I guess you also have to decide if getting only a portion of your pay for a full year is worth it in the sense that because you are home with your own child you can continue to breastfeed and snuggle and do all those things that moms are given a full year to do and still do daycare making more than the amount you would get on EI. And if you are starting to pay in very young and receive for your first do you not have to continue to pay in meaning unless you have several children and use the program again and again at what point do you no longer even break even.