I'm not pregnant.



We did the life insurance thing. Declined disability insurance cause its too expensive through the state. But it would have been nice cause I could have gotten a check while on maternity leave (when we do decide to have kids), in the event I didn't get enough leave time built to get paid.



How do you plan to do this when you have/had kids?

My issue is this. DH (Who obviously lives on Mars), thinks 3-4 weeks leave should be enough. This is the same clown who insists I breastfeed (which is fine), and secretly hopes I have a 10-11 pounder (he actually asked God for big boys and twins would be nice according to him) which my keep me out due to recovery alone for a month.... But I know better, and I know you moms know better. I really want to do 12 weeks or more (is this too much?). I know most moms do 6 weeks......Sooooo how do you plan to handle finances to get you through your leave? BTW I make more money than DH, and I am hoping he actually takes a 1 month leave too. But if we do decide to break down and get disability insurance (we missed open enrollment for it) I have to wait until the fall of 09 and don't get pregnant cause you have to have it at least 10 months before it kicks in anyways, cause there is just not enough leave time in the world I could accumulate to get me 12 weeks worth of pay!



Of course there is the old savings too.....



Feedback girls.

Bumble, the opening line was great. I always signed up for short term disability even when I was single just in case I did get pregnant or was hurt or something. I was very fortunate that the cost has always been inexpensive. If you don't have that option, I think the best thing would be to build up that savings. At the job I work now, I did hear that maternity leave is 2 months. That seems too short to me. My cousin is currently on maternity leave for 3 months at her job. I think that's much better. Personally, I feel that it would be EXTREMELY difficult for me to leave my newborn with a caretaker other than my mother. If and when I do become pregnant, I hope to have the option to work from home as much as possible after my maternity leave. I currently work from home one day per week. Before we got married, my DH did express the desire for me to be a stay-at-home mom. If we have a couple of little ones born right after the other this may be the best thing. I would definitely consider this especially if I can build a home-based business.

Great topic Bumble. When I gave birth to my daughter, we relied on savings. I was home for 3 months. I would've loved to stay home for at least six, but I couldn't afford to do so at the time. I would definitely recommend planning, it is the best way to decide what your needs are and what you need to do to satisfy those needs. Unfortunately at the time I did not have a disability plan in place, but we made it through, but I had to get back to work fast..............

Although, I don't plan on having another kid ..if it's God will ..I PLAN on not going back to work. I would start in home day care back up. When my XH and I had our first two ..our schedules were opposite ...so it worked out, when he decided to go back to day shift, I came home and did daycare in our home. When we had the third one, I had a "nanny" whom of which was XH's grandmother. She came over in the mornings (if she didn't spend the night) took the older two back and forth to school and took care of the baby while I was at work. Thank God for her ..that was her job at the time ...I paid her well.



Getting pregnant w/o a plan is very scary. So I'm with Rhony with the planning thing.



Oh and I stayed home from work with the last kid for 2 months. I had her in November ..which was great ...bc I had the normal 6 weeks through December then I was able to take 2 more weeks of "family related days" w/o touching my vacation.

I had my daughter young, at 18. I was a college student at the time so there wasn't any maternity leave to consider. My mother was so hurt when I got pregnant that she made it hard on me (so I wouldn't end up with baby #2) Once I had my daughter, I had find a job right away so there wasn't a luxury of staying home. She talked to one of her friends who gave me a job RIGHT after my 6 week check up. My grandmother kept my daughter while I worked.



At my job now, they don't treat maternity differently than any other medical leave. You just have to use up your sick time hours and then you can start using your stored vacation hours or take an unpaid leave. Our unused vacation and sick leave hours roll over from one year to the next so if you have a good work ethic, you normally have alot of hours in the bank to use. People who take alot of time off during the year would have reason to worry if they got pregnant. So with a company like mine's, careful planning is essential.



Some companies are really family oriented and will even allow you to bring your child to work with you. That's rare but I have seen it done. Some employers are willing to offer you flexible or part time hours, or even allow you to work from home. It's amazing how some companies can differ so much from the next.

With my son I saved my money and didn't work until he was 5 months.



With my daughter I used my vacation time (since we have to use it by Dec. 31 or lose it and she was born Dec. 1) then I had 6 weeks of leave where I got 1/2 my salary. I went back to work part time for 4 more weeks using my family leave time (unpaid but it doesn't count against you) then started back full time.



Now that I'm salaried we get 6 weeks at our full salary instead of 1/2. We get up to 12 weeks but only the 1st 6 are paid. If your job's short term disability is too much check in Aflac's coverage. They paid my friend more than her salary when she had her baby!

FutureMrsKeepUp wrote:

With my son I saved my money and didn't work until he was 5 months.


With my daughter I used my vacation time (since we have to use it by Dec. 31 or lose it and she was born Dec. 1) then I had 6 weeks of leave where I got 1/2 my salary. I went back to work part time for 4 more weeks using my family leave time (unpaid but it doesn't count against you) then started back full time.


Now that I'm salaried we get 6 weeks at our full salary instead of 1/2. We get up to 12 weeks but only the 1st 6 are paid. If your job's short term disability is too much check in Aflac's coverage. They paid my friend more than her salary when she had her baby!

Girl I'm coming to work at your company -- LOL!!!

Yeah Aflac! Oh, yes do check them out. When my mom was ill she had insurance thru her job plus Aflac and it worked out very well. Aflac picked up where the job insurance left off.

pamcrow wrote:

At my job now, they don't treat maternity differently than any other medical leave. You just have to use up your sick time hours and then you can start using your stored vacation hours or take an unpaid leave. Our unused vacation and sick leave hours roll over from one year to the next so if you have a good work ethic, you normally have alot of hours in the bank to use. People who take alot of time off during the year would have reason to worry if they got pregnant. So with a company like mine's, careful planning is essential.


Some companies are really family oriented and will even allow you to bring your child to work with you. That's rare but I have seen it done. Some employers are willing to offer you flexible or part time hours, or even allow you to work from home. It's amazing how some companies can differ so much from the next.

Working for the state, we have the sick and vacation leave thing too. Since I work for WIC, its very family oriented. My boss has already promised me an Electric Pump and they'll provide all the breastfeeding help I need-for free! One of my co-workers managed to do part-time hours upon her return so I guess thats an option. I definitely do not take off uneccesary days off, and after 16 months of working there I already have over 115 hours of sick time accumulated and over 100 hours of vacation time accumulated. I should have joined the sick-leave pool but missed the deadline. You donate 8 hours of your own sick leave but in the event something happens and you need to use more sick time than you have, they will give it to you as long as the pool isn't depleted...(I am watching an Aflac commerical now-lol).... Thats nice becuase many jobs got rid of sick leave pools due to mis-use.



BTW we have many people who use their sick leave A LOT during the year, and unfortunately, or bog boss does not like to let people take leave without pay. Because we are federally and state funded, all dollars and work time is counted to the minute.....Anyone taking leave and not being paid is seen as money not needed, so they will decrease funding the following fiscal year....We've had people "asked" to resign due to misuse or frequent requests for leave without pay....

Well when I had my children, I saved money and also my company works like Pam's current job...but now that I am salaried, I get paid full salary without having to take vacation/sick time for up to 8 weeks. With my first child, I went back to work after 2 months...with my second 2 1/2.



Also, when my son passed away, I took personal leave from work and I was able to take up to 120 days off with full salary and then short-term disability would automatically kick in for 90 days. I only took off for 2 months but it was a great assurance to know if the time was needed, it was there...

WELL, I am pregnant! I found out the week after my mom's funeral. Wow!

I havent checked my companies maternity leave plan yet but somthing lead me to opt for the short term disability leave at work a few months ago.

I plan to use my leave time to take off one month and have my man take off to two weeks. For a total of six. Then I am going to put her in daycare. I am hoping to find a private provider that I know.

I want a girl to name after my mom. LOL

What a wonderful surprise michele. Congrats on your pregnancy.

Congrats Michele! All the best!

Oh wow Congrats Michele!



You already know you are having a girl! Congrats again!



Keep us up to date

When are you due?

Congrats, Michele! Maybe it is a girl. I've frequently noticed in families that when one soul leaves the world, another is on it's way.

Congrats!

Thanks. Im due August 24Th. If she is late and comes in september, she will be born in the same month as my mom. I was 4 weeks when I found out and my sister had been having dreams for a month. she just didnt know who. lol. we are all excited.

michelerdh2005 wrote:

Thanks. Im due August 24Th. If she is late and comes in september, she will be born in the same month as my mom. I was 4 weeks when I found out and my sister had been having dreams for a month. she just didnt know who. lol. we are all excited.

Wow! Was your sister dreaming about fish? That's what VI people say they dream about when somebody's pregnant.

Where I work you get 4 months paid maternity leave and over that you can either use your vacation leave or if you don't have then unpaid leave. I opted to only stay at home for the 4 months and came back afterwards. Didn't want to use my vacation leave bcos I figured I might need it one day.

michelerdh2005 wrote:

WELL, I am pregnant! I found out the week after my mom's funeral. Wow!

I havent checked my companies maternity leave plan yet but somthing lead me to opt for the short term disability leave at work a few months ago.

I plan to use my leave time to take off one month and have my man take off to two weeks. For a total of six. Then I am going to put her in daycare. I am hoping to find a private provider that I know.

I want a girl to name after my mom. LOL

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DeeLove wrote:

Where I work you get 4 months paid maternity leave and over that you can either use your vacation leave or if you don't have then unpaid leave. I opted to only stay at home for the 4 months and came back afterwards. Didn't want to use my vacation leave bcos I figured I might need it one day.

4 months! WOW! That's great! You are very, very blessed Dee. That's a nice company you work for in South Africa.

In preparation: I signed up for disability insurance...I've had Colonial for almost a year now. We got life insurance after we got married. I would like to be out for the full 12 weeks that

Wow! Was your sister dreaming about fish? That's what VI people say they dream about when somebody's pregnant.





LOL, she wasnt dreaming about fish. She dreamt about babies. She was dreaming that she was holding a baby and she is more than done with babies as she and her husband have four.



A month would be good for me and we are discussing his staying with her during the day and working evenings for the first year or so.

Congratulations Michele !!!

Thanks, I started sorting out my leave coverage etc today. So far, so good.

Thirty is a good age Bumble. That was my plan but not God's so we are happy either way. LOL