https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:04:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2054494 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:25:22 +0000 clover 2054494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He took off the days I was in the hospital (4), went back to work 12 hours after getting home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2054493 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:25:05 +0000 bhbee 2054493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Two vaginal deliveries and I was pretty much fine physically.<br /> First time he had a week paid paternity and took two total. We had two weeks of new family time in a happy bubble and it was great. No family came until the last day of that.<br /> Second time baby was born tues and he went back Friday when we were home from the hospital. My mom came to watch lo#1 so it didn't make sense to use more days when he had to use his limited vacation (new job). He may take more later but I doubt it. I felt ready to be on my own when help left at 1.5 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2054482 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:18:54 +0000 wheres_c 2054482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 weeks. C section. I really needed his help longer, but we couldnt afford for him to take off. 3-4 weeks would be ideal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2054480 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:16:26 +0000 Tippy0707 2054480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is self employed and can work from anywhere so he will be around a lot. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2028203 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 23:04:22 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2028203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He took off a week, though because of when his weekends fell, it was closer to 10 days. I would have loved him home for another week (rough recovery), but luckily I had lots of family nearby to help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027845 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 17:16:20 +0000 JerricaBenton 2027845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He was at the hospital with me the whole time but just stayed home afterwards for maybe 3 days? He owns a business though so he's home a lot. In those early days he'd be gone for a few hours at a time. I had a c-section with a very easy recovery, walking around and carrying LO while I was still in the hospital so that wasn't an issue for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027676 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:19:13 +0000 fairy 2027676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a c-section on a Friday and he was back at work Monday :/ Luckily he was able to work from home most days at that point but his crappy job (at the time) wasn't approving any days off. His mom stayed with us to help cook/clean etc for 3 or 4 days though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027631 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:55:33 +0000 Torchwood 2027631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our plan is for him to take 1-2 weeks entirely off, depending on how things are going, then go to working from home a bit, then gradually fully transition back to normal. But that's just a plan, we'll see what happens! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027551 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:12:16 +0000 Anagram 2027551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coffee-lover: I would say, if you have family that would be willing to come and help, have them come.</p> <p>DHs parents came for a week and then my mom came for two weeks, and between those two visits, I had the easiest first 3 postpartum weeks ever. I didn't clean or cook 1 thing in 3 weeks and anytime I wanted to shower or nap, I had a very eager grandma to hold the baby.</p> <p>Of course, the feeding was up to me, but I was MUCH more well rested those 3 weeks than the 11 months that came after those 3 weeks, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027520 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:18 +0000 tiramisu 2027520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH took off about 2 weeks, but would go into the office a couple hours some days. I had a vaginal delivery with a 3rd degree tear so recovery was pretty rough for me. I wish he stayed home a little longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027483 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:40:03 +0000 cascademom 2027483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He took a week off with LO. He'll probably do the same with this one. I think this time around, we'll hopefully be better prepared and ready for a newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027440 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:16:24 +0000 ellewoods84 2027440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She was born on a Wednesday night and he went back to work on Monday. I had an uncomplicated, vaginal delivery. He works at home though......so if I ever really needed him, he was there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027349 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 12:28:23 +0000 dagret 2027349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only a couple of days, but he works from home so it's not a big deal. He DID have to go out of town for his company's annual meeting when L was 3-4 days old but he got up early, drove there and came back late every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027301 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 12:04:28 +0000 tysonja 2027301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 days for LO#1 and 1 day for LO#2. self employed, didn't have a choice! </p> <p>thankfully my mom flew in for a month for both babies, so we survived :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027249 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 11:46:58 +0000 PrincessBaby 2027249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh for #2, when he leaves, he'll be gone 3 weeks, and I"m on mat leave for 3 months, so when he's gone I'll be flying my Mom in once and my sister in once to help...And really why the hell not if I'm off and he has to be gone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027239 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 11:43:47 +0000 PrincessBaby 2027239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an easy vaginal delivery and was pretty much physically fine as soon as the epidural wore off. My husband was home for about 3 weeks before he had to go back to work. He certainly made everything easier and a lot more fun! One of the funniest things I remember about the newborn madness days was the first time she ever slept 3 hours straight, and my husband woke up when she cried and had a look of pure bewilderment on his face and told me, "I just slept 3 hours. I feel like a million bucks!" And he was totally serious:) The shock and complete honesty of that statement just defined those days - 3 hours of sleep really COULD make you feel like a million bucks.</p> <p>It was really nice having him in the trenches with me and I really hope he gets a nice chunk of time off with me at the end of April for #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027166 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 11:05:55 +0000 artsyfartsy 2027166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 weeks. It was nice having him there. We had hoped for longer because his work offers 4 weeks excused paternity leave but not paid. He could only scrounge together 2 weeks of paid time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027141 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:51:50 +0000 MrsMccarthy 2027141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One week last time and he will do a week with this baby too regardless of my birth experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027135 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:45:47 +0000 .twist. 2027135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only a few days. But he owns his own company and can work from home so even though he was working again after a few days break to help, he could still help me if I needed him to. It was actually really great and I felt pretty lucky that he was able to be around a lot!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027119 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:38:50 +0000 NeekieRose 2027119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD was a c-section on a Tues. He went into the office for a couple hours on Thurs when I was still in the hospital and then back to work the following Monday. He did sleep on the ridiculously uncomfortable chair they had in the room for two nights, poor guy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027112 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:33:43 +0000 mrsjyw 2027112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For ds, he took six weeks (combined pat leave, pto, and holidays). Vaginal delivery.</p> <p>This time he will take two or three weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027090 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:22:52 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2027090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Emergency C-section, and he took 2.5 weeks. He got a week paid from his company and took the rest with vacation days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027081 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:16:10 +0000 Somebunny 2027081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He took 6 weeks off. I had a c section. It was wonderful! We both went back to work on the same day when the 6 weeks were up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027076 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:11:40 +0000 lemondrop 2027076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Need multiple votes- 3 weeks for the first and 2 weeks for the second (#2 was born 1 week into his leave, we were expecting him sooner obviously). 3 weeks was perfect, both vaginal births. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027059 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:02:02 +0000 MoreCoffee 2027059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2 weeks: 1 week parental leave through his company and 1 week PTO. DS is a December baby so DH's leave ran right into the Christmas holidays. He was basically off for most of the month and was able to work from home otherwise. It was so nice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027049 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:52:44 +0000 CakeLady 2027049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a c-section and DH took 4 weeks when DS was born and one more week when I went back to work. I felt very lucky that he was home with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027036 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:45:20 +0000 kiddosc 2027036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>4 weeks, he got two weeks of paid parental leave and then used an additional 2 weeks of vacation. It was nice to have that time to bond as a family. It was probably a little too much time, he ended up doing a lot of little projects around the house to occupy himself, but it was nice to have him to drive the baby around for three hours so that I could sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2027030 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:37:03 +0000 psw27 2027030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1 week right after LO was born and still in the NICU, and 1 week when he came home from the NICU. Vaginal delivery, but I was the least of our worries at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2026998 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:05:09 +0000 LuLu Mom 2026998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1 week with #1 - she was in the NICU the whole time, so that was rough. C-section. </p> <p>#2 we are hoping for 1 1/2-2 weeks - he's not sure if he can swing it though. It will be another C-section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-did-so-take-off-after-birth/page/2#post-2026969 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 08:48:26 +0000 rachiecakes 2026969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He didn't. He was in and out of the hospital and my mom came when I was released to go home. </p>