Maternity Leave Opinion

[Deleted]

I get 12 weeks. 6 weeks at 60% and I can use the 6 weeks of PTO I have saved. I have a wonderful boss who doesn't care how I do it. I work 30 hours a week which is 4 full days.

Would you:

A) take 12 weeks. Go back to 30 hours at the end of that time.
B) take 11 weeks. Go back at 20 hours a week (2.5 days) for three weeks.
C) take 10 weeks. Go back at 20 hours a week (2.5 days) for 6 weeks.
D) something else entirely that I'll suggest below.

[ijack]

C

[froggy76]

B. It would be nice to ease back into things, and 11 weeks off isn't much different than 12. I went back at 11.5 weeks solely so that I wouldn't be starting back on a Monday.

[discombobulated]

C

[Deleted]

Dec 31, 2012 12:13:35 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Personally, I'm taking more full weeks off instead of working partial weeks because I work from home/flexible schedule and whenever I try to take off partial weeks/days, I always end up working more than I plan to. I also have to pay for childcare for the full week, so financially, it doesn't work out any better to do partial weeks for me.

I can see this but I am a children's librarian. I don't take work home with me. Also, my child care is free the first year (my mom).

[Deleted]

C.

[Deleted]

Would any of you take only 6 weeks and go back at 20 hours for 18 weeks?

[Deleted]

Dec 31, 2012 12:27:34 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Wait, are you going to be using all of your PTO in all three of these options? I'd want to leave some PTO for dr appts, illness, etc

No, all of these leave an additional week off plus I start accruing again the day I return.

[ijack]

I think 10 weeks is the least amount I'd take off, maybe 8. But definitely more than 6.

[honeybadger]

Dec 31, 2012 12:25:46 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

Would any of you take only 6 weeks and go back at 20 hours for 18 weeks?

No. I was not ready to go back at 6 weeks---still exhausted/getting used to baby.

Team Option B.

edited because I answered incorrectly

[ladygrey]

I would choose B

[huskymom]

A or B

[drloretta]

A

[CloudBee]

A.

You've already got 3 days off during the week. I would rather maximize my time off before having to step foot in the office.

I would feel differently if the normal work week were 5 days and not 4.

[mrshandy]

I say A.

I think it would be easier to just establish a routine if you're working your normal schedule from the get-go.

10-12 weeks, I remember DS really starting to get interactive and fun and I wouldn't want to miss that. Also he started sleeping better at that point.

[h]

A

[Deleted]

C.

I might consider going back at 6 or 8 weeks to be able to do 20 weeks for longer, but I think 8 would be the smallest amount of time I'd recommend taking completely off. I went back to work at 5 weeks, but I had unusual and motivating circumstances to do so.

[dcn]

A

Ds is 11.5 weeks and I'm just starting to feel like I could manage going to work. If I had a job to go back to that is.

[fortmyersbride]

C. Or, I would consider going back sooner to be able to be PT longer if all goes well with L&D. I had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery with DS and physically could have been back at work within a week or so. I took 7 wks instead of 6 only b/c he had some health problems that popped up at 5 wks and I wanted a bit more time to sort them out.

[vanillacourage]

C

[Deleted]

Dec 31, 2012 12:25:46 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

Would any of you take only 6 weeks and go back at 20 hours for 18 weeks?

Yes, but I hated being a sahm. I love dd, but I needed to get out for a few hours.

[curbsideprophet]

I would do B. I was not ready to go back at 6 weeks. I would have been a mess. At 8 weeks it still would have been really hard. I could have done 10 weeks if I had to. I eased back into things for about a month before working full time again. I was glad I did it that way.

[mrs07]

Dec 31, 2012 12:10:39 GMT -5 @libgrl said:

I get 12 weeks. 6 weeks at 60% and I can use the 6 weeks of PTO I have saved. I have a wonderful boss who doesn't care how I do it. I work 30 hours a week which is 4 full days.

Would you:

A) take 12 weeks. Go back to 30 hours at the end of that time.
B) take 11 weeks. Go back at 20 hours a week (2.5 days) for three weeks.
C) take 10 weeks. Go back at 20 hours a week (2.5 days) for 6 weeks.
D) something else entirely that I'll suggest below.

I would plan to do something like option c. I would take that with a whole fistful of salt, though - things happen and it seems to always come down to the mom/wife to figure it all out!

[whitepicketfence]

A

[satsuma]

I would choose option A. My recovery was quick, but things (especially breastfeeding) didn't really click until around 8 weeks and I needed the extra time with DS. Would it be possible to make a decision while on maternity leave?

[GailGoldie]

i would do A - take the max you can and then just go back regular.

I didn't want to think about work at all during my maternity leave- and I didn't - i liked that i kept my baby time ONLY baby time.