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I took 12 weeks of maternity leave because it was as much time as I could take under the maternity policy at work (although I am sure if I needed to take more time that I could have arranged to do so). I returned to the same firm I was working in during my pregnancy.

The problem I face is that leaving my career (lets say for a year or two or three) makes it incredibly difficult to return to work after the extended absence. I have seriously thought about going part time, but wanted to give myself some time to see how working full time pans out.

I have been back at work for a month now, and am still having a hard time coping being away from my LO. I struggle with trying to reconcile the short-term heartache with the long-term advantages my career (and extra income) can provide my family and my LO, even though my income is not a necessity.

I can take an entire year off if I want and I have the option of taking a "career break" and having even longer off without losing my job- but only 3 months will be paid and we just can't afford to live on just DH's wages. So the length of my time off will be dictated by money. Sob sob.

I went back after 12 weeks. I probably could have gotten a bit more time, but that was as much as I felt comfortable taking. I went back to my former position, and then transitioned into a new (better) position as soon as I returned – we had arranged for the change prior to my leave though so it wasn’t a surprise.

I wouldn't be comfortable taking a year off or an undefined amount of time off because I don’t think it will be easy to get equivalent work and salary coming off an extended, voluntary employment absence.

12 weeks seemed like a fair amount of time to me and I was fine with going back to work then. I also wouldn’t mind working from home dedicated 1-2 days a week, which I might bring up with my employer next year.

I took off 4 months and then returned to the same job. I left it 2 months later because I've been wanting to leave for a long time. It's tough going back to work but the money is great. We could live off just DHs salary but we are used to living a very nice life and DH likes to have my salary contributing towards our lifestyle, eventhough I make 1/4 less than he does. However, I make way more than the cost of daycare, so that's not really a reason not to work.

Oh, and we can't live off of just my husband's salary yet. I took a 25% paycut to work 4 days a week and even with the paycut I still make significantly more than he does. So, staying home was really not a question.

I think my maternity leave is only 12 short weeks, but I'm going to see if I can work from home part time for a few months after my maternity leave to ease me back in. We get insurance through my work, so I can't quit. Otherwise, I'd be a SAHM in a heartbeat!!

i took 12 weeks because that's the most they would allow(4 was unpaid) i went back to the same job and position because we couldn't afford me not to work. i have a work at home arraignment and the grandmas do babysitting duty the 2 days i'm in the office, so we don't have to pay for daycare. we still don't know what's going to happen when #2 comes along because it'll be extremely difficult for me to work with a 1 1/2 year old and a newborn. but we can't afford daycare for 2...so we'll see..

I took a few months off and then worked four days a week, two of them at home, until LO was 10 months. Now I am a SAHM because we moved -- DH landed a new job. I've been looking and have interviewed a few times, but no luck yet. I'm freelancing, though, and am considering really trying to do more of it and potentially getting a little bit of part-time care for LO.

My plan is 12 weeks then I'm returning to a modified schedule (3 days a week). I think I'd enjoy staying home but DH just isn't on board. I think this modified schedule is a good compromise.

I'm still pregnant, but I get 6 weeks paid and then I can take 12 more weeks on top of that for FMLA. I set a date to return in Mid-July. I'm due late March. This way if I have her a little early or anything, I still know when I'm returning and it makes it easier to tell daycare I will need care on a specific date. I'm not using sick or vacation time because I am sure it will get used up over the year for a day or two here and there. "mental health days" and whatnot

It was an easy decision because I make good money and I am contracted to stay there for 24 months after receipt of my masters in May, since the company paid for it. Breaking that contract means owing a crapload of money. Like, 30K+. SO not worth it! I could go part time, but I want to save that option for when we have a second kid in a couple years. I currently like my job and position, and the hours are great, so I don't see why part time would really be useful for us yet. Maybe down the road, though. DH is home by 3pm, too! So we can get lots done in the evening. If he worked much longer hours, I would heavily consider it now, but it's moot for our situation.

This has been the plan all along, so DH doesn't have any surprises about it, either.