How long for maternity leave?

Nurses Stress 101

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I just graduated from nursing school, and my husband and I discovered I was pregnant! Right after this, I went looking for a job and found a great one. My question is - how long should I plan for maternity leave? I have no idea how long I can even work into the pregnancy - I'm about 3 months along now. I'm planning to go as long as I can, but I have absolutely no clue when it's going to be impossible. I know legally pregnancies are considered temporary disabilities and I can be accommodated, but how practical is that as an RN? Can I do everything but lift people? It's all a big black scary hole in front of me, and I don't have any pregnant RN friends to ask. I'd be more comfortable if I were working at the hospital for several years, but I'm just starting! Will it be that I'll finish orientation and have to leave?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hi, welcome and congratulations! Each pregnancy and situation is different. I would certainly explain your work situation to your OB MD/provider and go from there. Good luck.

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Oh, right. My provider is actually a CNM, so she should be really helpful. I believe I'm just panicking a bit.

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I too was a new grad when i got pregnant and ended up working until the end of my 38th week. I scheduled myself up until the week I was due (due on Saturday, planned to work Sun-Tues that week). However I went into labor early and the rest was history. My employer understood there was nothing I could do about it. I took 10 weeks off out of the 12 they allow you but financially kindof needed to go back since those 12 are unpaid.

FMLA won't count for you unless you worked for your employer 1250 hours in the last year so "technically" they don't have to leave your job open...but in the age of such a nursing shortage I haven't heard of anyone being held to this...they can't wait for you to come back.

Hopefully you're from one of the 5 states that offer short term disability which pays about 55% of your pay from the previous year. I didn't and that sucked.

Good luck and remember not to stress. I had no problems working pregnant except that towards the end I had "cankles" and discomfort breathing every once in awhile...but I would've had that at home...it just comes w/ the territory. People will help you lift and even offer to do it for you. My biggest advice is to stay away from pts in isolation during your first trimester and wash, wash, wash your hands. You'll be fine! Congrats!!!;)

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Believe it or not, in canada all employed persons(who have worked an X amount of hours) can choose to take a year off (Either one of the spouses -- the man can be off if the women is the main breadwinner), this is done through unemployment ensurance and depending on the employer can cover up to 100% or previous earnings. It's believed to benefit the child greatly and this is why it became law in the last few years.

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I heard on Oprah that we (the US) are one of 5 countries in the world that don't offer paid maternity. Absurd if you ask me. My husband is from Canada...wish we could hop the border for our next one :idea:

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I am glad I had my kids here in the UK. I had 6 months off paid and my husband had 2 weeks off paid when the babies were born. I wasn't on full pay for the last bit of it though.

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Specializes in Orhto, med/surg.

I find the Oprah fact a little hard to believe. Of all the 3rd world and poor countries, countries that don't even view women as worthy, all but 5 offer paid maternity leave??? This must be wrong.

It would be nice if all states did the whole "temporary disability" thing. Maybe some day they will.:)

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I think Oprah meant 1st world developed countries.

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correction: I'm sure they didn't mean 3rd world countries in their statement.

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