Short Term Disability...has any of your doctors taken you off work early?

Have any of you planned your maternity leave to give you the greatest benefit, like taking it around a holiday or something? I ask because my due date is January 11, 2009. I don't know but right now I am very exhausted and I can only assume that it will be worse late in my last trimester which will be in December. I am considering trying to use some of my short term disability at the end of this year around the holidays since my std benefit will reset itself in January of 2009.  This way I won't have the stress of the holidays along with the stress of being pregnant and ready to go into labor at the same time. If my doctor takes me off I can relax and enjoy the holidays with my family and anticipate the arrival of my baby. Also I have to work two saturdays both for November and December which I'm not too happy about right now. I also feel like I've been taken advantage of so much by my company that I want to use as much of my benefits as possible to my advantage for a change. What do you all think?

I was taken off work because of preterm labor (they did stop my contractions) with my first baby.  I tried to have him at 34 weeks along.  (this was back in 1996) but what i remember the doctor would have to sign it to start it (like to give a reason for you to start ).  My doctor asked me what date i wanted to start staying at home.  (my doctor was really nice though) some doctors won't do this.  I was pregnant at the same time last year and due January 10th.  I had to be induced though due to my pregnancy hypertension and was induced on the 2nd of january of this year.  My baby is just now 6 months old.  I didn't stop work though until December 31st.  I worked right up until i had the baby. (almost).  I unfortunately didnt have std benefits through my work.  :*(  But it all worked out.  But if you have preterm labor you will defintely be taken off work early.  I only have hypertension induced by pregnancy so i guess there were two reasons why i had to go on short term disability early.  Some doctors dont want a lady working past 37 weeks along depending on what kind of job you have.  I stood all day which made it easier for me to have swelling etc...i worked at one of the biggest retail stores ever!! I dont work there anymore.  What kind of work do you do??

Clarice

Have you discussed this option with your doctor? 

No I haven't discussed this with my doctor. It's way too early for that. I was just curious if that was an option for me. My friend was taken off work early but I think it was because she was sick alot with pneumonia. I guess I'll talk to her around early November. I don't really have one set doctor yet I don't think. I thought I was going to rotate but maybe not. I'll see in the next week or so on my next appt. I already have paperwork for FMLA for my pregnancy so I don't think the doctor would have to fill out any additional paper work. I would just go off work at her request and then it would fall under the paperwork that my HR dept already has. I've tried to put everything in place if I need it. I filed FMLA paperwork about a month after I got pregnant. So don't you all think I am set if I need to be taken off later?

Nenewa,

you will have to check with your HR department.  I'm also a bit confused about the STD and FMLA.  Luckily, my firm covers the three month maternity leave and I can also use any accrued vacation time if needed.