Maternity leave time

[froggy76]

I was soooo ready to go back at 12 weeks. But I had also mentally prepared myself to go back then. If I had stayed home for 6 months, I would have been sad to go back because DD was starting to become really fun around that time. When I went back at 12 weeks, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything since she was still pretty much just a blob.

[karinothing]

I took 6 months unpaid and thought it was perfect. I felt a lot better about dropping DS off at daycare when he was 6 months and mobile and able to entertain himself. Plus, I felt like DS was a lot more fun after 3 months.

[Deleted]

I took a year and loved it. I would take as long as I could, every single time. I loved being home (mostly because we rarely stayed home).

[Deleted]

With my first I took 3.5 months. I was just feeling like I had the hang of things and had to go back.. With my second I took 4 months and it was better. With my third I took just about 5 months and it was great! But I had other kids to do stuff with. With the first it's all about the baby and a lot more isolating/difficult. With subsequent children you have a routine, you have friends with kids, you have other kids to hang out with so it's nicer to take longer IMO.

[gibbinator]

I'm taking a year and it's great so far. I really couldn't have imagined going back before 3months though. I remember when I got to the 12 week mark I got depressed because I realized that most everyone in the US *has* to go back to work by now.

[Here]

I was ready to go back at 10 weeks. I went back at 13.

[pamela]

For me 12 weeks and then going back part time after that was good. I had it pretty easy though (each vaginal birth, baby that slept pretty well, good BF supply).

I can't imagine trying to get DS to start daycare for the first time at 1.

[hilwithonelary]

I was only able to take 8 weeks with DS. That was just barely enough that I felt okay coming back. 12 weeks would have been much better.

I quit when I was pg with DD because we were moving the month after she was due. I plan on starting the job search after the first of the year. She'll be 9 months. I'll definitely be ready to go back by then. Honestly, I was starting to get itchy to work when she was about 4 months.

[jessnpaul]

Nov 19, 2012 9:31:53 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

I'm ready to go back at 12 weeks, but I also feel like she is just starting to get fun and interesting now. But I miss work and having a schedule d adult interaction.

This. Except mine was 14 weeks cause I had to have a c-section.

[Deleted]

Nov 19, 2012 9:51:43 GMT -5 pamela said:

I can't imagine trying to get DS to start daycare for the first time at 1.

It wasn't a big deal. The first week was rough, and after that it was fine. And we were still breastfeeding a zillion times a day at 1.

I can't imagine walking away from my 3 month old 5 days a week. It's all about your expectations, I think.

[BAMFMrsB]

I took off 14 weeks. I think I would have preferred 6 months to be with him, but being at home that long would have made me a total recluse. I was to the point of wearing PJs all day, every day if I had no where to go/nothing to do. Going back to work made me much more of a human being again.

[atouchofklasse]

Ten weeks.

ETA: I love my job.

[h]

I took 14 weeks with DS1 and 18 weeks with DS2. I loved having 18 weeks, and I was not particularly anxious to get back to work. I would not hesitate to take 6 months is my employer was fine with it, and we could comfortably afford it.

I would take at least 4 months, because that way you likely get a month of leave when the baby is easier/more fun. I think it is a bummer to only be home for those first few hard, sucky weeks.

[Deleted]

I took 12 weeks and was ready to go back. I did not enjoy staying home really. Now that he is 6 months he's a lot more fun so ideally I would have liked to have worked from 2 months until 6 months lol and then take off again now haha. But ditto that its about expectations. If you plan on 6 months it will probably seem perfect, same for 12 weeks etc.

[arch01]

I took 8 weeks (CS) and was counting down the minutes to go back to work. I was ready at 6, but not cleared yet.

DH got the better end of the deal when it comes to DS-after I went back at 8 weeks, he worked PT for 8 weeks so DS didn't have to go to DC. He was a lot more fun and interactive at that point; I was jealous.

[anna7602]

I initially took 3 months, then couldn't get DD to take a bottle. So I delayed my return by another few weeks. It ended up being almost 4 months total, but I was doing a lot of work at home during that last month.

This seemed good to me, but I was going stir crazy at home by myself with DD while DH worked long hours. Things became so much more manageable when the nanny started after the 3rd month. If I'd had more help, I would have been happy with a longer maternity leave.

[Ashley&Scott]

I took 8 weeks, that's all I was allowed to take at my company. (too small for FMLA)

While 8 was fine I would have loved to take more. I say start with the max you can take/afford. You can always return early if you want.

[sometimesrunner]

I took eight and was SOOOO ready to get back. M had tummy issues which made him not so pleasant so I'm sure that skewed my outlook. I also dreaded my day off with him for awhile.

[justjen]

I took 12 weeks. But she was 10 days late, so the first 2 weeks I was still pregnant. But then I worked for 3 days and Sandy hit, so I was home another week.

To be honest, I think anything more than 8 weeks would be good for me. I could've gone several more weeks as long as I knew I was going back to work eventually. A year would've been fine too, if I knew there was a job at the end of it. THe part about SAH that bothers me is that there's no end in sight. If I can see and plan for the end, any amount of leave would've worked.

So whatever you want

[fortmyersbride]

I took 7 wks with DS. It was originally going to be 6, but I bargained an extra week. I think if he'd been an easier baby I would've been fine at 6 wks. I was definitely missing work by 2 wks in.

I took 4 mos off with DD. I wasn't as stir crazy b/c I had an older child to do activities with. Still I missed work and worried about becoming rusty. I think 3 mos would be the perfect length.

[Deleted]

I took 16 weeks after (2 before b/c DD was late). At 12 weeks I was not ready, at 14 I was. 16 was great!

[bronxgirl]

If I could afford it I would take the maximum amount allowed.