BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

I just sopke with HR I only get approved for 6 weeks and can use vaca time but that would only bring me to 8 weeks, anyone else have to go back to work after this much time, how did you do it?????? thanks

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

It wasn't easy. I had a c-section, so my 6 weeks was bumped to 8 weeks. Then I took 2 weeks vacation and went back to work when he was 10 weeks old. Luckily, he started sleeping through the night with only 1 quick feeding about 2 days before! I was a zombie in the beginning--and still am. I would get everything ready the night before so I didn't have to worry about trying to a zillion things in the morning and get out to work. It stinks to not be with them as much, but you get a routine going pretty quickly and everything falls into place. And as they get older, it gets easier.

PS I went back to work in June with no sick/per time left and having taken 2 weeks vacation. I had hardly any vacation time left. Going into the winter, big mistake. He and I were sick so much and we were out so frequently (bad ear infections, stomach virus 3 times, a week in the hospital for pnuemonia...), it was a good thing I had some time left over and I didn't use it all for maternity leave.

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

I know its a drag. I'm now not looking forward to going back.

I'm not there yet, but emotionally I can brave going back because - (I know myself) and I know I will be a better mom if I have a job outside the house. The first few weeks, this won't seem true, but I know both DC and I will be better for it.

Physicially - we will have to get on some kind of a schedule. I'm hoping that daycare will somehow help with that. I'm having a very tough time on my own getting him on schedule. We are up at all hours. I was (and still am) a bad sleeper, and I think he is also.

Good luck though

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

My work agreed to pay 1 month of maternity leave and then agreed that I could have an additional 2 months unpaid, and i threw in a week of vaca.

I saved like the dickens my entire pregnancy so I could afford to do it... We didn't take a babymoon (though we took time off from work together and just stayed on LI and did fun things together...)

ETA - sorry, I misread your orignal post and missed the point of your question. Would your office let you take any time off unpaid??. if you can't... it will be tough, but I know many on this board have had to do it too...

Message edited 9/17/2008 2:19:07 PM.

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

I know how it is. I had only unpaid time off and I had a c-section. I went back to work after 8 weeks. The first week was hard, but it got better from there. But my situation is different than most. When I go to work, DH is watching DS.

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

Thanks ladies, I guess I just have to suck it up and do it, glad to know others have gone through the same!!

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

Is your company big enough to qualify you fro FMLA. If so you are entitled to 12 weeks but no 12 weeks paid. Maybe you can save for the extra 6 weeks to be out.

Re: BTDT Moms regarding maternity leave

I'm in the EXACT situation as you

I can't afford to have unpaid leave, but I DID decide to go to 50% effort for those 2 vacation weeks.... so I only get 1/2 pay, but I can be out 4 weeks.

we did have enough savings to do that.

It sux, though. I really wish our country wasn't so harsh on new parents and those with health conditions. It's pretty heartless IMO