When should I take maternity leave

Question

I get 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave at my job and I’m thinking of starting my leave before the baby comes but I also don’t want to take too much time off because I want to be with my baby for as long as possible before I have to go back to work. I work in a real estate office with the majority of my coworkers being guys so I’m a little nervous about my water breaking at work in front of all of them. I also just want a little time to myself because at that point I feel like I’ll need to relax and start preparing for baby and not be at work stressed all day. How do I know when to start my leave if I did decide to take it before she came? My mom had all four of us 2 weeks late and my sister had a couple of her kids late so I feel like my baby may come late too. So I don’t want to take my leave at 39 weeks and not have her til 42 weeks. I’d like maybe a week to myself max before she comes. I know there’s no way to tell when a baby will come but what’s your experience with it?
Edit: sorry I’m a ftm and I figured that your water breaking just happened out of no where lol.. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Answer

I work until I go into labor. Those 12 weeks fly by and don’t feel nearly long enough with baby.

Answer

Do you have the option to take all 12 post partum? Sometimes you have to take 4 before the estimated due date.

Answer

I would just wait til baby comes. You can’t predict that and if you take leave early you could end up delivering late just like you said and then you lose all that leave from time with baby.

Answer

Some women’s water does break unexpectedly with a huge gush like you see in the movies so don’t feel bad lol. A lot of women’s water breaking is just a trickle. And most women go into labor and get contractions without their water breaking. Do you have sick days are something you could take before baby comes? Otherwise I’d wait as long as possible to stop working just because you’ll really want as much time with baby as possible

Answer

Take leave when baby is born. Its not a waterfall, its drips of water. Done it teice  and did labor through 9 hour shift to kill time since you dont go in to the hospiatl for hours. Plus most states you het 6 weels paid, and 6 unpaid. So consider time closely.

Answer

My baby was 4 days late, but I started my mat leave a couple days before 40 weeks. I wanted as long as possible off with her. At the end of the day it's totally up to you though:) first babies do often go over your due date, but obviously everyone is different. Also your water may not break until your contractions start, mine didnt until I was 8.5cm dilated in active labour lol

Answer

It’s really unlikely that your water would just break without warning. Also I’m not sure why working around men means you can’t do that...? It’s a normal part of life and you have no control over it obviously. 
Are you able to play it by ear and see how you feel?

When should I take maternity leave

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