https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:25:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336387 Wed, 28 Oct 2015 00:16:51 +0000 DesertDreams88 2336387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um, this thread is making me really surprised about all the US people getting more than 12 weeks off and their bosses seemingly not caring... man, sometimes I think I need to consider a career change!! As a middle school teacher, some of my administrators, coworkers, and parents of students have been a bit "put off" that I'm taking my full 12 weeks, instead of the medically required 6 or 8. Some of these people even know about our loss and fertility issues, yet they're all like, "12 weeks?!" And of course, it's all unpaid. Thankfully, currently, I have saved enough sick time and paid into short term disability.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336384 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 23:53:42 +0000 YouGotMe 2336384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Canada so I had the option for the year off. I planned to return to my overnight job at 7months PP but changed my mind and ended up working evenings at 9 months PP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336371 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 23:02:32 +0000 Ginabean3 2336371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Plan: take 5 months off (paid) and then go back part time.<br /> What happened: DH got an amazing job opportunity/promotion near the end of my mat leave which required us to move. I resigned and became a SAHM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336369 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:50:19 +0000 simplyfelicity 2336369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm still on maternity leave but nothing has changed so far. My last day of work was at 35 weeks and DS is now 4 months. I will be returning to work when he is 6 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336365 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:40:31 +0000 Rocker2014 2336365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Time never changed (12ish weeks), but I went back to a different job! My dream job was advertised just after I got my BFP, but I went for it anyway. It was an extraordinarily long hiring process, and I got my official offer letter 10 weeks into my maternity leave. Until then, I didn't know which job I'd be going to after my leave was up. It was quite stressful, actually, as there were a ton of complicated financial planning we needed to do in our household. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336242 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 19:54:35 +0000 Torchwood 2336242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a SAHM, but DH had to change things. He originally planned to take a couple weeks off, the go back part time/work from home for another couple weeks. But he got promoted the week she was born (7 weeks early). So he didn't take more than a couple days while she was in the nicu (15 days as well). Then he only took a couple days once we were home. He just had too many new responsibilities. If he'd had those 7 weeks to make the transition to his new position, it would have been much easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336234 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 19:48:06 +0000 Ms. RV 2336234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Plan: take six weeks paid then the first five Fridays as vacation days<br /> What happened: six weeks paid, three days vacation then three days work, two days vacation, then four days work one day vacation. I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to handle five day work weeks off the at so I eased in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336206 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 19:23:50 +0000 MrsYellowJacket 2336206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is interesting! I plan on taking 6 months with the twins majority unpaid, but now wonder if that will change! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336175 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:55:31 +0000 gingerbebe 2336175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked for the full year off that I'm entitled to in my position with the intention of going back at 6 months (my bosses recommended I request the full amount and come back when I wanted to). However I had an extremely colicky reflux baby and the first 4 months were miserable and I didn't want to go back to work just as he was becoming a more tolerable human being. We also bought a house when DS was 7-8 months and I needed to oversee some renovations so I decided just to get everything done, enjoy the summer, throw DS' birthday party and start back after a year. I returned part time as planned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2336094 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:04:00 +0000 lilyofthewest 2336094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They didn't change, but, they felt like they did. </p> <p>I stopped work at 38w2 days when I couldn't handle the physical demands of my job anymore. I had enough leave saved to pay myself a reduced wage for 18 weeks. However didn't figure on being pregnant until 42wks; baby was younger than I had hoped when I went back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335680 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:43:23 +0000 Alba4 2335680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Instead of taking 3 months (6 weeks paid), I extended my maternity leave one more month. I wasn't quite ready to head back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335575 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:53:35 +0000 PawPrints 2335575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My plans didn't change, which is a little remarkable given what a shot-in-the-dark guess I was making about how long I would want to take. I asked for six months off followed by one month of DH taking paternity leave to care for LO before she starts daycare. I feel like it has worked out perfectly. It was the right amount of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335558 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:49:14 +0000 snowjewelz 2335558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: So I should tell my boss to fire me then re-hire me? lol! So sad! So the govt it saying it's better to be jobless than to have a baby.. </p> <p>My plans did not change at all... Not much wiggle room for us financially to prolong an already unpaid mat leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335556 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:48:16 +0000 GrapeCrush 2335556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first I went back after the 12 weeks as planned. With my second, I planned on quitting and not returning at all, but then I had a brainy idea to go back on an "as needed basis" and work from home only when they needed me. After a year of that I decided to return full-time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335471 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:57:59 +0000 Truth Bombs 2335471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It didn't with my first (I took 15 weeks fully paid and then came back at 100% and put LO in day care full time). I expect nothing will change with LO 2 (14 weeks instead of 15 but everything else the same), unless he comes early or has complications. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335443 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:46:43 +0000 Mrs D 2335443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Instead of putting DD in Daycare on Dec 2 (when I went back to work) I kept her on a wonky schedule (me 1 day, MIL 2 days, Mom 1 day and DC 1 day) to ease her into DC...plus with Christmas break coming (2 weeks off) I didnt want to get her fully into DC only to take her out for two weeks.</p> <p>DD2 is due in March, I will plan to go back to work at 11/12 weeks but want to take a few whole weeks off next summer to spend with her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335435 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:44:19 +0000 blackbird 2335435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took an extra week because I ended up needing a vaginal scar fixed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335433 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:43:04 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2335433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: for all three. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335388 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:22:18 +0000 sunny 2335388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to go back to work but during my mat leave my entire org changed and I went back briefly but decided it wasn't what I wanted to do so I quit to be a SAHM for a year.</p> <p>@oliviaoblivia: Wow per kid or for all 3? My private daycare here is "only" works out to $85/day and it's one of the more expensive ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335379 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 10:16:30 +0000 Happygal 2335379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stayed out a week longer or so. I took another look at our work calendar and realized it made better sense, and I was wanting to be with her. I look at pictures of how little she was when I returned and it pains me a bit. Waaaah. </p> <p>@faithfertility: which virtual school are you considering? I thought about tutoring, but since most of that occurs after school hours, it would have me missing her dinner and bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335090 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:50:19 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2335090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: yeah. I really like the baby stage. We don't need my income and I'm not missing my job but I don't know if I'll want to SAH long term. I'm giving myself next year to figure it all out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335079 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:45:40 +0000 regberadaisy 2335079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: yes, you're right! Crazy, the difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335078 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:45:39 +0000 BandDmommy 2335078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: That is the one thing, I sometimes feel like I'm short changing D. That's why I'm sending her to daycare when she's 1. I'm just not a good crafty/Pinterest mom. I can teach her tax and accounting but babies don't find that interesting. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335068 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:40:57 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2335068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: I did a bit of work on leave with L and it was remarkably easy. Part of me feels like next year I have to spend more time with C and the new baby because they're both kind of getting shortchanged mama time.</p> <p>@regberadaisy: that's Quebec. I'm in Ontario. It would be $300 per day here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335062 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:37:00 +0000 mrsjyw 2335062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing changed the first time. Nothing really changed this time either, but I did have dates mixed up... it was still the same amount of total time I had planned on taking though. I wish it could've been longer this time (even though I took more weeks than the first time). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335059 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:35:27 +0000 regberadaisy 2335059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I hear ya! I know a Canadian mom that only pays something like $19/day for a government funded daycare?! But I'm not sure if you are in the same province?</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335058 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:34:57 +0000 BandDmommy 2335058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I work from home and love it. Of course, I send B to school FT and D starts FT after the holidays. But the baby will be home with me. I've had no issues working during D's nap time plus she just plays in the office while I work. But once she's 1, I think she will need the social interaction from school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335055 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:33:22 +0000 Foodnerd81 2335055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew I would probably quit to sah, but I needed to actually be in the situation before making the final decision. So I told my boss about 12 weeks in to my 16-18 week leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335053 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:32:27 +0000 BandDmommy 2335053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO1 was in NICU for 10 days so I ended up WFH until he was 6 months old.</p> <p>With LO2, I quit while pregnant because of LO1. I returned to working, this time from home on contract basis when LO was around 7 months old. SAHM is not my thing.</p> <p>With LO3, I will probably start working right away but less hours. I work from home so it's super easy to get in hours during naps. LO1 and LO2 will be at daycare/preschool FT. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-your-mat-leave-plans-change-from-pregnancy-to-postpartum#post-2335051 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:31:23 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2335051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I'm hoping to go back part time in 2017 but it all depends on the economy. As long as people need walk-in closets I'll be there. I've been toying with working freelance a bit next year but with three under three it'll be tough. Daycare for three is WAY more than my take home so we'd have to get creative. </p>