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Suzanne
May the Force Be With You!
Member since 5/05 2083 total posts
Name:
Suzanne
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Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
but I am really hating the US right now. How is 12 weeks of leave deemed appropriate? Children may not be sleeping through the night yet and we have to be back at work. Europe and Canada get a year of maternity. My counterpart in Germany is pregnaty right now and she is required to take the month before her due date off as well.
They also get great healthcare for free. Meanwhile I have to work my tail off just to be able to pay for my healthcare. Forget about trying to get healthcare on my own without a job. Really the only reason I am working now - we need the benefits. I could try and make it without my salary a little longer maybe.
I need to move to Canada or Europe
Vent over.
Message edited 6/10/2008 10:24:55 AM.
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Posted 6/10/08 9:18 AM  |
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DandN
Twins are here!
Member since 3/06 3597 total posts
Name:
Deirdre
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
I hear ya.
Some things have changed though - thanks to women fighting for rights.
When my mom had me (in '73) there was NO maternity leave and she had to pay ALL of her hospital costs - since she didnt have a c-section,her insurance wouldnt cover natural childbirth.
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:25 AM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
I feel the same way sometimes!!!
PS can you get soemthing PT that offers benefits. In my search (I dont need benefits) I Have seen that in ads.
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:26 AM |
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2BEANS
wow time is going fast.
Member since 9/07 16106 total posts
Name:
Tina
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
Yeah it stinks. Also in other countries they get paid sick time if your out of work b/c your child is sick. I wish we had that too.
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:26 AM |
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rbethm
LIF Infant
Member since 8/07 120 total posts
Name:
R
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
I also would like to meet the person - I have a feeling it was a man - from my district or state who determined that 6 weeks was enough healing time for natural labor and 8 weeks for c-section. I was in labor for 36 hours with DD, pushed for 31/2 and had an episitomy. I still, after 6 wks., are feeling the effects from childbirth and in no uncertain terms feel "healed" nor feel like I am able to return to work and leave DD with strangers to care for her!!!!!
I totally agree that the US should rethink their child care/maternity leave programs. Someone should ask our fine presidential candidates what they are planning to do about this!!
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:41 AM |
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clmj2
cant believe hes gone
Member since 3/07 4407 total posts
Name:
Candice
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
first 
I am in Canada and it is wonderful to be able to take time off to spend with your DC after they are born...as for the health care yes it is free which i am in no way complaining because I cant imagine having to pay for it...but when all of you guys talk about switching doctors because you dont like how you where treated...having after hours phone numbers for emergencies i am amazed!!! we CANNOT switch doctors...there arent enough...if you want to go to a specialist you have to get reffered by your family doc (if you have one, MANY ppl do not) if they dont think its a problem you dont get reffered...if you have an emergency (soemtiems even in normal working hours) we go to the ER and wait 4+ hours at times...so yes its free (for which i am still grateful for) but you dont get all the..i guess i would call them perks that you guys get (get what you pay for i guess?)
alot of our doctors (specialists anyway) leave Canada and go to the US because they can make more money there...the gov. has a cap on how much a doctor can make over here so they are on vacation ALOT too!
again though because i can only imagine how hard you are working to give your family these things!
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:47 AM |
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jprimrose
I love my little munchkins!
Member since 10/05 3939 total posts
Name:
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
ITA It is so unfair that maternity leave in the US is so short. It should definitely be a year. It would also be nice if we had access to free daycare. It is unbelievable how much it costs to put children in daycare.
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:50 AM |
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Annie91606
Brotherly love
Member since 12/07 1816 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
ITA. We are often forced to go back to work while our bodies are not healed yet from labor/delivery/c-sections, and in many cases children need to be moved to childcare outside their homes while they are very young.
Also- in many other places, fathers get paid paternity leave- so they can bond and help take care of their babies too. We should have options like that here.
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| Posted 6/10/08 9:55 AM |
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Suzanne
May the Force Be With You!
Member since 5/05 2083 total posts
Name:
Suzanne
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
Posted by rbethm
I also would like to meet the person - I have a feeling it was a man - from my district or state who determined that 6 weeks was enough healing time for natural labor and 8 weeks for c-section. I was in labor for 36 hours with DD, pushed for 31/2 and had an episitomy. I still, after 6 wks., are feeling the effects from childbirth and in no uncertain terms feel "healed" nor feel like I am able to return to work and leave DD with strangers to care for her!!!!!
I totally agree that the US should rethink their child care/maternity leave programs. Someone should ask our fine presidential candidates what they are planning to do about this!!
I had a c/s and only got 6 weeks disability. It was something my company went to recently to save money. When I spoke with the woman at the disability company about it (because I thought I would get 8 weeks) she said many companies are doing this now. It is the new "trend".
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| Posted 6/10/08 10:14 AM |
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Brady322
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/06 558 total posts
Name:
Tina
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
It really is so unfair. 6 to 8 weeks is really not enough time at all. I also think women should get some kind of stipend or assistance if they choose to be a sahm and raise their kids. Temporary of course. It is like a job .
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| Posted 6/10/08 10:16 AM |
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Suzanne
May the Force Be With You!
Member since 5/05 2083 total posts
Name:
Suzanne
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
Posted by delaet07
first
I am in Canada and it is wonderful to be able to take time off to spend with your DC after they are born...as for the health care yes it is free which i am in no way complaining because I cant imagine having to pay for it...but when all of you guys talk about switching doctors because you dont like how you where treated...having after hours phone numbers for emergencies i am amazed!!! we CANNOT switch doctors...there arent enough...if you want to go to a specialist you have to get reffered by your family doc (if you have one, MANY ppl do not) if they dont think its a problem you dont get reffered...if you have an emergency (soemtiems even in normal working hours) we go to the ER and wait 4+ hours at times...so yes its free (for which i am still grateful for) but you dont get all the..i guess i would call them perks that you guys get (get what you pay for i guess?)
alot of our doctors (specialists anyway) leave Canada and go to the US because they can make more money there...the gov. has a cap on how much a doctor can make over here so they are on vacation ALOT too!
again though because i can only imagine how hard you are working to give your family these things!
Many insurance companies here in the US require referrals for specialists from the primary doctor. Many times I was told I did not need to see the specialist so my doctor would not write the referral. I had to fight for it. A few years ago, I was going to PT for help with my back. After a few months, the insurance company said I was healed and did not need to go anymore. Who were they to make this decision? I had to stop going even though I still needed it because insurance would not cover it anymore.
We wait in ER's for hours on end also. And we pay and arm and a leg for this "service". The insurance companies are ruling this country and we are doing nothing about it.
Rant over. Man, I am in a mood today 
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| Posted 6/10/08 10:18 AM |
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Suzanne
May the Force Be With You!
Member since 5/05 2083 total posts
Name:
Suzanne
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
Did I forget to mention that my counterpart in Germany gets 6 months of her year off paid. My counterpart in Canada gets 6 months of half pay during her year off. They are really lucky!
Also let me mention that the insurance company I am paying all this money to refuses to pay for DS's special formula even with the doctor helping me fight it.
Message edited 6/10/2008 10:23:06 AM.
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| Posted 6/10/08 10:19 AM |
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Annie91606
Brotherly love
Member since 12/07 1816 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
I can totally understand your frustration. That is total BS that your insurance company will not cover his formula. It is a medical necessity!!!!
PS- You are allowed to be grumpy- you are functioning on very little sleep
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| Posted 6/10/08 10:35 AM |
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Suzanne
May the Force Be With You!
Member since 5/05 2083 total posts
Name:
Suzanne
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
Posted by Annie91606
I can totally understand your frustration. That is total BS that your insurance company will not cover his formula. It is a medical necessity!!!!
PS- You are allowed to be grumpy- you are functioning on very little sleep
Thanks
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| Posted 6/10/08 10:43 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
I agree U.S. maternity leave is far too short. And paternity leave is pretty much unheard of--my DH got a week which he wasn't happy with, but it was better than nothing.
I would love to see this issue addressed. I think it has a very negative impact on our society as a whole, and what really makes me sick is the politicians who are so big on "family values" and right to life are usually the last ones to want to expand any family leave benefits. It's as if they want babies born, but once they are here, everyone is on their own.
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| Posted 6/10/08 11:15 AM |
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leighla
Support Cancer Research
Member since 5/05 16353 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
Posted by BabySammie
Yeah it stinks. Also in other countries they get paid sick time if your out of work b/c your child is sick. I wish we had that too.
I have that at my company. Sick time is for anyone in your immediate family.
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| Posted 6/10/08 11:19 AM |
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happy2bmom
LIF Zygote
Member since 6/08 2 total posts
Name:
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Re: Maybe it is because I am grumpy...
I totally agree. I got SCREWED by my company and I am home now. Companies are given way too much discretion when it comes to putting together maternity leave benefits for female employees.
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| Posted 6/10/08 1:08 PM |
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