Financial Concerns during Maternity Leave

Brooklyn

I’m 23 and 30 weeks pregnant with my little boy. I’ve never been this far into a pregnancy and while I’m so excited, I’m very stressed out about the coming weeks. I will be induced at 38 weeks and I would like to start maternity leave maybe a few days before induction. However, I’m a nurse and my place of employment does not pay out 100% for any of my leave. They’ll only pay 50% for 6-8 weeks, then nothing after that. I already don’t make much and basically I’ll bring home roughly $500 bi weekly for that paid time. My rent and car payment are twice that right now… I have no idea what I could do during my time off to help with utility payments or food during this time. I really can’t fathom leaving my newborn in somebody else’s care while I go back a week after I give birth, but at this point it’s not looking like I can afford much else.. Does anybody have any ideas of things I can do for assistance or side hustles or something just for that period of time while I heal and bond with my first baby? I’d very much appreciate any advice I can get.