DH had two weeks off (though half the first week was during the 78 hour labour!!) and then at the end of my 9 weeks, DH took 12 months unpaid leave.
He's just gone back to work, and we're deciding what to do when #2 arrives next year
It's awkward timing for us, because I can't afford to take 18 weeks off work in my industry (and am lucky enough to get 12 weeks paid leave from work!) but DH won't be eligible for PPL *or* 12 months unpaid, because he won't have been back at work for long enough ...
so we'll probably take the baby bonus instead, I think.
When DD was born, I'd had barely 3 weeks off beforehand, and was only off for about 4 and a half months before going back to fulltime work. It was a purely financial decision, we couldn't afford for me to be off work longer even though I wasn't anywhere ready to go back.
This time, it's all a little up in the air - we could manage with me as a SAHM, but I'm not sure my sanity could handle it long term. So am looking into combining a little PT work with PT study to set us up for me to have a better paying job when finished having babies
I went back 3 days per week when DD was 8 months old. I'm a teacher with a permanent position and very lucky to have great mat leave entitlements. We're looking to leave Sydney as it is a ridiculously expensive city (and we have no debt, live within our means etc but it's still absurd) and we'd love for me to be able to stay home with DD and future kids. I might still put future kids in care a day or two per week and keep my hand in with some casual teaching... but only for a bit of pocket money (ha ha, I have this brilliant life all planned out and who knows what will happen!!!).
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