When did you take off for maternity leave?

suzanne4, RN · Aug 30, 2005

It depends on how you are feeling as well as how much time that your facility will give you off. Since you are going to quit your job, then it depends on what you feel comfortable doing.

RN and Mommy · Aug 30, 2005

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in a while and am now pregnant with my 3rd child. I was wondering when most people take off for maternity leave. Is it 4 or 6 weeks before, or should I try to wait until I am due. I never worked during my last pregnancies, so I feel this baby is being cheated by me working so hard. I do plan on taking anywhere from 6 month to a year off before coming back to work. Also I am due Jan 4th and would like to enjoy the holidays without working.
Let me know what you all think, and what you think is too soon to stop working.
Tara
L & D Nurse

I stopped working when I was 36 weeks. I just felt so big and awkward. It was nice to have that month of me time before my daughter was born. I took another 8 weeks off after she was born. I actually felt ready to return to work after that. Good Luck with your pregnancy and delivery!

mugwump · Aug 31, 2005

Well I worked right up until I was die. I was due on a sunday (we work 12 hour shifts and have self scheduling) I scheduled my last day on a tuesday. I also worked in an antepartum so I was actually safer at work if anything unexpected happend than at home. 3 minutes away from a crash C-section

LydiaNN · Aug 31, 2005

My son was born on Feb. 12 and I quit work right before Christmas, so I guess that was around week 34.

allnurses Guide · Aug 31, 2005

I had planned on working right up until about the time that I was due, but ended up having to leave about 10-14 days before I had my daughter. I was still an aide at the time and was exausted, being that big and also having to do all of the grudge work of an aide!

cre8tivRN · Aug 31, 2005

My first baby.....I was a little nervous and as soon as braxton hicks came on good and strong, I ended up taking off of work 2 weeks prior to the birth, and then took the 3 months off of work afterwards as allowed by family medical leave act.

The second baby, I was more sure of myself and my body. I knew the due date, and since the first was almost 2 weeks late and had to be induced, I thought..........this one will certainly be late too. I was also right on the money as far as conception date in both pregnancies. Anyways, with knowing the due date, I put in for leave for that due date. And I told my manager to keep me on the schedule until at least my due date, and I would call her after that point if I wanted to keep working. And just my luck, the second one was late too. So knowing the scheduled induction, I gave my manager a call. I took about 5 days off early. And again I stayed out of work for the 12 weeks again.

You are lucky you can stay home for up to a year :)

camay1221_RN · Aug 31, 2005

I was induced with all of my children and I worked up until the night before my inductions. Mind you, I was only part-time, so it wasn't awful having to go into work. I think had I worked full-time, I would have left earlier

TweetiePieRN · Aug 31, 2005

At my job, I was able to get off work 4 weeks before the due date. My baby was due June 19th and my last day of work was May 19th. I am not going back to work until Nov 19th.

Check with your HR dept at work. There is a new law in California that will pay you for bonding time. It is an additional 12 weeks off (in addition to the 4 weeks pre baby and 6-8 weeks post baby). You get paid for 6 weeks out of the 12, the last 6 weeks is unpaid. There are some requirements you have to meet before qualifying. Your HR staff should have all the ins and outs. I have been getting paid for the entire maternity leave, except for the last 6 weeks like I mentioned!! This new law also applies to paternity leave, there are requirements for this too. My husband took time off too and even had a modified short schedule at work for a few weeks.

At my job, after 6 months of leave, they no longer have to protect your position. So If I were to go back Nov 20th, my job may not be waiting for me anymore. Make sure you check with HR, they are very helpful and even got all the paperwork ready for me. Good luck!!

mattsmom81 · Aug 31, 2005

I planned on working til the end...but I developed ss of pre-eclampsia and my doc took me off work my last month. It was getting hard to keep up the hectic medsurge pace (as well as swing shift) carrying that huge babe, so I was glad to have the rest...LOL!!

Celia M, ASN, RN · Aug 31, 2005

I worked until the dat before both of my children were born. The first was 6 weeks early (but was 6# 2oz and had few problems) and I was a supervisor in Home HEalth at the time. The 2nd was 4 days late and I was orienting to staffing in ICU before I took over as manager. I took 4 months off with both. Do what feels right and do what your OB tells you is best for you and the baby. Good luck :)

julieK · Sep 1, 2005

I was working full time on an inpatient onc unit and worked until I was 38 weeks. Of course, the little one decided to be 2 weeks late, so I sat home for a month and waited to have a baby. I was ready to go back to work after a while! I thought I would be pregnant forever!

Working that long was pretty hard for me, as I was HUGE. You also have to think about what your union contract allows you and how long you want to stay home afterwards. My leave started from when I stayed home, not when I had the baby, so if you want to take full advantage of your leave, it may be in your best interest to stay at work as long as possible.

-Julie in NYC