Maternity Leave
It’s getting closer to your due date. Some mothers may want to take some time to prepare and rest before the birth of their baby. There are two different programs involved with maternity leave, and it is important to understand the difference between the two.
State Disability for Pregnancy (SDI):
- This is medical leave for pregnancy and for your recovery after pregnancy.
- During pregnancy: Usually starts on or after 36 weeks (can be earlier if there are serious medical pregnancy related conditions). You can decide which date you would like within this time period and let your clinician know. They will complete the first maternity leave note (called DMI/Activity Rx or work status note) starting from this date and usually input a temporary end date about 1-2 weeks after your due date (to at least cover leave to your delivery).
- After delivery: You will receive medical leave for 6 weeks from your delivery date if you have a vaginal delivery or 8 weeks if you have a cesarean delivery. If needed, your health care team can give you a second work status note starting from your delivery date through the determined time period for your delivery type.
- The two work status notes dates will usually overlap to provider continuous leave from before your delivery (if desired) through the time needed to recover from your delivery.
- Once your work note has been completed, you may find your work note on kp.org within 2 business days, pick it up from reception/OBGYN Office, or we can mail it to you (please confirm your mailing address).
- All claims / paperwork that relate to Disability or FMLA will need to be completed by our disability office.
- For additional information about SDI application process, please click here.
Family Bonding Leave/Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA):
- This is bonding time with your baby. Usually starts after SDI ends.
- As this is not leave for medical reasons, you do not need a doctor’s note.
- FMLA provides twelve work weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth.
- For additional information about FMLA, please click here.
Form completion
Any forms you need signed by a physician need to go through our Kaiser Permanente Orange County Release of Information Unit directly. Disability forms will NOT be filled out by your physician in the clinic, even if they just require a signature.
The Kaiser Permanente Orange County Release of Information Unit will help you to complete forms within 5 business days.
Kaiser Permanente, Orange County
Release of Information Unit
Email: OCROIU@kp.org
Telephone number: 714-284-6634
Office hours are M-F, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Active KP.org members can conveniently request medical records, and FMLA and State Disability insurance certifications online by going to kp.org/requestrecords.
