To stop working or not? That is the question...

[Ashley1021]

America is seriously the worst to have a baby! They could care less about your time off

 

[N27murray]

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[tropicsgirl]

I'm from the US but live in Thailand currently. US is horrible when it comes to maternity rights in my opinion. It's sad.

Here, I get 90 days with (almost) full pay-half is paid by the employer and half is paid by social security. However, I won't get the money until I come back to work which is kind of annoying, but that's because my boss had someone "run away" after their maternity leave. I feel like that's not fair...but not sure there's anything I could do about it.

I also don't know at how many weeks I should stop working. I teach kids which is hard, but it's not back breaking work. I'm thinking of working up to 34/35 weeks...but I also worry that I will be bored and have too much time to worry about the impending birth if I stop work that early...

 

[PumpkinBump]

America is seriously the worst to have a baby! They could care less about your time off

yeah I don't understand it. Here the daycares don't even take babies that young because they're supposed to be home with their mom or dad.. Crazy.
my best friend lives in the US and she's expecting her first...i can't imagine having to spend half the day away from my new lo. Eeeep

My daycare had a 6 DAY old baby going there cause the mom had to go back to work so soon. Not sure what the circumstances were, maybe she hadnt been at her job long enough to qualify for 6 weeks disability pay.

 

[N27murray]

d

 

[firefly15]

With DS I stopped work at 34 weeks, but had 2 weeks annual leave to take before my maternity leave started. I was sooo ready to finish by that point! I had a 4 hour commute every day - 2 hours there and 2 hours home by train and tube and I just couldn't take it anymore. I also hated my job, which made the decision easier! I definitely wasn't bored on maternity leave, I loved it

I would say that only you know your physical limits, and if your job is pushing them that badly then you have to do what's right for you. I worried about the financial part too, but DH was very supportive of me finishing whenever I felt it was right and would probably have locked me in the house if I'd tried to work up until my due date

 

[DocMcStuffins]

The nhs may have its flaws, but I am eternally grateful that it gives me the opportunity to be off work for a whole year with my baby.

This time I finish work in September and don't return to work until the end of September 2015.

I couldn't imagine the heartache of having to leave such a young baby to go back to work.

No mother should be forced to leave their baby so young

Xx

 

[Mum2threeboys]

I am in the UK and work at a garden centre. I have a very supportive work team and can sit down and take a break as a I please!
But, gosh, do I feel it! I'm on my feet for 8 hours straight a day And feel so drained and achey by the time I get home!

I am due to finish at the end of July - which will make me 32 weeks...

 

[N27murray]

d

 

[Rcx]

I'm planning on finishing at 37 weeks, I have a weeks annual leave and will take mat leave from 38 weeks. I'm taking a year off, I get 18 weeks full pay and then stat mat pay for another 21 weeks then taking the rest unpaid.

I still can't get my head around u ladies in the us, it's terrible to have such low standards of maternity leave! You get more in some underdeveloped countries!

 

[Pixiedust22]

What are you expected to do with your baby so early? Leave it at a daycare? :/

 

[TryinFor1]

What are you expected to do with your baby so early? Leave it at a daycare? :/

Yeah. Or make other arrangements. My grandma watches ds for me. I had ten weeks off when he was born and she has watched him since then. I quit work recently though so I will be with him and the new baby when its born.

 

[heidi87814]

I can't say what's going to happen with me because it's my first pregnancy but I have the choice of working at the office or working from home so I imagine I'll do that towards the end. I think it's a personal choice, hon, and don't be guilted into thinking that you're being a wimp or something. Everyone's body reacts differently to pregnancy - Remember that! You might be experiencing more pain and discomfort than the rest of us so you just listen to what your body tells you.

 

[CastawayBride]

Never realised how little time off you American ladies get after baby is born. I plan to work until the end of August then use 2 weeks holiday I have saved up before starting my maternity leave where I get a further 52 weeks off . So if all goes well I will be 36 weeks when I finish work

I get 6 months, and I am in the US. I get 4 weeks before delivery and then 5 months after. Half is paid as well. I wish they would get benefits for all but we are just not there yet!

My plan is vacation the week of 32 weeks. At work, 2-3 times a week for 33/34 to tie up loose ends then out as of 35 weeks!

 

[CastawayBride]

America is seriously the worst to have a baby! They could care less about your time off

yeah I don't understand it. Here the daycares don't even take babies that young because they're supposed to be home with their mom or dad.. Crazy.
my best friend lives in the US and she's expecting her first...i can't imagine having to spend half the day away from my new lo. Eeeep

My daycare had a 6 DAY old baby going there cause the mom had to go back to work so soon. Not sure what the circumstances were, maybe she hadnt been at her job long enough to qualify for 6 weeks disability pay.

wow. To me that's just disgusting. I feel for all the moms who aren't given a choice to stay home with their lo longer... What if you're breastfeeding?! Eeek

The day care can get in a lot of trouble, they are not suppose to be attending until 6 weeks due to vaccinations.

 

[PumpkinBump]

America is seriously the worst to have a baby! They could care less about your time off

yeah I don't understand it. Here the daycares don't even take babies that young because they're supposed to be home with their mom or dad.. Crazy.
my best friend lives in the US and she's expecting her first...i can't imagine having to spend half the day away from my new lo. Eeeep

My daycare had a 6 DAY old baby going there cause the mom had to go back to work so soon. Not sure what the circumstances were, maybe she hadnt been at her job long enough to qualify for 6 weeks disability pay.

wow. To me that's just disgusting. I feel for all the moms who aren't given a choice to stay home with their lo longer... What if you're breastfeeding?! Eeek

The day care can get in a lot of trouble, they are not suppose to be attending until 6 weeks due to vaccinations.

No, here in Texas they can take them earlier than 6 weeks. As long as they get the HEP B vaccination when they are born, they can go to daycare.