We only allow employees to use accumulated sick time for the "sick part" of their FMLA leave - generally in a maternity case, that is six weeks for a regular delivery and 8 weeks for a C-section - they could have 12 weeks of sick time accumulated, but we only allow them to take the 6 or 8 weeks paid. Any "bonding" time they wish to have with their newborn either comes from vacation time or is unpaid. If an employee took a week's vacation just prior to leave, then the time taken would just increase the unpaid time at the end of their leave - depending on how much sick time and vacation time an employee has accumulated the due date, I generally encourage employees not to blow through all their paid time - those babies get sick and you may need to take some time off when you come back to work.
_________________________
The paradox of planning is nothing happens....