[alicenwonderland]

So i've been taken out of work for the premature contractions i've been having. My job is extremely physical, and my doctor just couldn't imagine having me go back. So Dh and i discussed and decided we'll be able to get buy on disability, and i call the company.

Now i guess i'm dumb, but i didn't realize that this counted toward my 12 weeks of FMLA. The same FMLA that counts for my maternity leave!!! I'm freaking out! Also considering that i have more than 12 weeks left in my pregnancy.

But FMLA is only protection from having your job taken right? My employer has been really supportive about me being out. It just don't think my plan of coming back January 2nd is going to pan out anymore.... Sorry just feeling sorry for myself.

[**jessie**]

Maybe just talk with your employer, especially if he is supportive of you taking leave. He may be fine with it, and say you can take more leave than just 12 weeks. Since you are a skilled, hard working employee, I'm sure he would rather have you take an extended leave rather than lose you as an employee. As for money, I'm not sure about that, but disability sounds like a good route.

Either way, you need to take it easy. I had the exact same probs with prl at the same time as you, and even with taking my meds and staying on bed rest, I still had a preemie. So you need to rest so your guy bakes longer.

[alicenwonderland]

*Hugs* thanks for making me feel better.

Can you tell me a little about your issues with Jaxon? I can't really remember.

[Oriyan]

I was taken out 8 weeks before I was due. I was not eligible for FMLA, but i got 12 weeks of secured "medical" leave instead. I wanted to take more time off but was not allowed so I went back to work when JJ was 4 weeks old.

Is it possible to take an addition 6 weeks after the baby is born on personal unpaid leave? OB's won't release their patients back to work before 4 weeks definitely (that was my midwifes policy)

Or is there a different job you can be assigned to now that is not strenuous? (Desk job, administrative, etc?)

[~*sierra*~]

aww i wish i had advice but i know nothing about the US system. so they only let you stay with your baby for 12 weeks? my SIL has taken a full year off work and gets paid from the government, mind you it is less than what she made when working. I feel like there must be some other way than using up your mat leave before teddy is even born, i just wish i knew what it was! *hugs* maybe they could treat this as a 'medical leave' like sam said?

[**jessie**]

I started having contractions early in my 3rd trimester. I never thought much of them because they were not painful or very regular. Just thought they were Braxton Hicks. At a regular 31 wk appt I had my first routine NST in my OB's office. I was getting regular contractions and cervical u/s showed a shortened cervix (1.9 cm, when 3-4cm is normal). Got admitted to the hospital for 7 days on IV clenbuterol and high dose magnesium. Also got the steroid series for lung maturity. Fetal and placental/uterine artery doppler were normal. Baby was fine. Vaginal swab came back clean but I was treated anyway. Went home on bed rest and oral clen and mag. Initially they controlled contractions well, but they came back stronger at 34 wks. I had 6 mm of cervix left at 35 wks and delivered 2 days later. 35 wks is 'safe' to deliver at, but my whole birth experience sucked. I didn't get to see him for hours after the birth or hold him for 2 days. BF'ing was impossible (for us) to establish. That's why I hope I (and you) hold out until 36 or 37 weeks

[♥Ashley♥]

I have no idea about all that stuff, but I hope you get it figured out! That would really stress me out too! But im sure theres a way to get it all straightened out so that it will work out for you!

[*krista*]

It is just 12 weeks of leave protected by law (actually I think only 6 are protected by law, the rest is just company policy). Surely your employer will allow you more time to spend with the baby. I don't know how it works if your doctor hasn't released you for work yet? I certainly would not have been physically ready to go back to work for at least two weeks, and I sit at a desk all day. I couldn't imagine if you had a c-section. They will just have to work with you if they want to keep you, and I'm sure they do! Especially if they are already being supportive.

I'm sorry things aren't quite working out as you planned. I can imagine how upset you are about it.

[JediRach]

I think the FMLA just legally protects your jobs for 12 weeks meaning they cannot give your job away in that time frame, after that is it up to the employer.

[alicenwonderland]

Originally Posted by **jessie**

I started having contractions early in my 3rd trimester. I never thought much of them because they were not painful or very regular. Just thought they were Braxton Hicks. At a regular 31 wk appt I had my first routine NST in my OB's office. I was getting regular contractions and cervical u/s showed a shortened cervix (1.9 cm, when 3-4cm is normal). Got admitted to the hospital for 7 days on IV clenbuterol and high dose magnesium. Also got the steroid series for lung maturity. Fetal and placental/uterine artery doppler were normal. Baby was fine. Vaginal swab came back clean but I was treated anyway. Went home on bed rest and oral clen and mag. Initially they controlled contractions well, but they came back stronger at 34 wks. I had 6 mm of cervix left at 35 wks and delivered 2 days later. 35 wks is 'safe' to deliver at, but my whole birth experience sucked. I didn't get to see him for hours after the birth or hold him for 2 days. BF'ing was impossible (for us) to establish. That's why I hope I (and you) hold out until 36 or 37 weeks

Thanks Jessie. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Thank you for sharing it with me though. I want to know what kind of treatment i might ahve to expect. I contract all the time at home, but for some reason my contractions are afraid of the hospital, so i always get treated like a crazy person when my doc sends me in. (except for one kind nurse that stayed at my bedside and used her hands as the TOCO. She could feel them. And my doctor felt them at the office as well) They thought i had a shortened cervix, but on ultrasound, it was still 4, just curled around. I did test positive for vaginosis, but even after clearing it up with ABX, the contractions are still here. They havn't put me on tocolytics because the contractions don't seem to be doing any harm. They are just gonna watch me closely for now.

[Frozendesire]

I would talk to your employer but I would also get something in writing. If they legally don't have to, they could go back on their word easily. Open up communication with them and see what you guys can agree too.

Is sick leave and maternity/parental leave different? Can you apply for sick/disability and then maternity after baby comes?

[alicenwonderland]

Originally Posted by JediRach

I think the FMLA just legally protects your jobs for 12 weeks meaning they cannot give your job away in that time frame, after that is it up to the employer.

That's what i'm thinking. I technically think i'll still get my 6 weeks. I just won't be able to take 12 as i was planning. I had a moment of initial panic before i thought it out. But i really don't know how the details are going to work out. I'm going to have to ask my boss and the disability company. I don't think i have to worry about my emplower cutting me loose. At least i hope not!

Originally Posted by Frozendesire

I would talk to your employer but I would also get something in writing. If they legally don't have to, they could go back on their word easily. Open up communication with them and see what you guys can agree too.

Is sick leave and maternity/parental leave different? Can you apply for sick/disability and then maternity after baby comes?

I am on disability now, and i think the 6 weeks maternity is different. I was just planning on using all 12 weeks of my FMLA after he was born. I feel like i'm watching half of my mat leave go up in smoke. But i don't even know exaclty how the details will fall into place. I'm just realizing now any BTDT experience, will differ from state to state and employer to employer.

[Babybear4]

I would be worrying, too! I don't know how it all works either, but hopefully your employer will be willing to work something out with you so that you can have plenty of time with your baby.

I went through pretty much the same thing you're going through with contrax, except I was a little further along than you. At 32 weeks, they discovered my cervix was shortening and by 34 weeks I was getting contractions that began to change my cervix. I was on terbutaline for about a week but stopped it because I read it has the same effect on the baby as it does me and I didn't want her heartrate going that high. At 36 weeks, I was 4 CM dialated, but I held out until 38+2. I had gotten steriod shots for her lungs at 34 1/2 weeks, but luckily, she stayed put for long enough.

So, hopefully that gives you hope that you can get to fullterm! I *knew* I would have a preemie, because the contractions were ALWAYS there, but I as wrong.

[JustBreathe]

You get the 6 weeks in NY for sure after the baby comes.

[Mjp121212]

I would also discuss arrangement with your employer. And Jessie WOW! Brayden was born at 35wks, I got to keep him for 2 hrs after delivery until his body temp started dropping, and I got him back about 4hrs later. I hate that you went through that!

[~Caroline~]

I'm sorry this is all so confusing! I hope you get everything figured out soon.

[bittersweet]

Originally Posted by Oriyan

Or is there a different job you can be assigned to now that is not strenuous? (Desk job, administrative, etc?)

I was thinking the same thing. Could you maybe go work in Nursing Ed for awhile? Or just sit on your unit and be the tely monitor? Even if switching depts/positions means a pay cut, it might even out to what you'd make on diaability, plus you wouldnt lose your leave.

[Mars]

I have no idea how it works in the US but as the other ladies suggested, talk with your boss and see what options might be available. Good luck.

[alicenwonderland]

Originally Posted by bittersweet

I was thinking the same thing. Could you maybe go work in Nursing Ed for awhile? Or just sit on your unit and be the tely monitor? Even if switching depts/positions means a pay cut, it might even out to what you'd make on diaability, plus you wouldnt lose your leave.

I'm honeslty not sure about this. Didn't even think about it. I know there's nothing on my own unit that i can do. Tele is every nurses responsibility. Nursing ed might on a part time basis. We have a full stuff of full time ed nurses, but our hospital is going through a lot of changes, and they need people to do inservices. Other than that, i really don't even know. Of course right now i can't do anything as i'm still contracting at rest.

[freesiangel]

I went into pre-term labor at 27 weeks and was in the hospital for a few days too. Before that I'd been having BH contractions for months. Afterward I still had the occasional contraction, but around 30 weeks they just stopped! Then I ended up going til almost 42 weeks! lol.

I'm sorry you're having tou se up some of your time now.