How to maximize my maternity leave

[twiggy327]

havent even had my son yet and already im having anxiety and depressed about having to leave after such a short time!! The company I work will give me 6 weeks paid leave for maternity. 9 weeks paid for "medical reasons." I am finding this increasingly worrisome and disheartening. There have been a few men in my department who have had shoulder or knee surgery over the last few years and they have gotten up to 12 weeks of paid leave to recover. I push a human being out of my body and I only get 6 weeks to bond and recover. Total BS if you ask me!! I am eligible to take up to 12 weeks thru FMLA but I would then lose all of my vacation time and it is severly discouraged to take unpaid time off work after you have used your PTOs. So I would have to ask a family member to take my infant to the 100 doctors appointments during the first year and dont even want to think about what would happen if myself or one of my kids got sick! Anyways, I want to maximize the time I have at home, ideally the full 9 weeks paid. Anyone been in a similar situation? I want to have a plan to convince the doc that I need more time at home..