Multiple maternity leaves

[Panamanian]

DH and I are considering TTC for baby no. 5. We are weighing up all the issues. One of my concerns is how it will be perceived at work. I moved companies after my first child but have had 3 maternity leaves with my current employer. One of my worries is how my employer will react. Has anyone had 4 or more maternity leaves from the same job? How did your employer react?

Since November 2019 I’ve had 3 mat leaves and taken a year off plus 8 weeks annual leave each time and I’m due to go off again in October this year. All same employer.

Boss was a bit iffy this time and made some probably unprofessional comments but honestly? I don’t care. It’s my life and it’s just a job at the end of the day and I’m just a number. My family is more important and we desperately wanted 4 pretty close together.

After this baby I’m done and that’ll be me back at work and that’s that.

It it’s what you want, go for it

Thanks, that’s a helpful perspective. My rational brain knows I am fully entitled to as many mat leaves as I want, and I probably just need to get a thicker skin to deal with the “unprofessional comments!” It’s my emotional brain that gets bothered about people thinking badly of me!