Hey Ladies... just wondering about experience with hubby taking PFL when you had your lil' bundle of joy??? This is my 2cnd pregnancy and we did not do it the first time... hubby was off for only a week and I was devistated by his return to work. This time we are going to do the PFL so that he can be home for a month, although only 3 weeks of it will be paid... just looking for some shared thoughts or experience with this...THANKS!

My husband was lucky. I had my son on a Friday night, so he had the weekend off but he returned to work on the following Monday. It was pretty devestating at first but now I look back and realize that it was kind of a blessing in disguise. When my husband is around, I find that I rely on him alot to help out. The longer he would have been around, the more I would have been putting off the inevitable. Good luck with your husband's PFL!

Well, my husband stayed home for three weeks after we had our first son, and it was very helpful, so say the least. With the breastfeeding, and boobs being the size of my butt, pardon my comparising:) But yes, feeding, and pumping, and C-sec recovery, I really liked it, and he enjoyed it as well, bonding with the baby, and masaging the boobs I think was his favorite part:)

I was completely alone w/ my daughter right after she was born. Her dad wasnt around at all (I had left him & wouldnt take his calls). I too believe this was a blessing in disguise bcuz although I looked like a zombie & would get depressed here & there, I did it all by myself! YEAH! I never thought I could or would have to, but I did! Sure I read the 1,000,000 books out there but we all know NOTHING can prepare u for mommyhood completely. So, sometimes I'd stare at my little one & say "Here goes sweetie......" when trying to do things, like give her her first sponge bath and real bath. My mom was working & going to school F/T & my daughter's paternal grandma was out of town. I had friends & other relatives who offered for me to go stay w/ them at their house, but I wanted to be in my house. After all, we all know how crapy we feel those weeks after birth & the last thing I wanted was to be feeling that way in someone else's home. 

But this is ur second child, so it's different.  I only had my new born to look after. I think the PFL will be a good thing for ALL of you. Dad will get to bond w/ both kids, mom will get some extra rest & neither child will be deprived time or energy bcuz of the other.

Thanks so much for your responses!! I nursed my first and plan on doing so again... which as you all know is pretty time consuming! And my 3 year old can be a bit of a handful right now! It will be nice to have the help, support, and company! Thanks again ladies it feels great to hear from other moms when we all go through the same stuff!!

Hi,

I've taken paid Family Medical Leave to care for my spouse, and I do know a dad who took FML as well to help his wife and the baby, because they too had other children. Here is the link to see the guidelines http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/

Your husband can put in the application with his boss and take anywhere between 1-90 days. You only get 90 days per 12 months, so if he wants to save some for another time (just in case) he can.

Hope this helps.

Wow, I've never her of FML or PFL.  We were military with both our children and my husband got a week with both our kids and that was it.  He had to use up his annual leave for it, but it worked out.  With our son however, my husband had to go temporty duty (TDY) for 3 weeks and was only with us for 4 days after my son was born.  I had friends though to help a bit and that was good.  I'm still debating whether I want a third, so if we do have another, I'll have to keep the PFL in cosideration.  Thanks for the info.

Wow, I've never heard of FML or PFL.  We were military with both our children and my husband got a week with both our kids and that was it.  He had to use up his annual leave for it, but it worked out.  With our son however, my husband had to go temporty duty (TDY) for 3 weeks and was only with us for 4 days after my son was born.  I had friends though to help a bit and that was good.  I'm still debating whether I want a third, so if we do have another, I'll have to keep the PFL in cosideration.  Thanks for the info.

Hey,

Kory took two wks off when Victoria was born and some of that time he was under my feet and moppy because he didn't feel like he was helping cause I was breastfeeding and a lot of the care was on me. He is going to try and take two wks when our second on is born in Aug and that will be a big help with Victoria.

Annie