Back to work after Pregnancy...Bringing Home the Bacon

Ladies and yes even gentlemen these days can qualify for maternity leave. This is a new age where anything can happen, but don't just naively think that because your gainfully employed that you qualify for maternity leave. Although most companies offer maternity leave these days there are usually "strings" attached. So if theres a bun in the oven or your thinking about baking I suggest you do some research fast to find out about YOUR company's policy.

Trust me, as one of the formerly unprepared, knowledge is definitely power and you want to be as powerful as possible in any bargaining position, especially this one. Unless of course your independently wealthy and work for fun. For everyone else this is one of those major life moments that smacks you in the face...compute compute, its not just about you anymore!

The UP (unprepared) are thinking "Why is this a bargaining position?" Well let me give you the 411 on my top zillion reasons why...

1. You need money for food, shelter, and even water these days, i.e. that's your JOB.
2. All of your expenses are about to get alot bigger because your about to be a +1.
3. Have you checked how expensive diapers are lately...?
4. Your going to need time off for all of your prenatal visits. "How often could you possible have to go to the doctor?"you say. Well if there are no complications you go once a month for the first eight months, then every two weeks for a month, and then once a week until you deliver. Remember normal gestation is 40 weeks for human so you do the math. Once you hit that cute nine months mark you can still have a couple of weeks to go!
5. Your going to need off after you get back to work for all the pediatricians visits. You have at least 2 visits the first month and then 1 every couple of months up until one year.

See, these are all of your important reasons to inform you employer as soon as possible to your good news but there are others reasons including:

1. Your going to have to train someone to do your job while your away.
2. Your employer needs a schedule for when you'll be back.
3. You have a million and one forms to fill out for work and your insurance. Someone at work will soon know that you've ballooned up to over 175 pounds! (You know how the gossip mill works)

Do I really need to go on...so get your buts in gear and do the research. Make damn sure that you'll have a job to come back too because now your bringing home the bacon for two.