How Long Did You Get for Mat Leave

I got 6 weeks at 50% pay. Then I decided to be a mom to my child, a daycare worker had no hope of loving and caring for my son the way I do. My son deserves the best, and the best is mom.

With my 1st child I got 6 weeks. My second child I got 12 weeks then my company extended it to 16 weeks soon before I had my third. 6 weeks with my first was too short! I cried the first week back to work.

I got a doctors note 3 weeks before my due date (lucky me). I got full pay for a total of 9 weeks. 3 weeks before and 6 weeks after. I had been with my company for 9 years. Legally I know in IL they have to give you 12 weeks off, and they don't have to pay you. It was nice to get full pay. I wish I could have gotten more time off though. I felt good about leaving my baby though because my mom was watching her.

Most people in the U.S. do not get paid maternity leave. Some very big companies may offer it, but not usually. FMLA for unpaid leave doesn't even cover everyone, companies must have a minumum number of people, you have to work a minimum number of hours beforehand, etc. With my first baby, I went back to work at 8 weeks. I live in NY, so I got disability pay for 5 weeks and then used 2 weeks of sick/vacation time at full pay - disability was half pay. Many states don't offer disability pay after giving birth, or during pregnancy if complications arise. With my second baby, I took 11 weeks off and then went back half days the first two weeks. I had the same one unpaid week and then 5 weeks of disability, and the rest of the time was sick/vacation time that I banked in the years between the kids. My employer did not offer any paid maternity leave.

8 weeks (2 weeks before birth) at 60% pay with first. 6 weeks at 100% pay with second.

In Texas you can have up to 12 wks of personal/medical leave without losing your job. My company doesnt pay you while on mat leave so used all of my sick and vacation time to get 3 wks paid and 3 wks unpaid. I had to return at 6 wks.

I returned after 6 weeks.... ;0(

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, allows 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period. With my last child (3rd) I had stored up a lot of leave so I was paid for 2 1/2 months. With my first two children I returned after 5 weeks with my first child and 4 weeks with my second, I needed the money with them.

I didn't get any paid maternity leave. I put in to corporate for the 12 weeks of FMLA unpaid maternity, but somehow I didn't 'qualify' for it (I had worked for the company for 3 years... but apparently when I transferred locations they put me as a new hire instead of a transfer, and completely reset the amount of hours I had...) So they offered me 6 weeks (unpaid) comprehensive leave... Not enough for me so I asked my manager if I could quit, then re-apply when I was ready to come back (after 12 weeks or so) and he told me to just take the 12 weeks... then corporate fired me... (GRR!) So I took about 15 weeks, then went and had my manager re-hire me. lol. Luckily, my fiance worked the night shift, and I was able to work mornings, so we didn't have to put her in day care at all. :)

Maternity leave varies because each company's policy is different. A few will pay you for six week in full, others will pay you based on short-term disability so it is a percentage for the length of time your doctor has you out, some pay based on STD but have a waiting period so it is a percentage after the waiting period (example-I got paid 2/3 my pay for four of my six weeks), some don't pay you at all. Then you may have any combination of these in conjunction w/ other leave such as sick time and vacation.

FLMA allows for your job to be held up to 12 weeks (if you work for a company w/ 50 or more employees) but none of the 12 weeks has to be paid.

It is hard to return to work but returning to work and not worrying is impossible. Wish I could be at home w/ my daughter but can't yet. That is why I am building my business from home (in hopes of being able to become a SAHM).

I got 4 weeks before the birth, 6 weeks after, and an additional 6 weeks for the family bonding act. None of it was employer paid, it was all paid through the state of California, and my Dr. was the one who told me how much time I was allowed, he also set up all the paperwork for me.
I don't want this to come out wrong, but if the father is in the picture, he is eligable for the family bonding act within 1 year of the baby's birth (at least in the state of Cali he is). It might be something to think about, after your time runs out he can take the 6 weeks.

6 weeks and since she was 3 weeks early, I ended up having to go away to market for 2 weeks, when I got back!.. If she had been born on her due date, I would have missed it..

My husband took care of our daughter, for those 2 weeks alone while he worked full time..Thank goodness we had found a great caregiver.. she was awesome.. Bless his heart.. He did great by the way and has always been willing to help with all of her care and the house keeping, because he knew what it was like to do it all alone..

Yes, it is very hard it go back to work. I was emotional, I was distracted, but we got through it and I appreciated every moment I did have with her..

most places do not pay for maternity leave anymore. you can get the FMLA time off with no pay and they will hold your job. paid mat leave is very nice if you have an employer who pays it.

I had both my babies while in school, so I didn't get an actual leave. However, I can add that, if at all possible, try to get at least 12 weeks--even if that means that some of it is unpaid (I realize that might not be possible for you, but if it is, it's worth it). I cannot IMAGINE leaving a 6-week-old in daycare. They are so tiny then. I

For my first I took my full 16 weeks (FMLA). I used my 2 weeks vacation pay for the first 2 weeks the next 14 was unpaid.

For my second I took 12 weeks (FMLA). Again I used vacation pay for the first 2 weeks, and the next 10 were unpaid.

I am currently pregnant, but am having to deal with getting ready for this soon. I have been approved for 6-8 weeks of maternity leave. Unless there are serious complications, which hopefully there won't be, I will return in 6 weeks. I can only get paid through my vacation, sick, and comp leave. So technically I could take the full FMLA 12 weeks, but since I only have a total of 6 weeks paid leave, I would have to take the last 6 unpaid, which would pretty much screw my family as I am the predominant income and once I go back to work, the only income.

12 weeks 100% paid - I specifically researched this during the interview process because I knew I wanted to have children. Several other potential employers only offered 6 weeks at a reduced pay. Check into it before you accept the job.

I do not get a paid maternity leave at all. I can bank my sick days and use them to pay myself, but right now I only have 20.5 days. I am a teacher, so good thing my next baby will arrive at the end of June. Otherwise, I'd be out a LOT of money.