Best time of year for a teacher to have a baby?

[ekat1028]

Hello all!
I am a 2nd year teacher and my husband and I have had several conversations about what time of year might be best to try to have our first baby. We are not seriously wanting to try until after my 3rd year of teaching. For those of you who are moms, what has been your experience with maternity leaves and times of the year you have taken off. We will be happy with whatever month/time of the year we may be blessed with, but we are trying to find a window of time that may be best to consider. Hopefully I will be able to get back to work within a reasonable time frame. I have also heard some teachers take an extended leave past the 6 weeks. Any and all experiences/advice is appreciated!

Thanks, ekat

[Boxcar]

I'm not a mom, but I still thought I'd respond since you didn't have any replies yet.

Wouldn't it be best to have your child as soon as school let out for the summer? You get all that time off with your baby then. If you go into labor early, it isn't that big of a deal. The last week of school is usually just wrapping things up. You won't be teaching any new concepts and if you give end-of-year tests a sub. can easily give those. Just make them scantron style. Then you don't even have to grade them. You can make sure you are caught up with everything, and then just sit back and wait.

[mopar]

Most of my teacher friends have planned to have their baby about 6 weeks from the end of the school year. Then you get your maternity leave and flow right into 3 months off with your child. Seems to work well. But then you need to plan on getting pregnant right around the beginning of school.

[hassell]

I have 4 kids of my own. Their birthdays are all over the year (Oct., Dec, Jan., and May). I have to say the easiest was the one born in May. I had planned on working until the end of the year, but developed mild complications. So I was placed on leave the first of May. My daughter was born May 21. I was able to have all summer with her before school started again in August. Good Luck

[ekat1028]

Thanks for your replies. I was thinking as close to the summer break as possible would be best too! Thanks again for your help!

[Torrance]

You may also be able to use any unused sick leave for Maternity leave. A former colleague of mine did that.

[FrazzleDazzle]

I was able to do that, too. I used all my sick time and personal days to get paid for the time off.

[teach1027]

I had a baby last December and came back in February. It was rough comming back, because the sub they hired quit halfway through. ALso I did not have any sick time so it was not paid. We originally wanted to concieve in September/October and have the baby around MAy/June, but it did not work out that way. Good luck, it is the best thing you will ever do.