Work Leave Advice?

Does anyone have experience with FMLA leave?

My work allows me 12 weeks of unpaid leave which I am taking.

However, I’m thinking of taking leave early, but I don’t want this to count against my FMLA. So I was thinking of taking the last week and a half of July off as unpaid days off (I’m due 8/7). I should mention I’m part-time and my work allows us to take 14 consecutive days off without any penalty (“self-termination” is what they consider it). so I’m thinking if I take about 10 days off, then go into FMLA leave, I get a little extra time.

The only problem is that is it hard to gauge when the baby is actually going to come because I could be induced early, go into labor early, or it could happen all late. I was originally going to wait to go on leave until I was going to give birth, but not sure if I will make it that long, both mentally and physically!

Any advice? Thanks in advance!