Laundry & Leave questions

mseale

I have two questions for you ladies:

1) Laundry Detergent- I've been making my own powder for almost 2 years now. I have sensitive skin, and can't use all detergents, but I primarily decided to make my own as it leaves less deposits on my clothes and I think they come cleaner. Do you think this is something I can use for baby stuff? Or should I buy baby detergent specifically?

2) Leave - specifically @sewilson33 (since I know you did this), I can take off up to 4 weeks before my due date. It is use or lose, I can't move to after she is born. I can't decide if I will be huge and uncomfortable and appreciate not working that month, or bored and anxious about her coming and need the work distraction. Any thoughts from BTDT mom's?

islandmonkey8

I think if your homemade laundry detergent doesn't have any fragrances it should be fine. But I'm not an expert.

As for leave, I would love to take the 4 weeks before, I just don't know if it's financially possible for us when I am going to take the full 12 weeks after.

carcrashheart

Don't buy baby specific detergent. It's expensive and has perfumes.

caseyandlizzie

I was getting ready for work when my water broke, this happened 2 days before my due date. I think I would have just driven myself crazy if I had taken the extra time off. I do have a desk job, though, so while I was uncomfortable, it wasn't that big of a deal to sit at my desk all day, if I had a more physical job, I may have needed the rest.

Sewilson33

I took the whole 4 weeks and by the last week I was stir crazy. But, I did have 3 weeks to do alll my baby prepping and take my time. That was very nice. Also, it made it less stressful planning my doctor appointments.
If I were to do it again I probably would only take 2 or 3 of the 4 weeks only because it would have kept me occupied.

Flamingo86

Do you plan to cloth diaper? I've heard some homemade detergents can leave a film on diapers. If you are just using it for clothes though I think it would be fine.

mseale

Thanks for the advice ladies. We are not cloth diapering, so just for baby clothes/blankets/sheets. I didn't think there would be an issue using it, just wanted to see if y'all had any thoughts I may have been missing.

Regarding leave, it is a benefit of our paid maternity leave. No hit financially, I was just worried it may be to long to "sit and wait". But the first week is July 4th anyways, and we get half the week off already for that. So I just can't decide if I want to work that short week when no one else will be there. Then take 3 weeks off. Or work another week, then take 2 weeks off. I don't know why I can't make a decision on it. Probably that I feel guilty for taking the time, even though it is a benefit provided by the company.

JLyn821

@mseale honestly, while I would have loved taking the weeks prior to my due date off, I would have gone crazy. Not to mention, my son was just shy of two weeks late. Staying at work was a great distraction especially once my due date came and went. The only thing I found annoying was everyone saying, "You're still here? Where's that baby?" Every. Single. Day.

I don't know if I could have handled being at home and just sitting there waiting.