Allowed vs Should I? Maternity Leave

Hi mamas,

Im a FTM and I’m due in July & was just reviewing my work’s maternity leave policy.

I get 8 weeks birth leave + 4 weeks parental leave from my company at 100% pay.

Then, my state (California) provides 8 weeks California State Paid Family Leave up to 70% pay. My husband and I think we might be able to swing the 70% - just gotta double check bills etc.

Sooo that gets me 20 weeks paid and should put me through the 2nd week of December.

My company shuts down from December 23-Jan 1 (paid) so I’m thinking I’d take vacation hours December 16-20 & then again Jan 2-3 2020 & go back to work Jan 6, 2020.

That’ll leave me with like 46 vacation hours (+ id start reaccruing hours because it’s a new month/year) which is good because I’d want to have some hours saved in case little babe needs me home etc.

Are you all taking full advantage of all the benefits offered to you or are you going to cut maternity leave short? I guess part of me is stoked that I could be out with our little one for nearly 5 months but am unsure if that’s going to look badly on me when I return to work.

Thoughts? Advice? What are you doing?

*** thank you ladies so much for all of your advice!!! I think you’re all right, I need to take as much time as I am allowed for the sake of my little girl and our little family! I’ve always been so career driven so this made me nervous when I realized I could be gone for so long. BUT, as a ftm, I think I just didn’t connect that DUH! I SHOULD take all that time! My baby needs me!! SOMEONE ACTUALLY needs & will rely on me and my husband to live!! Sounds silly to realize it this way but that’s what the whole process is about I suppose, realizing one thing after another & letting it allll sink in!! Thanks again ladies!!! 😘😘😘***