For RNs who worked while pregnant, when did you take off from work, and for how long?

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For those who worked while pregnant, when did you take your leave? Also, how long can you be off from work? What is FMLA and short-term disability? Is it true that FMLA allows one to have 12 weeks of unpaid leave, while short-term disability allows 12 weeks of paid time off? Does that mean that a woman on maternity leave can be off for a total of 24 weeks (although 12 weeks will only be paid for?) Anyone who is familiar? Please help and share your experiences. Thanks so much.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

Back in the day when I had my kids the hospital had me use 2 weeks PTO and then they paid 6 wks (vag deliv: 8 wks for c/s) @ 60% of my FT- so I think it was like a 24hr/wk paycheck. I was allowed a total/max of 16 weeks maternity leave,(per child) the last weeks of course without pay. I don't think the FMLA applies to maternity leave, I believe you must have extenuating circumstances, like caring for a dying or seriously ill spouse/family member , ST disability would be a medical disability , not maternity leave..where I am anyway, 16 wks is the max. I think FMLA may be used for adoption, but I'm not positive and I don't think its 6 months.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I lived in Hawaii when I was pregnant with both of my daughters and was able to receive temporary disability from the state. However, I don't think this is the norm. I think California might have this as well, but I can't remember.

Maybe you could talk to your HR dept to see what your state offers.

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FMLA covers most employees who work for companies that employ more than 50 people. However the employer is under no obligation to pay for your leave so you have to find out if your employer provides STD insurance for their employees. If not then I believe that you can buy your own policy if you are not already pregnant. I am not 100% certain but I think you have to hold the policy for a certain amount of time before you can use it.

http://fmlaonline.com/

I had my baby on July 30th and I worked until the first week of July. I had enough vacation time to last until the 25th of July and since then I have been on short term disability.

The twelve weeks of FMLA I receive disabilty pay from my job and my union still provides me with insurance. After the 12 weeks are up I can continue to receive money from STD via my job but I will no longer have insurance coverage from the

union unless I enroll in Cobra.

FMLA is twelve weeks and has nothing to do with whether your employer offers STD insurance.

I could potentially receive a total of 10 months STD from my job if my doctor allowed it but that is only because it is written into my union contract. I really doubt a doctor would certify a healthy woman who had an uneventful pregnancy and birth for 6 months.

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Was pregnant with twins. I stopped working at 34 weeks-this was due to no respectable shoes for work still fit(only slippers or sandals worked). I started working 4 hour shifts starting at 32 weeks. I delivered at 36 weeks. I took 12 weeks off-had a c-section. None of it was paid since I wasn't considered FT at that time.

otessa

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Back in the day when I had my kids the hospital had me use 2 weeks PTO and then they paid 6 wks (vag deliv: 8 wks for c/s) @ 60% of my FT- so I think it was like a 24hr/wk paycheck. I was allowed a total/max of 16 weeks maternity leave,(per child) the last weeks of course without pay. I don't think the FMLA applies to maternity leave, I believe you must have extenuating circumstances, like caring for a dying or seriously ill spouse/family member , ST disability would be a medical disability , not maternity leave..where I am anyway, 16 wks is the max. I think FMLA may be used for adoption, but I'm not positive and I don't think its 6 months.

I used FMLA after I delivered. It is generally used to care for a family member-young or old.

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Specializes in Neurology.

As the previous posters stated, your disability ins. will not pay a full pay check so you will want to make sure that in addition to getting disability insurance you save money so you can afford to stay home those extra weeks.

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

I'm in Canada and we get a year paid maternity leave from the government. I think it's 60 or 70% of your pay. If you go off work before the baby (for any medical reason like spotting or back pain r/t pregnancy) you use your sick leave. Some hospitals offer to top up your pay to 100% if you agree to come back to that facility after your maternity leave.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.
I'm in Canada and we get a year paid maternity leave from the government. I think it's 60 or 70% of your pay. If you go off work before the baby (for any medical reason like spotting or back pain r/t pregnancy) you use your sick leave. Some hospitals offer to top up your pay to 100% if you agree to come back to that facility after your maternity leave.

Wow, I need to move to Canada!!

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With each of my 2 pregnancies, i went on bedrest at approx 32 weeks. my first son was born at 38 weeks, so that was nearly 7 weeks of bedrest prior to his birth, then I ended up staying out a total of 16 weeks, however, I was NOt a full time employee, and was NOT employed for > 12 months prior to his birth, so this pregnancy wasn't covered by FMLA anyway. I was "released' from my position at the hospital, but my nurse manager told me that I would be rehired into my same position when I was ready to come back, and that she wouldn't fill it, as she had plenty of other PRN nurses to fill in while I was out. I ended up coming back full time, since I was so impressed with how well she handled it. For my second son, i delivered him at 37 weeks, after 4 weeks of bedrest, and stayed out until he was 8 weeks old, to total 12 weeks. This one was covered by FMLA, and I stayed out the max 12 weeks covered by law. My hospital offered STD insurance, but I chose not to buy it, so I used up my Vacation time first, then my sick time, then the last several weeks were unpaid leave.

When You do have STD coverage, it is NOT in addition to FMLA, but concurrent. The Law covers you for a total of 12 weeks, regardless if it is paid leave per StD or unpaid leave. After your 12 weeks in a year (does NOT have to be concurrent weeks) legally, the hospital can "release" you or fire you, and you lose all your benefits, etc. I have a close friend who happened to have 2 babies, 14 months apart. She took 12 weeks off, from March-May with the first. Then, with the second (who was of course unplanned), he was due the following May. Unfortunately, she was put on bedrest due to preterm labor, and exceeded her 12 weeks for the year 1 week prior to his birth. she received a letter in the mail stating that she was 'released" and would be eligible for rehire after a certain date. luckily for her, she was insured through her husband, but she did lose her sick time, which she was planning on using while out.

Hope that helps.

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Hello,

In Rhode Island we have Temporary Disability Insurance. It allows 6 weeks for regular birth and 8 weeks for c-section. It is really great to have!

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