Maternity leave is the period of time that a new mom takes from work following the birth of her baby. Many companies have similar policies for dads known as paternity leave. Actual paid maternity leave is the norm in most countries. However  it  is unusual in the United States. Some companies offer new parents paid time off up to 6 weeks in some cases.

Maternity leave is usually from a combination of sick leave, vacation holiday time, short term disability, personal days and unpaid family leave time.

It is important to plan your maternity leave in such a way that you and your family do not experience any unexpected financial challenges and makes you get the most time with your baby.

How does short term disability work

Short term disability is a type of coverage that  pays your salary or at least part of it for a certain number of weeks due to medically related needs. Larger companies usually include this benefits and some states have mandates requiring that it be included in your benefits.

You can also purchase this type  of coverage from your local insurance provider. However the percentages paid and the length of time may vary. Coverage time may be affected with complicated deliveries such as cesarean section. It is therefore important to confirm what your policy covers.

You also have to make sure the coverage begins before you get pregnant. This is because you may not be eligible after you conceive.

Can sick, vacation and holiday time be used for maternity leave ?

Most companies will let you use  your sick, vacation and holiday time towards your maternity leave. Some companies also require that you use these before using any unpaid or disability  time. You need to contact your human resource department to check on these policies.

How does unpaid leave work ?

The Family and Medical Leave Act  FMLA is a law that requires most companies  to allow their employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave time  after the birth of their child. It is available to both men and  women and for those who adopt a child as well.

If the parents work for the same company, the 12 weeks is divided among them and is an accumulation of both of their times.  For example  each could take 6 weeks off or one could take 8 weeks while the other take 4 weeks.

To qualify , you  must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours during the last 12 months, and worked at a location where the company has 50 or more employees within 75 miles.

There are some exceptions. You may not have access to  unpaid benefits if   you’re in the highest-paid 10 percent of wage earners at your company and your employer can show that your absence would cause substantial economic harm to the company. You should always check with your human resource department to find out their policies.

Companies may have their own maternity leave policies . Here are some questions you may want to ask.

• does your employer offer paid maternity leave ?
• does your healthy insurance continue during your maternity leave ?
• are there any programs or services offered to new moms by the employer ?
• do they offer flex time or telecommuting  for when you are ready to go back to work ?

When should i take maternity leave ?

Some women take it a week to their due date  because of discomfort and to give them time to prepare. Others however wait till  the  last moment so that they can maximize their time with the baby once he arrives.

The FMLA requires that you provide your employer with at least 30 days notice of your time to take any unpaid  family time.

NOTE

You may want to wait until after your first trimester when your risk for a miscarriage is significantly down before requesting for a leave. You don’t want to wait until you are obviously showing before requesting a leave.