https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 23:32:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-813050 Tue, 28 May 2013 12:03:58 +0000 littlebittyhouse 813050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: Congrats! That is so great!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-812933 Tue, 28 May 2013 11:30:38 +0000 mrskc 812933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: Oh that's so awesome!!!!! Thanks for the update. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-812920 Tue, 28 May 2013 11:27:25 +0000 MrsLilybugg 812920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to post an UPDATE!!!</p> <p>I went into the meeting two weeks ago and basically told them that while 4 months is good, and 6 months would be ideal, I'd like a happy medium of 5 months. I also told them that I'd like to return part time on a three-day week. I also wondered if I'd be eligible for health insurance.</p> <p>They approved my 5 months leave (which will be some weeks full pay, some partial pay, and the remaining unpaid); and approved my 3-day week until baby is 1 year old (longer than that and they won't guarantee my position.) And I'll still be eligible for our health insurance! Huuuuuuuge weight off my shoulders! I'm so surprised and happy that they worked with what I asked for! Now we just have to decide whose insurance makes more sense as a family's: mine or DH's.<br /> thanks all for your advice suggestions!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-737228 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:31:25 +0000 autumnlove 737228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6 months would be ideal! I went back at 4 months PP after LO and I'm taking 5 months this time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-737210 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:26:00 +0000 MrsLilybugg 737210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mewtill: thanks!<br /> OK I think I"ll take out the freezer stash bit based on your and @looch's feedback</p> <p>I'm nervous and hoping they'll be receptive. I"m thinking they'll be receptive to more than 3 months, but more likely it'll be 4-5 months that they'll OK. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-736973 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:05:26 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 736973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: Building a freezer stash is great, but I would caution against using it to supplement when you're back at work (i.e. regularly cutting out a pumping session and using a bag of frozen milk). Your baby will be drinking more milk than your body is making and that will negatively affect your supply (especially when the freezer stash runs out). It's better to try to pump enough times to get all the milk you need &amp; use freezer milk for emergencies (spilled milk, back-up at daycare, in case you have to skip a pumping session every so often, etc).</p> <p>Good luck with your meeting! It's great that you have employers that will even entertain the idea of more than 12 weeks. My school district gives a year of unpaid leave. We could afford 3.5 months of unpaid leave, so that's what I took. It worked out well because daycare is something LO is very comfortable with (at 7 months, no anxiety yet at being dropped off). I think a little longer would have been nice, just because the 4 month sleep regression is NO JOKE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned/page/2#post-736753 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:05:44 +0000 MrsLilybugg 736753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: ha ha! we should just move to canada ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736751 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:05:37 +0000 MsLipGloss 736751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree. I would add other items more business-oriented to the list . . . such as fewer missed work days (there are quite a few doctor appointments (for shots!) in the early months), etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736745 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:02:52 +0000 littlek 736745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: awww okay.. because I was about to say, let me know how that goes.. I'd love 6 months paid maternity leave :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736737 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:43 +0000 MrsLilybugg 736737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: Oh gosh in my wildest DREAMS!! I get paid 5 weeks, and can use vacation time, and the additional months after the paid leave/vaca would be unpaid </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736727 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:58:44 +0000 littlek 736727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you looking for paid maternity leave of 6 months? Because unless you have an incredibly crazy amazing benefits, no company is going to go for that. Or do you have vacation saved and are willing to go unpaid to get you to 6 months? I took off 3 months (used maternity and leave) and then worked from home for 1 month, so we waited till LO was 4 months to put him in daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736726 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:58:37 +0000 MrsLilybugg 736726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: there's been several moms who have come back part-time after maternity leave, and I actually have already discussed with them that this is what I'll do (they've OK'ed this). One left the office, and was rehired after the child was older. I wouldn't do that though, too risky! </p> <p>They've already discussed hiring a temp for while I'm on leave.</p> <p>I was thinking the stash thing could help in that I can say this will require less time pumping at work and using up a conference room. But I'm not sure if this is true since it's my first child! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736695 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:50:01 +0000 looch 736695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you have to know your audience as well...is anyone in the group a working mom? Chances are, if they were and they came back to work after the regular alloted time, they might not be so open to you coming back later.</p> <p>I think you need to talk about what kind of specialized skills you have, and how you will help train a replacement. If you came to me and talked to me about your freezer stash, I'd probably not approve your request. It's a little too touchy feely and not business driven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736684 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:47:22 +0000 MrsLilybugg 736684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Consensus seems like 4-6 months though so I'll TRY for 6 and bargain from there. so nervewracking </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736681 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:46:40 +0000 MrsLilybugg 736681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Great point!!!</p> <p>I like working here (and have been with them forever!) and they have been so good about addressing concerns/requests I've made in the past, but I really should build a case as to why it's MUTUALLY beneficial for me to go back at 6 months. I should say that delaying my return to work would benefit the company as well as my LO. I like your suggestion that I'll add to my list: </p> <p>-I won't be as mentally focused and prepared to return to work, and that it will likely negatively impact my performance and productivity. </p> <p>-benefits of ability to EBF those first crucial months,<br /> -freezer stash build-up (less need to pump at work and tie up conference room??? I share an office)<br /> -immunity build-up,<br /> -likelihood sleeping-through-the-night (ties in to my productivity as well) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736348 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:31:58 +0000 rachiecakes 736348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>like @regberadaisy and @Rescuemom10 I went back at 7 weeks. Breastfeeding, pumping &amp; supply specifically, was a challenge. I would've liked at least 12 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736328 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:27:41 +0000 lemondrop 736328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Even after a year back, there are definitely times I still feel like I'm losing control of everything, and I only work part time (hours vary from week to week). I have no idea how full timers find balance, they are my heroes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736303 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:20:20 +0000 PrincessBaby 736303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would have felt a lot less....bitter? about returning if I had a good 6 months. I returned at 11 wks PP. Sucked! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736293 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:17:48 +0000 winniebee 736293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back at 5.5 months and I think that was good - or 6 would have been really perfect. I was nowhere near ready at 3 months, was more ready at 4 months, and was ready at 5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-736279 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:15:37 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 736279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you start to feel normal physically and start to really get the hang of things around 12 weeks. I'd like at least a month after, so 4 months. </p> <p>But I'm going back after 6 1/2 because of our situation so I'm only going to have to pump once at work which will be amazing. If lo ate more I'd probably still be at 4 pumps which would be 2x at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735942 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:09:16 +0000 MsLipGloss 735942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lemondrop: I totally agree! I went back full time after just 12 weeks, and I didn't really feel like I had a handle on anything until *at least* 5ish months . . . Even now (at 7.5 months pp), I still struggle with balancing my work load and my LO. As of last week, I just cut my hours back to part time(ish) on a short-term (3 months - my LO is having surgery next month) basis. It has been a much harder transition than I ever could have imagined! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735810 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:28:02 +0000 lemondrop 735810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took 4 months off, it was much better than 3 months would have been for me. I still didn't feel like I had my $hit together until the 6 month point, but I wanted to start getting back to where normal life would be. I work a lot of freelance projects though, so sometimes it's feast or famine!</p> <p>I'm amazed that I have been back at work for a year now, it sure has flown by! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735799 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:00:38 +0000 ladybee 735799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have to use saved sick time and are allowed to use 6 weeks paid, 6 weeks unpaid. I'm going to try and swing 8 weeks since that'll take me to Christmas break and I have the time. If not, I hope family will help out so LO doesn't need day care until 10 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735777 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:43:28 +0000 sunny 735777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Love your comment! </p> <p>I was just thinking the same thing. Employers don't care about your specific parenting goals. </p> <p>I agree that you need to frame your argument with how it benefits the employer that you take some additional time off. </p> <p>I took 5 months off and I thought it was a fair amount of time, though I would have loved a year. I think at 5 months, I was physically and mentally ready to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735694 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:40:28 +0000 matador84 735694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to go back at 8 weeks and it sucked so bad. I would recommend 12 at the earliest to help get a routine. Anything later than 4 months wouldn't have been bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735605 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:50:42 +0000 hummusgirl 735605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too agree with @MsLipGloss. Breastfeeding didn't work out so well for us and I ended up weaning at 7 weeks, but that didn't mean I would have been okay going back to work just because he was formula fed! I took off 6 months and it was great - I went back to work refreshed, working 5 days a week (some of my colleagues work 4 days), ready to jump in, and appreciative/loyal(ish) to the company. Honestly I wonder whether you really need to make much of a case vs. just saying you'd like to take 6 months and you understand it won't all be paid and just seeing what they say. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-735572 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:33:44 +0000 78h2o 735572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I totally agree. I think the reasons I cited are valid, but the OP would probably need to frame them in a way that explains how delaying the return to work would be mutually beneficial. It depends a lot in the job and the employer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-734874 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:12:40 +0000 birdofafeather 734874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: i totally agree. unfortunately, i don't think most companies would care about your freezer stash, etc. tell them how it's going to benefit THEM. that's all they care about.</p> <p>i am back part time at 14 weeks and i probably could have pushed it further, but we need some income bc DH is in school. i can't really comment, but i want to be a WAHM and quit my day job, but i would say that 4 months would have been my ideal. it's definitely different getting back into the swing of things after so much time off though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-734850 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:07:22 +0000 Rescuemom10 734850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am with @regberadaisy: I only got 7 weeks and would LOVED to have had 12. I guess with going at 7 weeks 12 would havr seemed great and enough. She at 11 weeks now is doing so good at daycare. I love her center.<br /> But I imagine if I had 12 weeks I would prob want even more.</p> <p>I think 6 mos would be ideal. Starting on more foods then and what not. Prob less pumping. I HATE pumping at work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/us-maternity-leave-when-do-you-wish-you-could-have-returned#post-734843 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:05:15 +0000 looch 734843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: You wrote what I was going to write in a much more eloquent manner. I think the message has to be centered around what the company gains. </p>