How Much Time Did Our Husband Take off When Baby Was Born?

My husband was off the week before the birth. The day of the birth he was off and went to work the day after. I have three other children 16,11,and 7 they were lifesavers for me!!!!!! Good Luck

My husband had 5 days off. I had a c-section and healed very quickly, so this wasn't a problem for me. I would have loved for him to take longer, but he hadn't been at his job long.

My hubby took 2 weeks off with the first, and 3 weeks off with the second and third babies. I LOVED having him home!

If we knew I was going to have a c-section (I didn't with any of mine) though, I would have asked that he take an extra week, just to be 'safe'.

It really depends how helpfull he is.... If you need to feed him and he will be asking questions and whining "I do not know how to do this" or "show me" all the time - send him to work and get someone like your mom to really help you. Otherwise you will have an extra "baby" on your hands.
If you think he will be helpfull or has a chance to learn anything during this time, then by all means have him stay longer.

My husband took 30 days off for each child. We have 3 and I'm pregnant with the 4th. All of my pregnancies resulted in c-sections. This pregnancy will be scheduled in late April. I welcomed his time home as I needed the help. My family wasn't much help even though they lived nearby. I believe it is nice for the daddy to be home with you. It's a family bonding time for all of you. IF you have a c-section this time around you will be out of commission for the first two weeks. No lifting, and as you may recall, you will be sore for some time. My OB said no driving for the first two weeks, no lifting anything heavier than the baby, rest, rest, rest. Will you be able to care for yourself and your firstborn and your infant if your hubby goes back to work in two weeks? Maybe you could encourage him to put in for a longer time and if you feel you can handle it then send him back to work. Remember, every delivery/recovery is different.

My husband took about three days off after our daughter was born. He had a new job and didn't qualify for paternity leave. When I was still on maternity leave, he'd take a day or two off based on how I was feeling and that was super helpful. Now that I'm back at work, we both take days off strategically so our daughter gets one day with one of us every week.

Count yourself lucky that your husband has the option of spending so many days one way or the other.
I work in a hospital on the maternity ward and some dads get the day before and the day after and that's it.
28 days is a luxury to some. Maybe he can take some days to help make sure the nursery is ready, etc, and take the rest after the baby arrives. That doesn't sound unreasonable to me.
He can't be two places at once no matter how you cut it, so you should definetely be talking about the best way to spend the time now. Summer is a while away.
Make a game plan that works for you both.
Remember that things change too.
You might do excellent and feel great after your baby comes and need him more on the beginning end of things.
Please just consider yourself lucky that you have a wonderful husband who has this much time to work with.

Blessings to you! Be sure to let us know when your baby arrives!

He's right. Spread them out. I wish my DH would have done that. He was starting to get in my way... lol. I bet you will be ready for him to go back right around 10 days... your mom is right. (just this once) hehe
BTW my husband took one day off this time. Yes ONE.

I was very fortunate and my hubby got paternity leave. He took off 8 weeks which was a life saver. Chris was our first and it gave us some much needed time to get used to the changes resulting from having a child. I got some much needed rest as well which was awesome.

I had a c-section with both my kids. One being an emergency.

My Husband stayed home from work for 1 week post-birth.
Then my Mom took off work to be home with me the subsequent week.
I also, had a 3 almost 4 year old daughter at home with me and who had her own schedule of preschool during the week and activities. And breastfeeding the newborn at that time, so you have to have a daily routine... of things.

It is also a good idea to 'save' some days, per your Husband's accrued time off... for emergencies/sick days/days you need to to go appointments etc. Because, that WILL happen.
If he uses it up all now... then he will not be able to take off of work..... at any other time of the year, to help you or the kids etc.

To me 10-14 days off, is good.
THEN after that, have someone else, come and help you.

The recuperation time for a c-section is 6 weeks for healing.
During that time, do not lift anything heavier than your newborn. That is per my, Doctor.
How you feel after that, per your Mom's comment... depends. Every woman, recovers differently.
EVEN if you do feel good after 10 days... DO NOT exert yourself needlessly... or you can split the stitches etc.

A c-section is MAJOR surgery.
have your Husband/Mom read up on it.

all the best,
Susan

My husband got 1 week paternity leave. Then he was back to work. My M. was here with me, so that was good. But this time (i'm pregnant with #2) he will get a week again, and he will have vacation time. I'm thinking he will probably take at least another week. So I guess 10 days. I'm a little nervous of the adjustment with our son when baby #2 comes, so i definitely want him here a little longer than last time. I don't think using too much time before the baby makes sense, but spreading it out after may not be a bad idea. In case your first child gets sick and you need the help or who knows what else may come up.

2 days maybe with each of our 2 kids.

My husband had the day of my delivery, and 1 day after off from work, then returned. Ours were both c-sections...my recovery time was cake so we got through it! My parents and sister were my "help". Your husband is lucky to have the option for that many days. At 10 days postpartum you should be feeling great. I would not be insulted.

My hubby didn't take any time off. Our babies were all born in Jan. and we had to save as many vacation days as possible for emergency use if needed.

My husband was able to take the delivery day off and that was about it for our first. It was awful. He works for his parents and they said since their son-in-law (who worked for someone else) didn't get off to be with their daughter then he didn't need time off for us. I am still upset about it to this day 5 years later. I spent the first and second days of our daughters life alone with her in the hospital. Be so thankful that he can take some time off to be with you at all.

Maybe it would make sense for him to take 10-14 days when the baby is born - I would think that would be more helpful than time before the baby comes unless you have some projects that need doing. Or, if you have a lot of trouble sleeping and need some rest beforehand, that might change things.

After that, it might be great if he had some time for when you are feeling overwhelmed! For example, after 2 months of not sleeping through the night, you might want a day to yourself, to sleep late, to get out of the house, to even go to a spa or get your hair done. Having some additional time to look forward to, especially when the weather isn't so nice in the fall or winter, might be just the treat you are looking for. I really needed that especially with a mild case of PPD. I think you should count on 2 weeks but play it by ear in case your recovery takes longer. You will be more experienced this time around, which can help - but you can be more tired this time around too!

I think, right now, you don't really know how things will be for you, and it's way too early for him to have to schedule that time with his employer. See how things go, but since you are feeling insulted, try to get a promise from him now that he will let you decide when things get closer! That will make you feel better and like you have some control and decision-making power when the time comes.

Your mother is right...listen to her, lol.

I had 4 C Sections. My husband took off the days that I was in the hospital to be with us or home with the other kids, and he was home for the remainder of the 7 day week. That amounted to him being at home with me and all the kids for 4-5 days, depending on how long I was in the hospital. Believe me, that was enough. I love him dearly, don't get me wrong. It is just very hard on me to have him home when he's not "supposed" to be there. I have my routines and so do the kids and he is clueless on how it all works. His cluelessness leads to frustrated kids which leads to frustrated daddy, which of course...leads to frustrated and stressed out mommy. Everyone is better of in the long run if dad goes back to work ASAP, lol.

Keep in mind that in the first couple of months after baby is born, she's going to have lots of doctor visits that you'll want dad to attend with you too. That is more time he'll need to take off, and if he's already used it all up with the birth, well...

My husband didnt take any days off of work :( We were financial distress at that time and he couldnt afford to miss any work. LUCKILY, I went in to labor on a Friday (which, coincidentally he had off for a three day weekened that week). So he was with me that Friday and that Saturday when I was in the hospital. I was discharged from the hospital Sunday morning with a health baby boy (I had a natural, problem free labor). He went back to work on Monday. I was left with all the baby duties and DR. appts by myself. I didnt think I could do it, but I was alot stronger then I ever gave myself credit for.

Maybe 2-4? With my first, he was at the hospital during labor and then stayed in the hospital till we could go home, then was home the next day too, but I don't remember if it was a weekend or not. With my second, he was at the hospital during delivery, stayed for a few hours after our daughter was born, then went home to get some decent sleep so he could take care of our 2yr old son the next day. When we got home he was there, but probably went back to work the next day (again, I don't remember if it was a weekend or not). But I also had really normal labors, no Csection to recover from or nothing like that. If you have your mom to help too, then I think that 10days should be plenty and that way he will still have some time to take off later.

I had c-sections with both. First time, my hubby took a week off, which ended up going into Thanksgiving vacation (bonus!). The second time he took off a week and then worked from home for 3 weeks. A luxury that we didn't have the first time. It was a good thing. I had postpardum depression and I pinched my sciatic (sp?) nerve the last day in the hospital (trying to move myself without hurting my incision) and could barely walk for 6 weeks. I went to the chiropractor 3 times a week for those 6 weeks (which I couldn't drive for the first 3 weeks).

You will not want him to use ALL of his available time at once. There will be days that you may just need him to stay home to help with the kids or you may want to do something later in the year. It also depends on how much other support you have. We only have one set of in-laws here and they both were working crazy hours when each of our girls were born....so no help. We did have the babysitter's family watch our oldest while we were at the hospital. That was a huge help.

Congrats and the best of luck making your decision!

We got really lucky with my DH's boss. When our first ended up being a c-section instead of the midwife-assisted natural childbirth we expected, his boss was easy-peasy about letting him have a week off. When my daughter ended up with colic, the boss-man didn't bat an eye when my husband had to rush home so I could handle my postpartum depression just one more day. (Yeah, not so great situation.)

We are due in 2 weeks with our second (the older will be 18 months). DH is taking 3 days vacation of the 4 we have available while we are in the hospital so he can shuttle baby 1 back and forth. Then my mom will be here a week while he goes back to work. The plan is the second week out his mom will be w/ us 5 hours a day M, T, and R and DH will use his last day of vacation to cover 2 half days. We're hoping this will give me enough time to recover from our planned c-section that I can handle the toddler and (by then) 2 1/2 week old baby.

What a blessing that you guys have so much available time, even if you do spread it out over several months. If you guys just talk out what you are both wanting those paid at home days to be focused on I'm sure you'll reach the perfect compromise. I will say if you're going to have another c-section, I would be a big fan of my DH being able to be home more like 3 weeks to get through the first round of post-op/post-natal appointments. That's the thing I'm so stressed about. GOOD LUCK and CONGRATS!

1 week each for babe 1 and 2 and 1 day (day in hospital for delivery) for baby 3.

my husband at the time was nearing the end of his workmans comp claim. i had our daughter thur night and he went back to work that following monday. since he had been off for so long due to an injury he couldn't take any time off. at least he was home for a few days after. it's hard with no help. i couldn't imagine having a c-section plus having other little ones to look after. being the primary caregiver to a newborn while your husband is gone all the time is rough. but i made it through! :-) i think if your hubby has the time to spare, him taking 10 days off after the baby would be good. then he should save the rest of the time to spread out.

We were lucky with our first that my husband was between jobs right when she was born, so he got to spend a little over a month at home with me during the winter. (It didn't feel so "lucky" at the time, though! LOL.) When our twins were born, he didn't even have enough time to take the days off that I needed to be at the hospital... although I think his boss ended up letting him take a sick day for one of them. I was upset that I was stuck at home with newborn twins, recovering from a C-section, right away... but I survived, and so will you! I think your husband is wise to save some of it for later.

Mine couldn't take any as he had just started a new job and didn't have any time to take! I think this time around he may take a few days here and there, but honestly, I want to save that time for when we have places to go and people to see! As long as you have help from family and friends, I figure there is no reason to keep dad home just because! :) Good luck!

I had a bad c-section and a hard recovery, and a baby who needed to nurse 1.5 hours at a time in order to sleep for 2 hours at a time (he was an "inefficient" nurser, had a high palate, and a slight tongue tie). Anyway, DH stayed with me for a month, and then gradually went back as I felt better (he's a independent consultant so could set his own hours/days).

However, several families we know, where the moms had normal c-sections or vaginal births, both the moms & dads agree that they wished they had spread out the dad's maternity leave over the course of the year... The baby sleeps so much at first that there is really not the same "quality" time with the baby in those first as there are later, when the baby is more awake and interested in interacting....

With my first and my second my husband stayed home about a week. My first daughter slept nearly 18 hours a day and only really woke for feedings and bath that I didn't need his help much during the day. He was really kinda in the way :) My second daughter was easier because I already knew what I was doing and the first was old enough to understand that the baby needed a lot of attention. Neither one of the births were c-sections though.

1 week paternity leave from work, then we took turns blowing through our FMLA (we adopted both kids so no disability time off). Needed 5 months to get into daycare, no family close enough to help. The only time we were both off was the first week which allowed for traveling for the adoption.

It's honestly a blur at this point. On average he took 3-5 days off with each kid. This included time spent in hospital. It helped that with the first two babies, my mother was nearby and stayed with us full time for the first several weeks. By the time we had the third baby, she had relocated but still came shortly after the baby was born and spent several weeks. As long as hubby got the oldest to school and minimized the necessity for me to leave home for the first 4-6 weeks, I was very happy.

Mine never took any time off.

my husband took the day off that i had the baby,,,,c-section. the next day he went to work, then took one more day after that. We are not well to do and needed hom back at work earning money. He would have killed to be able to take 10 days off....me too!

We are both self employed. DH took two weeks completely off, went back to work full time for two weeks and then worked 1/2 time until I went back to work FT. We had a doula the first 2 weeks, my mom came for the next 2 weeks. At 4 weeks I went back to work 1/2 time (DH was home the other 1/2) and at 9 weeks, DS started daycare (3 days/week) and DH and I both went back to work FT (in our profession that is pretty standard 4 days/week). So, in summary the first time DH or me had to take care of DS completely on our own was at 4 weeks. Does your DH want to use some days before the baby to take a vacation with you? If so, I would go for it. If not, I would think he should wait and take most of them when the baby is born. 28 days is almost 6 weeks, right? So if he took 15 days that would be 3 weeks and he would still have plenty of days left to take as sick days if the baby gets sick and someone has to stay home with him/her.

One day off when I delivered and then maybe half a day off the next day or two to help with the older kids (we had 2 older kids from prior relationships before having two kids together) and to bring me home from the hospital. They were both born mid-week so we had the weekend he was back to work on Monday. That said, I didn't have any c-sections and bounce back from delivery really easily (as in leave the hospital after 24 hours and go grocery shopping after 48). I would think that 2 weeks home would be enough - let him save the time for emergencies or fun. It's also not a good idea in this economy to be out of work for more than a couple of weeks. You don't want people to think he's not needed at work, kwim? Do you have any other family who can help out if you have another tough recovery period?

My husband took off 3 days with my first, he had just started a new job after being laid off and he had no time off and even to take those 3 days put him in the hole so he had to earn back the time later. With my 2nd he took off a week, I had a Post Partum Tubal and he was a big help taking care of our 2 year old and helping with the newborn. It helped that my mom came up before the birth so she could take care of my 2 year old while we were in the hospital and then having her and my hubby home for that first week was great. It would be better to have your husband home for a week or two but save up time for emergencies that come up. I went back to work after 6 weeks off with my first and I used up every one of my days and when she got sick I had to take time without pay to stay home with them. Better to take some time then and keep some for later in the year. Also you might want to do some things as a family before your new little one gets here. Do you have family close by, like your mom, that could maybe come help out after he went back to work? Good luck and congratulations on your new baby.

With my first son, my husband took a week off. I ended up with a c-section so this was very helpful. When I had my second son by repeat c-section, he took one day off to stay with me in the hospital (Tuesday-Wednesday) and my sister stayed with me Wednesday through Friday at the hospital. My husband stayed home over the weekend and went back to work on Monday. This time around he was self-employed, so if he didn't work...he didn't get paid. I will say it was easier the 2nd time around after the c-section and I sent my older son to half day daycare, which helped tremendously. Good luck!!

It's been First time was about 10 days, second time was a week, third time was a little less, and the last time he only stayed home 2 days.

I had all 3 babies on Friday so I was home by Monday there was no work on weekends for hubby so he stayed with me then we came home as a family he was back to work on Monday no time off just me & my babies..There was no discussion on him taking time off he doesn't call in unless it is an emergency.

2 weeks with the first, one week with our second. I'd rather him use vacay days during the holidays.

My husband took a month off work when my child was born. I had a c-section, so having him home to help was wonderful.

Congrats on your baby!

About a week. I didn't want him home anymore than that - I needed to get into a routine. I needed him to save his days for dr.'s appt. and sick days b/c I was using all of my time.

My husband can't accrue time off so the two weeks per year he gets can't be saved for following years. He took off two weeks with the first child, one week with the second but Easter was upon us so he had a few extra days off. I had an emergency c-section with number one and she had to stay in the NICU. I also had a c-section with number two. I was fine both times with the number of days he was home with us (I think after 14 days I was ready for him to go back so I could start my routine). If I were you I would have hubs bank a few days for later in the year after the baby is born. I had rotavirus this past week and my husband took a day of vacation to stay home with the children so I could stay in bed (or the bathroom).

My husband took off 11 days when our twins were born. It would've been less, but I needed him to take me to the doctor, which ended up adding two days to it. When our next baby is born in June, he'll take off about a week, maybe two.

My husband and I had both worked a long time and had lots of leave built up by them time our son came along. Being first time parents, I was nervous and we had no other family near where we were living. He was such a wonderful help! He stayed home with us for 5 weeks.

Our daughter was born on a friday and my husband went to work the following tuesday. He had no vacation time available at the time and we could not afford for him to take time off and not get paid because I work for a small company so I did not get paid for any maternity leave.

i agree with the reply saying be grateful he has the time at all. mine was working nights at a brand new job and not only did he not get any time off (other than a day or two while i was in the hospital), i was at home with a newborn basically alone while he slept all day, and recovering from an emergency c-section. you may be feeling a little insulted, but try to appreciate that you have a husband with such a good steady job. and he isn't planning on deserting you, he just isn't going to take as much time as YOU feel is appropriate. maybe he wants to spend that time before the baby comes enjoying YOU and your older child, before everything changes again. kind of flattering, really.

My husband was home for a whole 2 days. That was all his company allowed for "paternity leave". He was fairly new to the company so he did not have any vacation time coming. I was barely able to walk due to a difficult pregnancy and labor, and I was without family closeby. Talk about stress!

I would highly recommend him taking a week or two around month 2 or 3. I remember going back to work and baby was still not sleeping through the night. It would have been so nice to have him at home taking care of things for a couple weeks during that time.

Best of luck to you!

My husband took off 3 weeks and I had a c-section. This was both our first child so I felt a little sad, but I knew he had to go back. Sometimes you have to do what's best for the family.

My husband put in for 2 weeks vacation and ended up taking 4 days, including the time in the hospital! He got called into work by some higher ups that apparently didn't care that he had just had a baby. But you know what? He wasn't that much help at home anyway. Don't get me wrong, he's a great dad, but I found he was more useful at work than at home and I didn't mind at all. The time he did spend at home, he mostly spent creating a video montage of the baby for all of our friends and family. When a baby is that young, what do they need? Sleep, breastfeeding and changing.
Don't be too hard on him, you'll end up needing him later on probably more!

With my first, my husband took a week off, but it was really hard for him to do because he had a really demanding job. I had major PPD and it was really hard for me when he went back to work, my mom ended up staying with me for two weeks after he went backto work.

With my second, he planned to take 14 days off (because of how hard it was for me with our first one), but I didn't have PPD, and was MORE than ready for him to go back to work after a week! Getting on a routine yourelf with two kids is important. Just because you had a hard recovery with your first, doesn't mean it will be the same with your second. Don't be insulted, you'll wish that he had more time off later in the year to help out when needed... or actually have a vacation!

My hubby never took any time of for any of the children we had other than to pick up at hospital

My husband took off the day off the day we came home from the hospital and the following day. That was it for both births. A day or two more would have been great, but it couldn't happen and wasn't a big deal.

A suggestion: Have him "save" a week or so for later. Once that adorable little one is about 6 weeks old and STILL not sleeping through the night, it will feel like such a luxury to have your husband take a couple of extra long weekends and let you sleep some. Or take a shower with the door closed. Or go grocery shopping alone. Or take some time with your older child, just the 2 of you. Or (oh, my! dare I say it?) go out with a friend for coffee.

Be careful about putting so much emphasis on the period right after the birth that you shoot yourself in the foot for later.

Together, I'm sure you'll find a way that works for each of you as individuals and as a family.

First time was two weeks, only one week paid. Second was 2 days then he got fired for taking an extra day a few days later. So I say whatever he can is great! I'd be tired of my husband after 10-14 days home, you'll have three kids instead of two ;) but ideally I think your idea is better, use more after in case there are complications or it's harder than you thought.

When I had my first it was on a Friday. We came home from the hospital on Sunday and my husband was back to work Monday! My mom took the week off of work to help me out though. With my second, I had her on a Tuesday, we were home the next day and my husband didn't go back to work until Monday. I didn't have a c-section with either, if I did I would have expected him to take more time off work.

2 weeks. It woulda been just one but I had and emergency c section.

Between the time in the hospital and after a total of 2 weeks-10 Work days. I also had c section but recovered quick.

My husband took off 3 weeks with the first and 4 weeks with the second...trust me, the help second time around was great, especially if your breastfeeding! Both over my boys were born in the late spring (end of May), so we didn't just hang at home for a month....we did some day trips, took full advatage of the family time together! Congrats!

my husband works for his parents he was at home til i came home from the hospital first day i was at home he was at work.

My c-section was at 154 in the morning - hubby left for work at 8am. I went home on a Saturday, he was home Sat and Sun. But I had my parents for 8 days after I got home. Take what you can get from whomever you can get it!

First child he stayed home for two months, second child only one day. Luckily she was a pretty easy baby.

With our first my hubby took a week. Our 2nd was born on Saturday and I sent him back to work on Tuesday.

3 days. Our son was born on a Tuesday. My husband took off all day Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to be with me in the hospital. I was discharged from the hospital on Thursday afternoon, and my husband was back at work on Friday. Our second baby is due on July 1, 2011 - and we will be lucky if my husband can take his 1 week paid vacation when I go into labor.

You say you're "insulted" because your husband doesn't want to take his entire 28 days to spend with you. Think about it this way: You are very fortunate to be in a situation where your husband has that many days available to take off. Many women aren't. Be thankful for the time and help you do have from him - I would give anything for my husband to have 2 weeks off when the new baby comes.

With my first he took his two week vacation. With my 2nd, one week. He had started a new job 3m before she was born and didn't have any vacation time. So I planned ahead and saved up 1 week's salary so that when he did take off we would still have the bills covered.

My husband took 3 days..but my mom and dad were staying with us, so i think he figured i had the help. I do wish he would have taken more..maybe with the next one..

With our first my hubby took a week off, with our second he is taking a week and half. I am having a repeat c/s so the half week will be spent in the hospital and I wanted him home a whole week. He has 30 days he can take off but I would never want him to use it all up at one time. I want to be able to have hime take time at holidays and if we go camping or something, or if we want to have a long weekend (since traveling with a baby takes a little longer)

I had our baby on Thursday afternoon and he went back to work on Monday. My husband had just started so we didn't have very much money saved so we really couldn't afford for him to take a lot of time off but he could of taken up to three weeks unpaid. So we decided it was best for us to stay with his family for a week and his mom helped me out in the evenings when he was at work and worked out perfectly. And I think if my husband would of taken more time off then a couple of days I would of got sick of him.

Just a few days. I would rather him take the days when the baby is a bit
older and you can go and do some thiings together. You can visit family
and friends or just spend time together after everyone is settled.
Congratulations.

I think it depends on a couple of things. 1) Will you be working after the your maternity leave is over? If so, where will the baby go while both parents are at work? If daycare, home daycare then you will need extra days off for sick days, potentially for holidays etc.

If daycare days are NOT an issue than I think 14 days is reasonable for him to take off from work.

My husband owns his own business. He is the sole employee. I don't work. He gets NO paternity leave, NO sick days, NO vacation, few holidays, etc. Whe he takes off of work, we lose money. I have four kids... all very close together (they are ranging from 2 1/2 to 7) with each he took about one week off- because we could not afford longer. With my fourth pregnancy my pelvis separated too much and I could not walk at all for one month after the birth. He still had to go to work. My mom was supposed to help me, but if any help I may have gotten during that time was VERY minimal!

If I could do THAT, with all four of my kids at home, then any mom should be able to handle things w/o husband. He DID help tremendously when he came home. He basically did everything.

holy cow, you have a ton of responses!! My hubs took like 4 days the first, time then it was the weekend, so he was there with me like the first 7 days. The second time around he took a week off bc baby boy was born on Monday. Well he might have gone to work some of that time, bc my mom was helping too, can't exactly remember. But he had a sales position and the work would pile up so bad bc no-one else saw his customers when he was off, so he had to try and squeeze in some hours, while welcoming his new sons. Good luck, and congrats!!

my husband took off 6 weeks with our first and 4 weeks with our second. We took the time off together with our first and then we split the time off with the second, he took a week off and then took 3 weeks off when I went back to work so baby could have more time at home.

I personally think its insulting that dads get the time to take off and don't. Its so important for them to bond with their baby, we are fortunate to get time off and don't take advantage of that. Its sad. If he waits to take the time off throughout the year, I guarantee it won't be to bond with baby, it will be for a number of reasons which may include time with baby or sports, or vacations, etc...

With our first my husband took 3 weeks off. With our second and third it was 2 weeks each time. I am so glad he had those 3 weeks with the first! It would have been nice with the second 2 but hey what can you do. We had so many family members and doctors apts and everything those first couple weeks, it wasn't until the third week that we got to settle down as a family. My second was born a few days before Xmas which added to the hectic hubbub of a newborn.

My husband was out of the country when my first was born but I had my Mom around to help.
When my second was born I gave birth on the Thursday, my husband was back at work on the Monday.
I did just fine, but I was fortunate not to have c-sections with either.

Mu hubby took one week. I was happy with that since it's like pulling teeth to get that guy to take a break.

One week and then two days a week for several weeks after that, and then one day a week for several weeks after that.

My husband took 1 week off with our first. Then 3 weeks off with our second, but our first was only 15 months old at the time. Then with our 3rd he took 2 months off but that had a lot to do with the fact that we had a 1 year old and a 2 year old already at home. I tell you that because you should realize that each family is different from yours and that we all have seperate needs. You can't compare what our husbands did, with what your husband should do. I think your husband is right to try and spread out his days over the course of the year because there will be times when you just need a break!