https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 05:12:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535922 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 11:47:11 +0000 autumnleaves 2535922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 8 weeks with my first and then DH took 4 weeks FMLA so LO1 was home for 12 weeks.<br /> Now I am home for 10 weeks and DH is unable to take FMLA since he has been at his job less than a year. I would stay home longer if I could but we need the income. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535821 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 10:46:37 +0000 cascademom 2535821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 12 weeks with my first per our company's policy. It was paid up until 8 weeks. After that, I used my PTO to cover the rest of the 12 weeks. Near the end of my pregnancy with LO #2, they announced a change in policy to a full 16 weeks paid. 8 weeks were supported by my company while the other 8 weeks were supported by a different plan. It was the way that the company worked it out. I consider myself very lucky to have the maternity leaves I've had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535687 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:13:44 +0000 LuLu Mom 2535687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 12 with both girls with FMLA. However, only 2-3 weeks of that was paid, the rest was unpaid. If/when we have a 3rd, I don't think we will be able to swing me taking the full 12 with 2 in daycare and having 9 weeks unpaid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535568 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 06:52:46 +0000 AprilFool 2535568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 years with my first with 18 weeks paid by the government. Will take at least a year with the 18 weeks paid again for #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535512 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 23:07:47 +0000 QBbride 2535512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a year with both my kids (I live in Canada). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535501 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 22:12:50 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2535501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 15 weeks with my first and 8 with my second. I could have taken more but it was unpaid after 5 weeks &amp; we couldn't really afford for me to not get paid for that much time. Fortunately, my husband got 3 weeks paid parental leave, so he stayed home with our daughter until she was 12 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535484 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 21:30:10 +0000 swurlygurl 2535484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only took 4 weeks with my 2nd child. </p> <p>1st child I took 7 weeks. I'm thinking maybe 8 weeks for my 3rd. I HAVE to take 6, and I'm thinking of stretching it out and enjoying it a bit, since it will be my last 😭😭 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535289 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:56:58 +0000 Pollywog 2535289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dc yoga bee: I'm assuming you're a Fed based on your terminology. One thing to look into is that you don't have to take all of your leave in a row. I went back 2 days a week starting at 6 weeks, added in 2 half days starting at 11 weeks, and then wasn't full time until 18 weeks. All paid. It might work well for you if your DH or someone else can help with care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535196 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 14:38:58 +0000 dolphin 2535196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>12 weeks with my first and 13 weeks with my second (I took a week off before my due date to spend some extra one on one time with DD1 before her sisters arrival!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535108 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 13:06:00 +0000 dc yoga bee 2535108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So interesting to hear everyone's responses! I read over the rules again, and I could use all sick leave for the year up to 6 weeks, and then go to annul, then advanced annual. I could get 10-12'weeks of paid leave (depending on how much annual boss approved), with a July due date or later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535103 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 13:00:54 +0000 fussygal 2535103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Took 17 weeks the first time and am currently taking 16 for #2. Both times it was a combo of disability insurance through work (60% of salary) and vacation pay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535079 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:44:33 +0000 kes18 2535079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 9 weeks with my first because I was relatively new and that was all the time I had saved between sick and vacation leave (paid). I was a semi-transfer so they transferred my sick leave but not my vacation when I started. So I was lucky I even had 9 weeks paid! I didn't even qualify for FMLA technically. #2 I am planning on taking 12 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535035 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:56:05 +0000 lamariniere 2535035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>16 weeks (at full pay) the first time. 18 weeks the second time (at zero pay since I was freelance and didn't figure out the maternity benefit). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535015 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:35:16 +0000 Mama Bird 2535015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>7 months (so kind of my boss to let me do that!) It was really hard going back to work when my oldest was three months, and I thought this would be way easier. Not really, it was still rough and we're just starting to get the hang of it now, two months later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535012 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:29:56 +0000 Mrs D 2535012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am technically taking 12 weeks...though I plan to gradually go back starting June 6 - and be 5 days a week again by July 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535009 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:26:39 +0000 lovehoneybee 2535009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>8 weeks unpaid. I could have taken up to 6 months, but it would all be unpaid. We just couldn't afford not having my income for as long as I would have wanted. I was okay-ish coming back at 8 weeks, but I really wish I could have swung 12. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2535004 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:17:09 +0000 Finfan 2535004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could only take 8 with my first financially (mostly unpaid but was able to take 12 with my second (10 weeks paid and 2 unpaid). What helped this last time was that my job front loads personal and vacation time (5 weeks total) so you get that in January and then accrue 1 sick day each month. I had the baby in the beginning of November so I ran out of paid time off just before Christmas and then got the rest effective January 1. Went back to work at the end of January and still had 2 weeks of vacation left for 2016. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534991 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:01:48 +0000 MrsKoala 2534991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've asked for 12 weeks. I took 6 with my first (new job so not covered by FMLA). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534990 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:01:37 +0000 Alexandra603 2534990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 6 months with my first (timing worked since I work at a school and had an early June baby so I was paid over the summer and then look 12 weeks of the school year off. This time I will probably take 4 months off since I'm having an October baby. It will all be unpaid except for 6 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534989 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:01:16 +0000 milano14 2534989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to take 16 weeks for both.<br /> My company is small, but offers a week of paid time for every year of employment. With DS1 I had 5 weeks paid; DS2 9 weeks paid. The additional time I used accrued PTO. Also with DS2 over the course of the 16 weeks I did do some work that totaled about 40 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534978 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:53:49 +0000 MrsF 2534978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>12 weeks both times </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534940 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:21:11 +0000 Modern Daisy 2534940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just spoke to my boss about this today - I am going to take 18 weeks. I have an hour commute so I'm planning on going out two weeks early then taking an extra 4 on the back end. Most of it will be unpaid, don't get me started on this lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534925 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:07:02 +0000 Alba4 2534925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to take 4 months, but my district will only let me return on the semester (Sept or Jan) since I've used my FMLA for the calendar year. So depending on when LO arrives (I'm due at the end of June), I'll only take 10-12 weeks😢. I'm sad about it already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534919 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:59:47 +0000 ValentineMommy 2534919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 months with the first (sick/annual leave) and 4 months with the second (sick/annual/unpaid leave).</p> <p>I suffered severe ppa with DS1 so I took off longer with DS2. I don't know if that month made a difference or if it was something different hormonally, but I didn't have ppa with the second one/longer leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534918 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:59:18 +0000 avivoca 2534918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm planning to take 12 weeks again, all of it paid (with the exception of eight days) by STD at 60% of my salary. So I will use vacation for the first eight days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534915 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:55:02 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2534915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to take off another 12 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534913 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:52:10 +0000 MrsBrewer 2534913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in a similar predicament.....I got a new job after returning to work from DD, and I'm not offered any benefits here (it's part time) so I won't have any leave. I know my boss will be flexible, and allow me to stay home after I have a baby for as long as I need (very family friendly environment) but none of it will be paid..... womp womp </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534909 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:48:56 +0000 Periwinkle 2534909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm debating this right now. For my first, I took 12 weeks which was a combination of sick/vacation and STD. This time, I have a slightly larger bank of sick time (at the moment, who knows what will happen this spring/summer) and am trying to figure out if I can take a longer leave if I have a bit more paid time off available. My guess is I will still take 12 weeks but it will be nice to have a larger portion (hopefully) paid at 100% this time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534903 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:42:20 +0000 psw27 2534903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not pregnant yet, but I plan to take the full 12 weeks. Most of it will be unpaid because I've drained my vacation and sick time caring for LO #1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-maternity-leave-did-you-take-for-2nd-child#post-2534901 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:41:40 +0000 Truth Bombs 2534901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15 weeks for my first (12 weeks paid maternity leave + 3 weeks vacation time I tacked on). With my second my company had changed their policy to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave so that's what I took. </p>