How much paternity leave is your partner taking?

[moomin35]

How much paternity leave is your partner taking or how long would you like him to take?

[OhTheDrama]

Meant to say that I'm happy with that. Will also have my parents visiting too so lots of help in the first month, especially when my other two will be on school holidays.

[Blueberrybaby]

I also disagree with Clubname. Our first few weeks were a nightmare. I wouldn't have survived without DH. Breastfeeding was the most difficult and challenging thing I have ever done. We had huge struggles. It was a constant cycle of attempting to breastfeed a non-latching baby, followed by finger feeding, visits from lactation consultants, breastfeeding clinics etc. My DH was an absolute saint. I never left the couch or my bed (or at least it felt like it). The stress of feeding also added to the hormone levels. I was very teary and I needed him there.

[ikeaismylocal]

My dp will take a month when the baby is a newborn, he did the same with ds and he has just finished 4 months paternity leave with ds (ds is now a toddler) I think we might split the leave more evenly this time, dp will probably take more like 8 months paternity leave.

I think dp and ds got more out of the paternity leave when ds was older, I breastfed so dp couldn't take ds out by himself when he was tiny so dp was basically just there to follow me and ds around rather than actually be ds's main parent. I think it's really important that fathers get the chance to be the main carer of thir children.

[slithytove]

Week holiday when baby comes, then 2 weeks paternity and another weeks holiday about 6 weeks later when family have all left and it's just us

[Moonshine1]

My DH is taking two weeks paternity leave and then either 1 or 2 weeks annual leave too. We have a young DD already so it's going to be nice to have DH around so that DD still gets plenty of attention when the baby arrives. It will also mean that I have to do less as I recover from the birth

[PickleMobile]

Dh took 2 weeks paternity and 2 weeks annual.

[eurochick]

My husband is planning to take two weeks initially, then annual leave here and there for the next few weeks. Then after about 4-5 months I plan to go back to work and transfer my mat leave to him so he will take a couple of months then.

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Current plan is for dh to take 2 weeks paternity !eave (fully paid at his firm) then take 2 weeks annual leave a couple of months later so that I can have a bit of a rest and they can hang out and bond a bit. We're debating him taking a month unpaid when I go back to work next year which would be a big hit financially but a lovely opportunity for him to be in sole charge of the baby.

[allduffedup]

DH is taking 2 weeks paternity leave, which is just paid at statutory level :-( At first I was worried about the money and thought about him just using holiday instead, but then I realised that I was planning to take 12 months mat leave, 3 of which are unpaid, so it seemed a bit unfair. I figured if the loss of money is an issue, I can just go back to work two weeks earlier to compensate...

[rockybalboa]

Two weeks is enough! All 3 times I've been more than happy to get DH out of my hair and start trying to get organised. In reality I think DH has always taken 1 week stat paternity and one week holiday to avoid halving his income for the month.

[hubbahubster]

I also disagree with the poster who said there was little point DH having much leave in the early days. I barely left the sofa for the first few weeks and my DH was amazing support for me. He took 2 weeks statutory and a week annual leave, will be doing the same this time - seems even more important as we have DC1 to look after this time too.

[VioletWillow]

Yup he's taking 3 weeks here, I think 2 weeks paternity leave and 1 week holiday as the hit on his salary will be massive. It's necessary for us as his folks are from Germany so we'll be having a lot of people staying and visiting for the first few weeks, and I don't think my language skills are going to be up to much with just having given birth!
It's good for the chaps to take some time out to get used to the idea of being dads, I don't think they completely believe it all till they're actually here, so even if your baby is a dream edition and sleeps all the time, your partner will need that to just let the news sink in a while :)

[Mummyto3tobe]

Who ever said on here the first few weeks are easy are they out of their minds?! the first few weeks were horrendous for me both times, no routine established at all, baby awake most of the night, everything was up in the air and I was glad to have the OH off work for 2 weeks just to help me get some rest as once he was back to work all of the night time feeds were up to me.

I think 2 weeks is a good amount of time altho this time around my DH is only going to have 1 week probably due to the fact he is self employed and wont get paid for the time he has off. which is a bummer!

[evertonmint]

With DC1&2 he took 2 weeks in one block straight away which was invaluable.

With DC3 we are planning 1 week straight away then week 2 as first week of school hols - we'll be about 6 weeks in when from experience exhaustion is at its peak and the thought of having 2 older ones all day is terrifying. I have good breastfeeding experience and contacts to help in early weeks and older ones will be at school/nursery so is prefer the help in schoolgirls and DH thinks he'll be more use too. I'll then have 3 weeks to entertain them alone and then he is taking last 2 weeks of summer hols as holiday.

My mum will be able to stay a few days at a time to help in early weeks and in laws are close so will help with school runs so think need for DH is greater 6 weeks in.

[Mitchell2]

Taking 2 weeks paternity (paid) and 2 weeks holiday so 4 weeks in total. He hasn't really had any holiday since before Christmas so he is owed loads of holiday and would lose it if didn't use it.

[elliejjtiny]

DH is taking 2 weeks paternity (DC5)

[ZingWatermelon]

2 weeks and maybe some annual leave - depending on when baby is born, whether I have a C-section etc.

(#7 due in mid - July)

[livingzuid]

Two weeks at the start. I need him there and also he doesn't want to miss out, it's his baby too. Then he will be a full time stay at home dad from two months as I return to work. I think he's really looking forward to it

[livingzuid]

I should have added, he has flexible shift working so he's going to juggle things round in his last few weeks of work to start and finish as early as possible. We aren't in the UK and he only gets two days paid paternity leave and the rest he is taking as overtime he's been building up for the last few months.

[slightlyinsane]

Hopefully dh will have 3 wks, 1 wk hols when I'll be 36 wks then 2 paternity straight after. I'm expecting twins so his help with them and the 3 other dcs will be invaluable, aslong as it all goes to plan and they arrive when they're supposed to.

[mrsnec]

Dh is self employed so we have to play it by ear. I'm due in early October. His business calms down over winter and he goes part time. My parents are coming over to help until then. Just hoping that arrangement will work!