I am in Canada, and us ladies here are entitled to 1 year paid mat leave at 55% to a maximum of ~$2000 per month. Given that you have financial obligations in your native country, and your mother will be living with you for a year after the baby is born, would you cut your mat leave short to 4 months?

The situation above describes my colleagues choice, who is currently in he third trimester. Before my conversation with her, I could not fathom taking anything less than one full year of mat leave. What would your choice be under the circumstances?