I'm very fortunate as a high school teacher, my baby is due on May 26th and if all goes well I won't have to take too much time off of work since the school year is over on June 18th.  That gives me until August 24th when I'll need to be back....

amw529 Jan. 29, 2009 at 4:46 PM

It would break my heart to have to leave my babies after 5 days! I took 3 months with my son, went back for a week and decided to be a SAHM and here I am 3 years later with 2 kids.

ktnbags Jan. 29, 2009 at 5:09 PM

i am in canada, and we get 15 weeks maternity leave, plus 35 weeks of parental that either parent can take. i am taking 40 weeks and giving my husband the last 10(maybe). i would never leave my baby after only 5 days. that's insane.

jcsmummy Jan. 29, 2009 at 5:27 PM

I would like to go back to work ASAP.  I was supposed to begin a new GOOD job on January 26, but they told me I would miss too much of the training because I am so far along.  This is a job I have been waiting on for SIX months.  I was devastated to say the least.  But, this will give me time to rest before Labor and Delivery.  They did tell me they would consider me after I had my baby so I would not miss any of the training.  So if they call me a week or two after I have her, and I am healed, I am GOING BACK TO WORK!!

NIJoners1977 Jan. 29, 2009 at 8:36 PM

Well, my mom was single mom, so she usually went back to work after a few days, but she also pumped breastmilk and breastfed at night, so I think that helped her keep close to her babies.

xxPaulaxx Jan. 30, 2009 at 5:48 AM

I took 6 weeks with my first and cried the entire morning that I had to leave her! And I was lucky to have family to watch her but I wanted so badly to stay with her (and still do). I am currently pregnant with #2 and will probably only take the 6 weeks again (only b/c I can't afford more). If I could I would be a SAHM but that is just not an option for us. I don't know how anyone could got back to work after only a week!

Punkylu78 Jan. 30, 2009 at 11:26 AM

I been dreading going back to work and I'm only 5 months pregnant.  Just thinking about it,  that upsets me. Before being pregnant, I was all for work work work, but now I know once she's here, my heart is going to break, I love her so much already.

leeda78 Jan. 30, 2009 at 12:40 PM

I think it's crazy to go back to work after just 5 days!  I remember my stitches still hurting and still bleeding an aweful lot after just 5 days.  And you can't drive yet and most moms are still on some type of pain med, even if it's just a high dose of motrin.  Not to mention the bonding that you're missing with your baby!  I just don't get it.  I'm dreading having to go back to work after this baby is born!  And the baby will probably be around 4 months before I go back.

MDMomof2Cuties Jan. 30, 2009 at 1:12 PM

Some moms do not have the option of taking unpaid maternity leave. My co-worker had her son on a friday and immediately returned that monday. She is a single mom and couldn't afford to miss the work. It was either spend time with her son or make sure her son had a roof over his head.

While I am definitely planning on taking my six weeks, I will HAVE to work at least once or twice each of those weeks just to continue paying bills and insurance. It is extremely unfortunate and I am definitely terrified of the feeling of leaving my baby. But I have to do what I have to do...

antigravity_x Jan. 30, 2009 at 3:39 PM

I would love to never go back to work!!! But I need the insurance! I get 12 weeks of family medical leave-paid (not full pay but a percentage). However, if I have to use that before the baby is born, I will get 8 weeks unpaid due to my C-section. 

kaufmt0220 Jan. 30, 2009 at 11:29 PM