Chaz Moms and Moms-to-Be Chat (everyone welcome)

[Taqroy]

CUTE. You look great! I can't believe you're 31 weeks - is it scary? I go back and forth between freaking out that I'm already at 23 weeks and telling myself that there's plenty of time left to do the multitude of things we haven't even thought of. (Like names. We have NO names.)

And yeah I'm probably not *that* big but I keep running into things. And I almost got stuck trying to fit through a space I was sure I should fit through the other day. Matt laughed at me. A lot.

[Shai]

Not a mom-to-be...just wanted to say I'm really happy for you guys. The amount of joy (even nervous joy!) in this thread is wonderful to see

Originally Posted by jenv101

I get a year off for maternity leave so I don't have to think about daycare for a while...

I really wish the U.S. would catch up on this. Knowing that 6 weeks after having a baby they would be spending most of their time with a sitter while I was at work or traveling for work is a significant reason that I am hesitant to have children... :/

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by Shai

Not a mom-to-be...just wanted to say I'm really happy for you guys. The amount of joy (even nervous joy!) in this thread is wonderful to see



I really wish the U.S. would catch up on this. Knowing that 6 weeks after having a baby they would be spending most of their time with a sitter while I was at work or traveling for work is a significant reason that I am hesitant to have children... :/

You only get 6 weeks??? Does the father get time off/does it cut into that then?

[Taqroy]

Originally Posted by Shai

I really wish the U.S. would catch up on this. Knowing that 6 weeks after having a baby they would be spending most of their time with a sitter while I was at work or traveling for work is a significant reason that I am hesitant to have children... :/

Yeah. I get 12 weeks with 6-8 of it paid. If I knew I was only getting 6 weeks we probably would have waited until I could either quit working (which I think would make me crazy after six months or so) or got a different job with better leave policies. The US sucks for maternity/paternity leave.

[jenv101]

Originally Posted by Taqroy

CUTE. You look great! I can't believe you're 31 weeks - is it scary? I go back and forth between freaking out that I'm already at 23 weeks and telling myself that there's plenty of time left to do the multitude of things we haven't even thought of. (Like names. We have NO names.)

And yeah I'm probably not *that* big but I keep running into things. And I almost got stuck trying to fit through a space I was sure I should fit through the other day. Matt laughed at me. A lot.

It's starting to sink in more and more - still a little weird/scary to think about but at the same time, this is when you start getting really uncomfortable so I think by the time my due date rolls around I will be ready to just get her out already LOL

Oh yeah it's funny when you instinctively turn sideways to try and fit through somewhere and then you realize you're bigger that way then you are just walking straight

Originally Posted by Shai

Not a mom-to-be...just wanted to say I'm really happy for you guys. The amount of joy (even nervous joy!) in this thread is wonderful to see

I really wish the U.S. would catch up on this. Knowing that 6 weeks after having a baby they would be spending most of their time with a sitter while I was at work or traveling for work is a significant reason that I am hesitant to have children... :/

Thanks 6 weeks is not nearly long enough, I can't imagine... The US definitely needs to catch up!

[Shai]

Yeah the six weeks is all that's paid. We can take another six off but that is unpaid.

[Taqroy]

Originally Posted by jenv101

It's starting to sink in more and more - still a little weird/scary to think about but at the same time, this is when you start getting really uncomfortable so I think by the time my due date rolls around I will be ready to just get her out already LOL

Lol yeah I could see that! I have my first chiropractor appointment tonight, I'm really hoping they can fix my hip issues so I can be somewhat comfortable again (at least for awhile). Unsurprisingly, ignoring the problem for the last 12 or so weeks has not worked.

Originally Posted by jenv101

Oh yeah it's funny when you instinctively turn sideways to try and fit through somewhere and then you realize you're bigger that way then you are just walking straight

It was in the fabric store. I almost knocked over a display case. LOL.

[Shai]

In the U.S., women who give birth to or adopt a child are guaranteed the option of taking 12 weeks unpaid leave provided you've worked for your employer at least a year and you give 30 days notice.

Employers are not legally obligated to offer pay for any of that, or offer fathers anything at all.

[jenv101]

Originally Posted by Taqroy

Lol yeah I could see that! I have my first chiropractor appointment tonight, I'm really hoping they can fix my hip issues so I can be somewhat comfortable again (at least for awhile). Unsurprisingly, ignoring the problem for the last 12 or so weeks has not worked.

I hope it helps! I've been seeing one regularly, but I was also seeing them regularly before I got pregnant since my hips are always tight as it is. So, being pregnant has just enhanced my issues

[Taqroy]

Originally Posted by Shai

In the U.S., women who give birth to or adopt a child are guaranteed the option of taking 12 weeks unpaid leave provided you've worked for your employer at least a year and you give 30 days notice.

Employers are not legally obligated to offer pay for any of that, or offer fathers anything at all.

I think there's a minimum hour requirement too - I want to say that only full time employees are eligible for FMLA. Last time I looked, fathers/significant others have the option of 12 weeks unpaid for a birth or adoption as well.


And after thinking about your first post, nervous joy is exactly the right way to describe this whole thing. Coupled with long periods of boredom and short periods of terror.