ill parnters, disabled partners, abusive partners, and other such situations are totally different, and I'm NOT talking about them.
I could never choose a bigger house and my own car (no public transit in my town either) over my time w/ my child.
my husband was a full time student and had a full time job at the time as well, but we pinched pennies - stretched our dollars, tightened up our belts - you name the stupid cliche' about surviving on little money - we did it!!
2007-10-16 08:20:02 · answer #1 · answered by Tanya 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm only taking 8 weeks. I am scheduled for a C-section (because I had one with my first child). Unfortunately my employer can only offer FMLA, they don't have a separate maternity leave plan. I'll have to use all my banked leave during that time (which is only 4 1/2 weeks). So I'll have about 3 1/2 weeks of unpaid time. I would take 12 if I had more banked leave but my husband is the stay-at-home parent and a full-time adult college student so my income is vital.
My OB puts her C-section patients out of work for 8 weeks after delivery. I plan on working up to the Friday before my C-section is scheduled (which is the following Tuesday).
I was upset at first but I've adjusted to this now. I really like where I work which has made it easier for me to accept... and I did the same thing after my first child was born.
2007-10-16 08:07:07 · answer #2 · answered by orchid 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had 6 weeks unpaid maternity leave, but had to request an extra 2 weeks because I was still in pain. I also had to pay $440 a month for my health insurance, but luckily, my husband and i had planned it all out ahead of time and it helped us out a lot to not have to worry too much about finances. It all depends on the place where you work and your state's laws regarding maternity leave, which, unfortunately, don't always work out the way we want them too. Perhaps you could work part time after your 3 months off? Or find a job where you can work at home? That might be less stressful for your fiance, who will be missing out on a lot of baby time (they grow so fast!) if he works 2 jobs.
2007-10-16 07:28:35 · answer #3 · answered by Astragalo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am Canadian and live in Quebec, and therefore am happy to be on a 9 month paid maternity leave (The government offers the choice between 9 or 12 months, but the 12 months one was at a lower pay).
My son is 7 months now, so the end of the paid leave is coming up very fast, but I made the decision a while ago that I won't be going back to work.
I have wanted a baby for so long, and now that I have him I can't bear the thought of putting him in daycare!!!
The original plan was for my hubby (who was working very early shifts like 4am start ending anywhere between 12 and 4pm) to take care of the baby after work so that I could work evenings (I was a waitress) but then he got a new job with crazy, unpredictable daytime hours, which made it impossible for us to depend on him to take care of the little one.
Soooo, it's either daycare, or stay at home!
I will be needing to do a little bit of work from home to make ends meet, I'm planning to babysit and/or tutor, but I won't start that until my mat leave runs out over the holidays.
It's definitely what I want, and have wanted for a really long time, to be at home with my baby....hopefully babieS soon!!
PS: Just about ALL of my friends went back to work after the gov't leave ran out, but for the most part they're just working to bank enough hours to be eligible for another maternity leave. I doubt most of them will go back to work after #2! The cost of 2 (or more) kids in daycare will pretty much eat up a second paycheck in the household. Not worth it.
2007-10-16 08:25:41 · answer #4 · answered by Maddy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I took 6 months off, 3 days before giving birth, and then went back to work when my daughter was 6 months old. I got 6 weeks disability, 6 weeks paid family leave, and then the rest I took from saved vaction that I had purposely saved for when I had a baby. My husband took 6 weeks of paid family leave when I went back to work which made it easier for me knowing he was at home with my daughter. I ended up
quitting my job after 3 weeks and now work 15 hours a week.
I live in California, I know every state is different as far as disability and paid family leave goes.
2007-10-16 07:25:41 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I left work when I was 34 weeks because I did a lot of standing, and I planned to go back after 6 weeks. But I just couldn't...you really see how hard it is to leave your baby after it's born! Now I'm babysitting full-time, and making more money than I was when I worked outside the home! So it works out because my fiance won't have to take 2 jobs since I'm also making an income. There's a LOT of money in home childcare!
2007-10-16 07:48:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter 10.5 months old and I'm still on Maternity leave......LOL
My husband had to do the two job thing until my daughter was around 4 months old. He then got a really good job. When my baby was 7 months I tried going back to work and it lasted for EXACTLY 5 weeks. I just couldn't do it. My mother was going back to work(she's a teacher) and I couldn't put her in a daycare. It's a blessing for some people, but raising my daughter is my responsibily, you know?
Anyway, staying at home with your little one is the best thing in the world! I haven't missed one milestone. We did have to cut back on some things. I can't remember the last time bought myself anything...hehe
The first year is soooo important, especially for the baby. There are circumstances where mother's have to go back to work, and some just want too. But I wouldn't trade my 11 months and counting for anything in the world!
2007-10-16 07:33:41 · answer #7 · answered by linedancer563 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a 4 month old. I planned to go back to work atleast part-time after 3 months and bring my baby to work with me occasionally. But I am having so much fun with my baby I've extended my maternity leave and am staying home with my little one for the first year atleast! It's too much fun and I don't want to miss a moment! If I have to buy less stuff to save some cash it's totally worth it. Plus daycare is expensive (I used to be a daycare teacher).
2007-10-16 08:07:57 · answer #8 · answered by Alexa's Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only got 3 weeks paid off so i only took 4 weeks off. I had a c-section so when i did go back to work (last week was my first day back) i only returned part time.. working 5 hours a day only 4 days a week so i My husband is the stay at home dad mainly because he works from home with the computer.. it works out great, but i feel sad that he spends more time with our son then me.. but we still bond during feeding times when i get home.. its so hard to leave, but it was nice to get back to work because i love my job... too bad we werent more finacially stable so we could both be home for longer... i really loved being there every second of the day with our little boy... hes only 5 weeks now..
2007-10-16 07:45:32 · answer #9 · answered by Shawn's mama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am taking the full year. I just want to be with him the entire first year and am switching jobs anyway. I am suprised how many people actually only take a few months. Everyone is different though. I get 55% of my income for EI but my fiance makes enough money and if I did get a job I would most likely pay that much for child care anyway lol
2007-10-16 07:32:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋