https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:57:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/3#post-2506412 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 07:06:13 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2506412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The comments and poll inspired me to stick it out and hold off starting mat leave a little longer. I'm going to talk to my manager next week about WFH more over the next few weeks. Who knows once I get my swelling under control maybe driving around won't be so bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/3#post-2506338 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 23:30:07 +0000 sapphire 2506338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt well amd wanted to save all my leave until LO arrived so I worked until I went into labor, although the last 2 weeks were about 2/3 my normal hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2506314 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:53:44 +0000 californiadreams 2506314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1: I worked until 40w3d because I had just started the job and working to that day qualified me for my salary top up pay which was quite significant. And luckily il he was born a week late. However, I was sick for the last 2-3 weeks, not sleeping, and vowed never to work to the end of pregnancy again. </p> <p>DS2: I started my mat leave 3.5 weeks before my due date and still wish I had more time. He was born on my due date. I will accrue around 3.5 weeks vacation during my leave that I can take before going back so I'll still get a full year with the baby. I may even take a month or 2 unpaid to extend my leave more if we can swing it. So no regrets about taking so much time at the start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2506305 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:39:28 +0000 Portboston 2506305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My company allows 2 weeks before due date. I decided to take that plus a few extra days so I went out at 37+2 (it was a Friday and made more sense!) Even though I had a desk job, I was incredibly uncomfortable and swollen. Now I know why....I ended up going into labor the following Monday at 37+5 :) little man didn't want to miss out on any of my super fun maternity leave! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2506292 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:18:49 +0000 matador84 2506292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked with both kids until I had them--not inductions. I didn't want to use baby days with no baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2506287 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:08:53 +0000 QBbride 2506287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I stopped work around 35 weeks for both. Early, but I work 12-hour shifts (days and nights) and it was getting too much for me. I used sick time though and technically I didn't start my maternity leave until both my babies were born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2506270 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 21:53:10 +0000 ElbieKay 2506270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was due on a Sunday. I worked from home an additional week, until Friday 40+5. My water broke on Tuesday 41+2 at 10pm. My labor started four hours later on Wednesday 41+3 at 2am. We went to the hospital at around 9am. My son was born on Thursday 41+4 at 1am.</p> <p>I postponed scheduling an induction at least three times, and I had two NSTs once I was overdue. I was terrified of interventions and was extremely concerned about the high c-section rate, so I was extremely opposed to an induction unless/until I was close to 42 weeks. I am glad that I waited, and I am lucky that everything worked out so well for us. But that was a really long week and a half of additional waiting!!!</p> <p>I was only able to take 12 weeks off work and still keep my benefits / health insurance. So I worked as long as possible in order to maximize the amount of time off I could spend with the baby. That was feasible since I was able to work from home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505919 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:35:21 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2505919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: no snark at all!! :happy: I totally agree that a longer labor with a mom/baby who are coping well needs to intervention to speed it up. I pushed for 4 hours with my first and didn't get an intervention (vacuum) until the end when I was so tired I couldn't push well. During hour 2 or 3 they gave me a dose of fentanyl to take the edge off and some oxygen. I was so glad they let me work through labor on my body's own terms (well, except for the pitocin I had, which they turned down/off around 7cm). I mentioned the book because I felt comforted to know specifically which situations could really necessitate interventions and I thought the alternatives were empowering too. Its great that your midwife clarified the induction protocol. I hope you have a really positive birth experience (which it seems like you will, since you seem open-minded and informed!) :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505901 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:20:12 +0000 agold 2505901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: hooray for perfectly timed babies!! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505897 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:19:05 +0000 birdofafeather 2505897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: i did this for DD1 when i had a day job, but now work for myself, so with DD2, i photographed a wedding 2 weeks before she was born. ;)</p> <p>before delivery is use it or lose it. then 6 weeks PP SDI and then i did the 6 weeks immediately after that for PFL. and then i took two more weeks paid in part by the rest of my PTO. DD1 was timed perfectly for this! i couldn't have made it work for any other time of year for this particular office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505896 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:18:39 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2505896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The midwife clarified at 39 weeks the practice schedules an induction so that patients don't go past 41 weeks. That seems way more reasonable. She also stated the magic words that inductions should be needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505891 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:16:00 +0000 agold 2505891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Thanks for the link! Some girls I talk to that work for bigger companies seem confused and think that the 4 weeks before is actually something that can take away from the 6 weeks after. Umm.. they are wrong. But it still makes me doubt! And yes, I figured that I can get by with the reduced income and I'm like "I'll take it!" And that's so great of your company to honor CA disability and FMLA. Will they honor the additional 6 weeks you can get through paid family leave? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505879 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:10:34 +0000 birdofafeather 2505879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: <a href="http://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/FAQ_DI_Pregnancy.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/FAQ_DI_Pregnancy.htm</a></p> <p>i think there is a week waiting period before it kicks in and obviously it's not 100% pay, but since my office was closed and we went in slow season, i preferred the lesser pay than sitting bored in the office (which i would have probably left early anyway! and since i was hourly... yeah, i used SDI!)</p> <p>i worked for a small company and they still honored the CA disability and FMLA laws. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505859 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:57:09 +0000 agold 2505859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Glad you said that about California! I'm trying to confirm that because I think it sounds incredible. </p> <p>I'm planning to go out at 36 weeks because the state will pay me a little disability. If I wasn't getting paid, I would work up to due date. I'm super loyal to my company, and I'm going to feel bad about leaving them in a bind, but work is distracting to me and permeates my daily non-work life so I'm really hoping to clear my mind before baby comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505846 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:49:38 +0000 YouGotMe 2505846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Canada, I went off at 36 weeks due to a variety of reasons but mostly so I wouldn't screw over another person if I went into labour at work.</p> <p>If it had been any other time of the year I likely would have gone later </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505766 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:10:44 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2505766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: Hey Joyful! I hope my response to you didn't come off snarky. I have read it a few times and am not sure. Sitting on this side of delivery I can't help but think a long delivery for baby to come on his own is fine. Interventions to speed up the process, as so often it's described by the medical professionals around me, seem rushed for no reason. I know there are legitimate reasons to intervene. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505701 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:25:09 +0000 mrsbookworm 2505701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was teaching so I had to pick a "leave" date. I picked my due date, worked that day and went into labor the next day. The timing was perfect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505682 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:15:39 +0000 DenverMom 2505682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO1: I stopped working at 40 weeks because I was really uncomfortable. He was born at 40+5.<br /> LO2: I worked up to the day she was born, which was 40+1.</p> <p>I also question the early induction if there is no medical necessity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505652 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:57:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2505652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: my doula suggested I attend the hospital's birth class just for last night'so topic on all the medical interventions. Even the hypnobirth book discusses interventions and the natural alertanitives to them. I don't have a fear of interventions, but look at them as a last resort if medically necessary. Coming into this pregnancy I had no real opinion about how I would give birth- med or med-free, but once I learned more and commited time &amp; money to med-free I'd really like to accomplish it.</p> <p>Curious, what kind of meds did they give you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505642 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:51:59 +0000 petitenoisette 2505642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I didn't have a 40 week appointment scheduled either, but they wouldn't have induced me til 41 weeks at least. I remember asking at my 39 week appointment and they were just sort of like we'll make you an appointment next week if you don't have baby by 40 weeks. So it doesn't necessarily mean they'll induce you then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505631 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:44:26 +0000 BSB 2505631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>28 weeks but it wasn't technically mat leave since that didn't start until the babies came at 34 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505628 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:42:28 +0000 Modern Daisy 2505628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For DS ivworked up until a few hours before I delivered but with #2 I am planning on making my last day right at 38 weeks and taking a few extra weeks of unpaid leave on either end. i have an hour commute now and I won't be allowed to wfh at all this time (my old boss let me last time) which is why I want to just schedule a last day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505601 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:24:07 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2505601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: it could be they just want to get you on the calendar so you have a spot. I agreed to be induced at 41 weeks and it went great! Pushing was long, but I went almost 100% med-free; inductions aren't the worst thing. You might want to check out The Birth Partner by Penny Simkins. It has a great section on all the interventions hospitals use, why they use them, the risks, &amp; questions to ask/alternatives. I liked knowing what was strictly "necessary", although I'm sure your doula is well-versed in this area! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505586 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:14:48 +0000 Eko 2505586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped work at 38w. I made the choice to stop ahead. Taking public transit to and from work was becoming obnoxious and really I was just done. I had bp issues and DH and I decided it wasn't worth be continuing on. </p> <p>I ended up surprisingly getting induced 3 days later because of my bp issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505569 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:06:12 +0000 lady baltimore 2505569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Technically, my maternity leave started about 2 hours after I checked into the hospital. :wink: </p> <p>I told work that my last day (if baby hadn't come by then) would be 40+5 (which was the end of a work week). 41+6 would have taken me through the start of winter break, but since I anticipated being induced some time that week (if I got that far), I thought it was simpler not to work the partial week.</p> <p>My water broke at 39+5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505551 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:54:47 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2505551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm, DH and I heard two different things. He thinks the doc said schedule at 39 weeks as not to go past 41. However, my last office visit scheduled all my last doc appointments- 36/37/38/39, but not 40. I'll know for sure what's the practice policy today. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505543 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:49:33 +0000 ms.line 2505543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was still working and riding public transit at 41 weeks pregnant! My coworkers acted like I was out of my mind. Admittedly, I was pretty damn miserable that last week or two, but I figured it had to be better than sitting home alone using up my leave. I finally had my baby on a Saturday at 41+1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505529 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:33:34 +0000 LindsayLou 2505529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was due on a Monday, worked the Friday before, and called out the Saturday before, due to possible leaking fluid. Baby was born the Thursday after my due date. I wanted to work as long as possible, but was pretty miserable towards the end due to massive swelling in my feet and ankles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505513 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:19:16 +0000 Silva 2505513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into labor the day before my due date, on a Friday, after work. I worked up until that point. But I worked as a therapist, so they had transferred all of my clients to other clinicians as of about 3 weeks prior. The last three weeks were brutal but only because I was so bored. I sat on my yoga ball in my office and did online trainings, took walks around the block, took 2 hour lunch breaks, left early, etc.... I attended a few meetings, and subbed for some groups, but there wasn't really much I could do since its better for clients to have a planned transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-go-out-of-mat-leave/page/2#post-2505481 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:09:06 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2505481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went off around 38.5, but wished I put in another week because baby didn't come until an induction at 42 weeks. Was finally born via c section at 42 +1. If I didn't get a year off I would have works longer, but I could sit down if I needed to (worked at a school). The commute kind of sucked though. I can't imagine my job involving driving. </p>