Maternity Leave

[lilcupcakes09]

How much maternity leave did you take? I have had an uncomplicated pregnancy so far but surely don't want to overdue it after the baby is born. I'm due at the very end of November, so thinking of taking unpaid leave through the end of the year. Thoughts?

[Annalee]

How much maternity leave did you take? I have had an uncomplicated pregnancy so far but surely don't want to overdue it after the baby is born. I'm due at the very end of November, so thinking of taking unpaid leave through the end of the year. Thoughts?

I took 7 days off with pay both times....but I did have uncomplicated pregnancies and worked right up to within hours of delivery....c-section first and natural the second time. Best wishes to you!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I took one month. Two weeks' worth was part of my paid vacation for that year (I take 3 weeks' paid vacation) and the other two weeks were unpaid. I gave 6 months' notice that I would be doing it, so they had lots of time to figure it out. One family left (and good riddance); all the others stayed.

[lilcupcakes09]

This is also part of my dilemma, there are 3 paid holidays that I take that would fall within my maternity leave period(christmas eve, christmas day, and new years day). Do I just charge parents what their daily rate would be? If possible, I would like them to pay me for those days beforehand, I don't even mind if they post date their check for those dates, I just don't want to have to ask for it after the fact when they come back fulltime. I'm not planning on charging for the "regular" days I am taking off for maternity leave because I have AFLaC to supplement that income.

[craftymissbeth]

I wouldn't charge them for the holidays just out of courtesy. They already have to make arrangements for your maternity leave, kwim?

[drseuss]

I took four weeks' unpaid leave after both of my deliveries. My kids are teenagers now, and I think if I were to do it again I'd take that same amount of time off.

[lilcupcakes09]

For some of my families, I would totally consider not having them pay out of courtesy. For others, I would like to charge them the whole usual amount, because they are far from courtesy on a normal day!

I wouldn't charge them for the holidays just out of courtesy. They already have to make arrangements for your maternity leave, kwim?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I took 2 weeks unpaid. If I could pull it off, I would have taken 4 weeks unpaid.

[lilcupcakes09]

So I have decided I am taking through the New Year, I am due mid December, so it may be two, may be 3 weeks depending upon my delivery. This will give my family time to spend and adjust as a family, plus spend the holidays with my family, which I have never done in the past. I am always open during the Christmas season. I will have a week of vacation left, so I'm thinking I will get paid for that week and take the rest, what it may be, unpaid, with giving courtesy for the paid holidays I am supposed to be paid for, but taking off. If my families have no issues, I am grateful, if they have a problem with it, see ya later, we are not a good fit!! I have to stop worrying about what people think from now on

[Patches]

I'm pregnant with my 3rd child, but this is the first one while doing home daycare. I am planning on taking 2 weeks unpaid. My families seem to be taking it well so far. I think if I had tried to take more than that, it may have been a problem.

Side note: I think we're due about the same time. My due date is December 12.

[AmyKidsCo]

I took a week of paid vacation, but our last two (#5 & 6) were induced because my labor with #4 was exactly 1 hour and I didn't want to take the chance of delivering on the front lawn. ::

Anyway, after my week of vacation my mom, who is my sub, came and helped for the next 3 weeks or so.

[rosieteddy]

I would ask for 8 days paid before leave.You could give the option of spreading the payment over the last 8 weeks you work.They could add a days pay to each week.then it wouldn't feel like they were paying a lot .

[spud912]

I took a week of paid vacation, but our last two (#5 & 6) were induced because my labor with #4 was exactly 1 hour and I didn't want to take the chance of delivering on the front lawn. ::

Anyway, after my week of vacation my mom, who is my sub, came and helped for the next 3 weeks or so.

Not to hijack the thread, but were your 5th and 6th deliveries fast too, despite being induced? I'm due in August with our 3rd. My first labor was induced and it was 4 1/2 hours (which I hear is fast for an induction). My second labor was only 1 hour long....we barely made it to the hospital in time. My doctor was thinking about induction for the third, but not sure. I'm majorly worried we might not make it in time. Despite everyone telling me how "lucky" I was for a fast labor, I found it extremely unpleasant and shocking. I've heard subsequent labors are quicker.

[MotherNature]

I'll be using both weeks of my paid vacation as my maternity leave.

[Stepping]

Sorry to derail the thread but how did you get Aflac coverage? I was told I couldn't get it due to being self employed. I'm planning to start trying for number 2 and was hoping to get Aflac to cover some of my maternity leave.