Maternity Leave Panic - The "4th" Trimester

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Categories » The "4th" Trimester » Maternity Leave Panic

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Maternity Leave Panic

addetar

Rank: sprout
Posts: 77
Joined: 2/26/09

Full Term

Maternity Leave Panic | 8/18/09 11:10 AM

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So I am at 31 weeks now and totally panicking about taking my maternity leave. I am a personal assistant for a very busy Surgery Director at a hospital, and I am so nervous about leaving my job for 3 months. Unless they hire a temp, there will be no one to fill my shoes. I just returned from a 1 week family vacation and came back to total chaos. I am entitled to the 3 month FMLA leave, and plan on taking it, but I don't know how to relax about it! My husbadn will be a full time student during the day and working nights so I don;t really have a choice anyway... I've even considered working from home via laptop and coming in twice a week to keep up on projects, but I know that once baby is here, that will be the last thing I want to do (plus, they can't pay me on fmla, but if I go per diem I'll lose my medical insurance benefits)! How can I keep up on my job without actually working? Or should I just cross that bridge when it comes? I have 9 weeks to come up with a plan and am not getting any closer to a solution! Help! I already have so much to do before the baby comes, I would like to be secure about my job status when I pack my overnight labor bag!

AliB07

Rank: bean
Posts: 5
Joined: 6/25/09

RE: Maternity Leave Panic | 8/19/09 6:51 AM as a reply to addetar.

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Did you think about checking into taking the baby in with you for two days a week if you did the work from home option? Since you work at a hospital, they might be more understanding than some jobs about you bringing a newborn to work. And who doesn't love having a baby around? If you can't I would say to prepare for chaos when you come back and let them worry about how the work gets done while you're with your new baby! You don't want that stress right now!! Hope that helps

Katie923

Rank: dedicated
Posts: 267
Joined: 1/13/09

Full Term

RE: Maternity Leave Panic | 8/19/09 7:29 AM as a reply to addetar.

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I just got my dream job. I'm a teacher and last year I had a grade I enjoyed at a school I liked. This year, I got the grade I wanted more than anything at the best school in the district. I was planning on staying home a lot longer, but I'm only taking 8 weeks of leave because I feel I need to get back and prove myself in this position. I think it's a personal choice. I don't have to send my baby to daycare. She'll be with my aunt where I know she'll be well cared for. This made my decision a lot easier. Sometimes the chaos is worth it. But at the same time, you don't want to get so behind that you end up losing your mind trying to catch up. My advice would be to see how you feel when it comes up. You can always request 3 months and then go back early.

Chelly

Rank: seedling
Posts: 40
Joined: 1/18/09

RE: Maternity Leave Panic | 8/19/09 10:42 AM as a reply to addetar.

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I agree with both comments. I'm with Katie, request the 3 months of leave and then decide during your time home if you want to come back to work early. At least you'll have that option. I did that with my firm. I'm scheduled to be home for 16 weeks. I'm excited to be able to be home with the kids during the holidays, but I have the option of coming back early if I choose to do so. In any event, don't stress yourself about work during this amazing time in your life:-) Your health and your baby's health are much more important.

addetar

Rank: sprout
Posts: 77
Joined: 2/26/09

Full Term

RE: Maternity Leave Panic | 8/19/09 3:37 PM as a reply to addetar.

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I can bring the baby in, but it wouldn't work well because if I came in it would be to run the errands, make meeting packets, etc and I can't have the baby in the Operating Area. I think I'm just going to have to take my leave and pray for the best when I return. I'll just spend the last month before I go preparing everyting that needs taken care of in the months I am gone. Luckily it will be the holidays so big projects tend to slow down during Nov- Jan. I can always come in on call if they absolutely need me for something. Thanks for the advice! Good luck with your own baby time!

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