Poll: Maternity Leave and Part-time Schedule

[Deleted]

The first option is what I did with DD except for the part-time schedule being less hours this time. The second option I created based on having the same impact financially as option 1. So, both options have the same financial impact.

Option 1
- 4 months on maternity leave. This is ~17.5wks.
- then work part-time = 3 days/wk for 2mos
- back to fulltime at 6mos

Option 2
- 2 months on maternity leave (~8wks)
- then work part-time = 3 days/wk for 7mos
- back to fulltime at 9mos

Things I like about option 1:
1. No pumping (except the once a day pumping to build stash) for 4months. I hate pumping!
2. Baby at home longer before being exposed to lots of germs at daycare
3. May result to being able to EBF longer (I think)

Thoughts on option 2:
1. I felt stuck with DD for 4mos. Going back to work would give me a break (?).
2. 3 days/wk part-time schedule for as long as possible sounds good. If one of the kids gets sick, it will be easier to adjust my 3days/week to accommodate staying home with a sick kid. Being full-time means I have to use vacation or come-in on a weekend to make up for the time.

[egishere]

I would choose option 2 for the longer p/t opportunity. Or anyway you could take 12 weeks ml and go P/T for 5-6 mo?

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2012 12:12:19 GMT -5 egishere said:

I would choose option 2 for the longer p/t opportunity. Or anyway you could take 12 weeks ml and go P/T for 5-6 mo?

Yes, I can do that. Do you mind telling me why 12 wks? I will have my parents staying with us for at least 4wks (maybe 8wks) around the time I start work. So with option 2, I would have extra help somewhere between 6-12wks. 6-12wks are the worst weeks, right? I don't remember. All I remember is, the entire 4mos with DD was awful. :-(

[Mushe]

I did something like #2, but I switched jobs (same job, different employer - I know, confusing) at 4 mo, so that's when I had to go back FT. But I was able to do my PT work from home.

I was ready for work and adult interaction at 8 weeks, but still glad I wasn't working full time because I was tired.

ETA: I agree with EG, I'd look to do 12 weeks instead of 8. We definitely had much more of a schedule and everything by 12 weeks that I didn't have at 8. Since I was able to WFH it was okay, but the extra time would have been nice.

[egishere]

I went back around 12 w (was off a month before I had them though too) and it was just about perfect. They were STTN at 4 months and by then I was ready to go back. If you DD was awful then this next baby will hopefully be super easy for you!

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2012 12:26:22 GMT -5 egishere said:

I went back around 12 w (was off a month before I had them though too) and it was just about perfect. They were STTN at 4 months and by then I was ready to go back. If you DD was awful then this next baby will hopefully be super easy for you!

With DD, she never slept straight for at least 5hrs until around 18mos. And she always wanted to be held. We ended up co-sleeping but not mainly to be able to BF at night but because she would cry as soon as I leave the bed. She would never sleep alone. I mean, she would but maybe only for an hour.

And there was a period where she was sick all the time, taking her to the doctor 2x a week for 2 consecutive weeks. Since she was sick (ear infection) a lot, I was off work a lot. It got better after she got the tubes at 13mos. I was off work a lot to be home with a sick baby. I'm thinking working part-time would make it easier to deal with being off with a sick baby.

I really hope this next kid will be better. Sometimes I still wonder though that maybe I was just doing everything wrong that's why I couldn't put her down without her crying or can't get her to sleep by herself. Hope my experience with DD will make it easier next time even if the next baby will be as difficult. That's all I could hope for, I guess.

[Deleted]

Yeah I would try to stretch it out to 12 weeks if you can. Weeks 6-12 were definitely the hardest for us but then things start to settle down again.

[ijack]

I'd do 12w too.

[h]

I would want at least 12 weeks of leave. I took 14 weeks with DS1 and 18 with DS2, and loved having the extra time.

[loskadoodle]

I went back to work 3 days a week when DS was 3 month. I could not have imagined going back at 8 weeks but was ready at 3 months!

[atouchofklasse]

I'd take 10w leave. I started to go crazy around that point. Then PT as long as possible after that.

[CloudBee]

I went crazy working from home last week after Sandy. I think I might be going crazy at 16 weeks which is currently how long much time I plan to take for ML. (12 weeks is paid.)

I also suggest you take 12 weeks and then go PT.

For a while I thought I would want to be a SAHM, but my views have really changed. PT for a few months sounds great! I'm happy you have that opportunity.