https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 09:23:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259461 Mon, 10 Aug 2015 01:51:15 +0000 birdofafeather 2259461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I'm in CA and FMLA didn't apply to me (in terms of protected job) but I did get disability and family pay and for CA, we can take off up to 4 weeks before due date use it or lose it. I was due at the same time at an office job that closed the week between Christmas and New Years and so I started my leave at a little under 37 weeks so as to not sit at the office at 38/39/40 weeks. This time off didn't effect any time after baby for me though as I negotiated the time off with my very small office and they had no other obligation to keep my job but they did. I can't imagine choosing to go back at that time frame unless my hands were truly tied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259425 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 23:09:56 +0000 raintreebee 2259425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with others. Although it's so hard to be pregnant and working at the end, having a newborn and working is even tougher. I wish we didn't have to make choices like this! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259420 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 22:51:45 +0000 DesertDreams88 2259420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marym: fingers crossed for healthy early babies for the both of us! @joyfulkiwi: you too maybe, if that's your desire :)</p> <p>interesting website: <a href="http://spacefem.com/pregnant/due.php?use=EDD&#038;m=01&#038;d=19&#038;y=15" rel="nofollow">http://spacefem.com/pregnant/due.php?use=EDD&#038;m=01&#038;d=19&#038;y=15</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259406 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 22:22:36 +0000 MaryM 2259406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not a teacher, but in higher Ed with a similar holiday break and due date :)</p> <p>I have JUST enough leave to cover 12 weeks of FMLA, so I dont want to take any more (local laws allow up to 16 unpaid).</p> <p>I'm hoping baby wants to come early so I don't have to work for a week and a half after break. Or that maybe my OB will say I shouldn't commute (I drive 1 hr+ each way) by that point </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259316 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 20:17:37 +0000 matador84 2259316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I taught 8th grade also. My water broke the night I hit 40 weeks. It was awful the last month, I was huge and could barely walk, but I def didn't want to use any of my "baby days." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259314 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 20:16:43 +0000 Anya 2259314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like the ideal situation would be to go into labor right at 38 weeks, so... break out the breast pump and drink some castor oil right before your break ends? :silly: fwiw I worked until the bitter end and it was tough but I was glad I held out to have the full time on the other end with my baby. And I went over my due date which was miserable but at least I was still earning money and keeping my mind somewhat occupied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259312 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 20:14:01 +0000 DesertDreams88 2259312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Seems like there's lots of consensus! Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and opinions! I'll do my best to go as long as possible I guess :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259311 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 20:13:16 +0000 bloved 2259311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am sure you have thought of this, but is there any way you can use sick days for those two weeks? In my district you can take 20 days immediately preceding the due date and 20 days immediately following in addition to your FMLA.</p> <p>If not, I would probably go back for those 2 weeks to have the extra time with the baby afterwards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259305 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 20:04:54 +0000 MrsF 2259305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish you could do both :sad: In that situation I'd take the 12 weeks after the baby's born though. With both of my kids I've been way more comfortable at the end of pregnancy than with the sleep deprivation and the BFing learning curve that comes with a newborn. Also I would rather put a 12 week old baby into a childcare situation than a 10 week old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259299 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:58:56 +0000 babynumber1 2259299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I fully agree with the others. The end is terrible, but sitting at home bored and just waiting is way, way worse. Your coworkers and students will make the time go much faster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259293 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:52:53 +0000 buttermilk 2259293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: @lilteacherbee: thanks ladies! me too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259269 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:37:36 +0000 lilteacherbee 2259269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@buttermilk: I hope your baby gets ready soon!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259265 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:36:57 +0000 lilteacherbee 2259265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first, I worked until I was almost 39 weeks. I had my c-section scheduled on a Thursday and my last day was the Friday before (the Monday was a holiday, so it was much easier to end on Friday than go back for 2 days the next week). I taught pre-k and had 18 four/five year olds. It was definitely hard, but I'm glad I saved my leave for after baby. I only took 8 weeks with him and a full 12 would have been amazing, so that's my perspective :)</p> <p>I'm no help this time, because I ended the school year at 32 weeks pregnant and now have a 5 day old. Pretty sure I'm not going back to teaching this time though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259247 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:12:51 +0000 MamaBehr 2259247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked as a teacher with my first two pregnancies. With my first pregnancy, I worked until my duedate, and my OBGYN excused me from work until I was induced. I'm not sure if that actually affected my FMLA, but I did go back to work at 11 weeks, and had the month of June to work. With my son, I worked until he was born at 37 weeks a 1 day (in fact I had planned to call in sick the next day and had sub plans laid out... whoops! talk about caught red handed!) </p> <p>As much as it might suck starting a unit you can't finish, it'll be even worse waiting for baby to come if he or she is super late! Can you imagine if you made it to 41 weeks and just at to sit around at home over analyzing each twinge and twitch? And, I will say, my students and fellow teachers were super duper nice to me towards the end, so maybe it'll be easier than you think! </p> <p>@buttermilk: That sounds so hard, I can't imagine being at the end of pregnancy and a pastry chef! I totally agree though, sitting at home with nothing to do is so much worse, I hope baby comes any day now. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259158 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 16:34:09 +0000 buttermilk 2259158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am 39+5 today, due on Tuesday. I work 8 hours in a kitchen as a pastry chef and am still working. I've struggled a lot with when to start my leave. Physically I'm in good shape and most days I am fine working even this pregnant. This past Friday was the hardest for sure and I felt SOOOOO over working, but you know I think I am even more miserable at home with nothing to do on the weekends. Yesterday was nice bc we had plans, but if we don't like today, I just walk around in the worst mood. So I would advise to keep going as long as you absolutely can, that's what I'm doing - hopefully baby comes this week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259151 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 16:15:56 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2259151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your OB is right. I went on leave at 39 weeks because of being stressed out &amp; was induced at 41 weeks. I regret taking leave early and wish I had kept working. For this second baby, I plan on working right up to labor. Plus, there really is a difference between a 9 week old and a 12 week old baby. I'd much rather spend my time with the actual baby and just power through a few more weeks of class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259149 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 16:03:13 +0000 DesertDreams88 2259149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@simplyfelicity: yeah, I have class sizes of 33 and no aide and we're on an improvement plan, so that's stressful.... but our new principal this year seems great.<br /> I might do 39 weeks. Technically, our academic quarter isn't over until a week AFTER Christmas break... bc we're smart like that. And the first week back is generally easy lessons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259147 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 15:54:46 +0000 simplyfelicity 2259147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I teach 7th and 8th grade, too. I didn't plan to just work until 36 weeks but that just happened to be when the school year ended. There were times I wished the school year was still going because I was out of my mind with boredom. It's really hard to relax, etc when you are so uncomfortable and just waiting, waiting, waiting. I made freezer meals, cleaned my entire house top to bottom and was generally in a piss poor mood. My situation is different though because I have a full time aide and my class sizes are average of 15.<br /> Basically, the end of pregnancy sucks no matter what. Now that my LO is here, I would have regretted using time that could have been spent with him. Like I said, my teaching situation is different. What about a compromise and work until 39 weeks? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/trying-to-start-leave-before-baby-comes-teacher-style#post-2259143 Sun, 09 Aug 2015 15:40:44 +0000 DesertDreams88 2259143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a teacher and I am due 2 weeks after we come back from Christmas break. If it wasn't for break, I'd do my best to work all the way til LO comes (and/or due date), but I think it's going to be so difficult to have 2 weeks off then come BACK to work at 38 weeks(!!), and kick off a new year, a new academic quarter, a new unit.... and then leave right away. So I want to start my FMLA at 38 weeks... even though I know baby might not come until 41, and that means I'll "use up" some of my FMLA on non-baby time.</p> <p>I talked to my OB and explained this to him, and he was very much against the idea of me starting leave early. He assured me I would regret losing that time with the baby and told me he's seen too many women do that. He's the one that has to sign off for FMLA and short term disability, so.... yeah. </p> <p>I get what he's saying, but the last weeks of pregnancy sound miserable and I can't imagine being on my feet 8 hours a day, with restricted bathroom access and teaching 160 8th graders....</p> <p>So.... share with me some optimistic stories :) Did anyone have any luck trying to start maternity leave before baby comes? Especially if you had to "convince" your OB? Or, do I need a reality check and need to realize his opinion is right? </p>