Are you pregnant?
Congratulations! Now is the time to start preparing for maternity
leave. The following tips come from Linda Murray, editor in chief
of BabyCenter (www.babycenter.com).
Requesting leave. You
are required to request leave at least 30 days before you plan to
take it, but most women do so much earlier. Do wait until after the
end of the first trimester, when the risk of miscarriage goes down
significantly.
Ensuring continuity.
If you approach your boss with a specific plan and allow her plenty
of time to help you implement it, you’ll be able to ensure things
run smoothly while you’re out.
When to leave. There’s
no “right” time to stop working. A lot will depend on your energy
level, any complications that arise, and the stress and physical
labor your job requires. Still, if you leave too soon, your
allotted time might run out quickly after your baby is born.
Returning to work. If
possible, get back to the grind gradually. Some new mothers might
work one or two days a week at first, and gradually ramp up to a
full schedule after a few weeks.