Life after baby

Pepper6

What is everyone's plans for when you come home with your LO?  How long are you taking for maternity leave?  How long will your DH be home?  How do you plan to split baby duties?  

tbmadeamistake

I'm quitting, so I'll be home forever...

DH will take a week of PTO, and then perhaps a week working from home.

C will stay in daycare for a month if we can afford so that we can ease the transition a bit for all of us (she's 2).

I will feed Charlie, he'll do as much of the rest of it as I can get him to do, keeping in mind that he'll be pulling C duty for a while as well until I'm up to dealing with a 2 year old phsyically .

k318

I'll be taking a 4 month leave, dh will probably take a week. My parents are in the neighborhood and will be helping as much as I need. My mom will most likely stay with me all day when my h works.

We will play it by ear with dividing responsibilities. Once we get in a groove we will figure out how to split motn feedings. With ds we had a calendar for the first couple of months when it was tough with who had which days "off." That worked well for us. Neither of us work traditional hours, so we needed some kind of calendar to make sure we both got our own time and time together. Definitely worth the extra planning.

texasmama2014

DH is a teacher so he'll be off until early August, so we'll tag team this parent thing for a few weeks.  I'll be off a full 10 weeks, then go part time for about 4.  

I guess we'll split them by whoever is closest will change diapers, we'll likely do baths and stuff together, I'm hoping to BF so I'll do the feeding.  Laundry, cooking, etc. will probably be split too.  I'm really lucky to have married a teacher!

lest12

I am taking 8 weeks up-front, then I'm going to work from home 15 hrs/wk from mid-August through Thanksgiving... Working the 2 days will keep me on the payroll, and I'm only doing tasks where I don't have to work with anyone else, lol. DH will be home for a week or two. He works nights so I'm happy we'll have a lot of family-time together during the day. We haven't talked about splitting responsibilities or anything. I guess we'll just play it by ear.

LKHoffa

I'm taking off 3 months, and DH will probably only take off a few days. My parents will come, but also probably leave after a few days.  I'm nervous about having a newborn with no family around. We have one couple that are good friends to us here, and that's about it. 

STMs without close friends and family nearby to help out- any tips for getting through those 1st few days/weeks??

zolastele

4 months leave then I will be returning to work part time. DH will take off the first 3 weeks, and then take another 2-4 weeks off when I go back to work in October.

hlp2709

I'm taking about 6 to 8 weeks off depending on when I have the baby. My plan is go back after Labor day but we will see how I am doing and the money part is. My husband plans on taking about two weeks off after the baby is here. That will be nice because he was not able to take any time off with my first one. For my daughter I thought about bring her to day care about three days a week for the summer but not sure, still need to talk to day care about that.
I am pretty sure my husband will just jump in where he is needed like he did before.

jenn72178

I am taking 8 weeks off (unpaid) and my DH will be retiring from the NYPD after 22 years on to be a SAHD for little girl - I feel very fortunate that this was an option for us since cost of daycare was pretty much out of the question.  

katekat8721

I'm taking 3 months off, hubby maybe 2 weeks or so. We haven't talked about splitting duties other than at night time hubby will grab the babies, change them if need be, pass off to me to nurse, then put them back to bed.

LadyMacaron

I will be a SAHM. I'm excited about it! DH works from home so I will have some help around lunch time, but I will pretend he isn't there the rest of the day. We will do evenings together. He will most likely handle the late night care while I sleep, as he works until 2 am most nights, and I will let him sleep in and I'll take care of the early morning routine. He is also taking off a few weeks once baby gets here.

Cherylwang

I am already a sahm. My husband only gets 2 days. So I will be home with the baby and my 2 older ones.

Katieluc106

Hanging with my kids for the summer. Back to school in September 2 mornings a week. DH probably will only take a couple days off when V is born as he has been out of work since December with a torn acl and meniscus. He goes back may 20th ( THANK GOODNESSSSS)

BMaidPlanner

My leave is allowed to be up to 13 weeks, I will likely take the whole thing. Daycare is up in the air still, but the longer I can avoid that cost, the better. If there are waiting lists and a spot opens up sooner, I don't know what we'll do. Honestly. No family nearby to cover for us.

DH has to use vacation, I believe, or take unpaid. He may only be home one or two weeks. I am really hoping his Boss gives him a work from home option and is supportive, or at least one of those things. They aren't necessarily close, he doesn't love it there, and has been there less than a year. 

Pepper6

I'll be taking off 12 weeks (unpaid) maternity leave and DH gets 6 weeks (paid) paternity leave.  I'm very glad he'll be home for 6 weeks because that means he'll be able to help out a lot until we get used to this whole parenting thing.  We've already talked a lot about our expectations for how we'll split taking care of DD, but we'll play it by ear on the specifics.  Hopefully we get a good enough of a routine going by the time DH goes back to work, and especially by the time I go back to work.

lellymine

I'm a SAHW so I'll just change my title from wife to mom. DH is taking 2 wks off after the baby comes. We won't really split responsibilities. The house, laundry, cooking and baby will be me 90% but he'll still have a few chores he's responsible for and he'll watch her for an hour or two a day so I can get to the gym and shower. I'm sure he'll help out with night feedings and changes as well.

nicolemcm

We're in Canada, so I have requested a full year, with the intention that DH will take the last 8-10 weeks of it on his own and I go back to work early.

We plan to do stuff like baths together - he will likely do them in the beginning until I'm up to being all awkward around the tub. He is such a night person, so I will likely do the 10 pm feed, sleep, he will stay up until about 2 and change and wake me up for a feed, then I sleep a bit, and get up at 5 or whatever for the day. But who knows lol

jshrop

I'm looking for work so I'll be with baby until I find something. Hubs will have 10 days off when she's born. No clue who will do what, other than I'll still be cooking and cleaning (he has zero skills with this even though he tries). I'll be BF so I think he will be in charge of bath time. We will share diaper duty ect. I have a nanny lined up for when I got back to work to take care of her until one of us gets home.

efino87

Also a SAHM so I will be just going about life as usual. I have run a daycare before so im somewhat used to having a lot of kids here, doing it without sleep is the challenge. Hoping DH can take a week off to help out. My mom and sister will be around to help with the 2 year old. I will eventually have to pick up part time work again but we will deal with that when we get there.

CJnKR2014

I'll be a SAHM.
Idk how we are gonna split things though... probably trade off who gets up in the middle of the night. We haven't really discussed it too much.

kcartwright12

I will be off for as long as possible up to 3mths. I can only be off for as long as my banked vacation time or I would have to take it unpaid. Which is not an option for us right now.

DH will be home for a week after LO arrives. My mom might come and stay for a couple days when hubby goes back to work to help take care of our first DS.

During the week I will be taking care of baby at night so DH can sleep and get up for work. He will take baby on the weekends to let me catch up on sleep. Same that we did with our first. I sleep trained DS and he started sleeping through the night at 7weeks. Really hoping and praying this LO does the same thing. .

mercy0606

I am starting maternity leave on May 23 because I'm having some issues. I will be home with baby until December 1st- which I am so grateful for as he'll be nearing 6 months.

My husband makes his own hours, for the most part, so he'll be home with me and baby at least for a week and then whenever he can thereafter. He is very hands on and wants to help- even if I'm breast feeding.

Once I go back to work, baby will be with in home sitter! It will go by so fast, I'm sure.

puttyeast

I'm a substitute teacher, so I will return sometime in September. I will just be working about 2 days a week for awhile.

DF gets 12 weeks of paid paternity leave (so amazing), and he will be using that right after the baby is born so that we can be learning together through the summer.

We haven't talked too much about dividing duties. As long as breastfeeding works out, feeding will be my main responsibility for the first few months before bottles are introduced. He will be mainly responsible for changing diapers, but I'm sure I'll do plenty too. I'm hoping for lots of team work that first few months!

chloephoebecali

I'm a sahm. Dh will get a week. It will be all hands on deck.

ncbelle

I'm not taking leave but I'm a professor so will be on summer break until late august. DH bar tends part time and is a stay at home dad. He won't be taking off at all. I'm lucky in that I have a super flexible schedule and will be able to take baby to work with me some. Also lucky that DH is super involved and helps out with everything but nursing the baby

k2k2tog

I get a full year of mat leave, but I'm starting my masters in September, so baby will be in some kind of part-time care as of then. (@snuff9861 I didn't know you are doing this too! Have you figured out child care yet? I'm a little nervous since so many daycares don't accept babies younger than 3 months here and LO will be just shy of that when classes start.) 

DH will take about a week off work when the baby comes and may decide to take some paternity leave in September if we fail at finding childcare right away. 

I can't say we have much of a plan for splitting baby duties... I know I'll be taking care of most night-time care until September, since he has to be up and alert for work at a specific time, but other than that, we'll wing it all. Though, I'll be baby's food source, so that will affect our 'winging it' somewhat.

MrsAMB07

I'm a SAHM, so no maternity leave. I'm hoping DH can be home for most of the first week, but he's self-employed and it's his business' busy time of year, so I guess we'll have to see how it goes.

I'll be BFing, so obviously all the feedings will be up to me, so I'm know he'll try to help with the rest. The biggest help would be getting up with the other kids in the morning and helping to keep them occupied.

CrysW08

I'm staying home for the foreseeable future, DH hasn't decided how long he'll take, it will probably depend on how things go, whether I have a c-section or not, etc. Since I'm breast feeding, I'll be doing most of the baby duty at the beginning and will be counting on him to take care of everything else (the dog, the house, meals...).

Ashes92813

Hi! I was going to take 10 weeks off. However, looks like I'll be off May14th to August 15th. I'll have my college psych intern start helping me and my supervisor open and promote our second practice in July but I won't see patients until the end of August.

DH is taking off most of next week for the induction. We are currently discussing splitting responsibilities and he's cool with it but needs A LOT of guidance. I grew up in a family of 8 and he is the only child, of an only child, and has zero experience with babies and young children so it will take some time to find that balance! And a lot of patience and help from my mom.

ricecakes1216

I'll be taking 8 weeks if I have a vaginal birth or 10 if I have a csection. H is unclear about his pay/time off that his work allows. He's been told two different things so he's contacting the main HR on Monday. It he'll be home at least a week.

ashquack

I am a SAHW now so I will just flip my title to mom when baby boy makes his debut. Hubby and I haven't really discussed splitting duties I just am assuming I will do most of it some he works all the time- he will be as hands on as work allows:) he will take 2 weeks off at baby's arrival then another week sometime in July- he is actually switching jobs so he will have from July 25- October 1 off which is awesome since we are moving from Ohio to Georgia:)

kd&cd

12 mth mat leave for me. DH is in the middle of opening Hornblower Niagara Cruises (replaced Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls!! So he will not get much time, the day LO is born and maybe one or two more...hoping for him to have a chunk of time off in the fall. As for baby duties, it'll be all me for the most part, until I can pump then DH will share in the feeding. I'm sure he will change some diapers and take over so I can have some me time every now and then...but with his work schedule he'll be pretty busy outside the house!

paleblueeyes

Well, I was going to quit, but just today I got offered to work from home part time!!!! So happy about that!! A little extra cash, I don't have to drive to work across town, and I get to stay with baby and not put he/she in daycare!!

Husband is going to stay home from work for two weeks.

cMichelle0423

I'm already a SAHM. DH will hopefully get around 2 weeks off. Until we get on a good schedule, DH will be helping me more with DS1 while I get the hang of things with DS2. But either way it's going to be a team effort.

flerlgirl

I SAH so I'll just keep staying at home my mom and MIL will be around to help with DS and DH is taking a day or two off. He gets paid hourly so its hard for him to take too much time. We already have a good system with DS so I guess we'll adapt it for this one, too! Although I have a feeling we'll have to take more of a man-on-man defense approach while we settle in.

BabyCurtiss2014

I'll be staying at home DH is taking off 2 weeks paternity leave and my mom is coming to stay for a month (she lives 3.5 hrs away) Duties, not sure but I told DH I want him to do everything I do except breast feed, of course! I'm excited and anxious. At almost 37 weeks I'm so uncomfortable and the Insomnia is here to stay! I could not get comfy in bed tonight to save my life!

Edit: I expect DH to do all I do just while on paternity leave...I expect 90% responsibility once he is back at work but he did say he will help as much as he can evenings and weekends! We will see...lol

austinlyns

I've been a SAHM since my oldest (6) was born. I love the timing of this baby because he will join our family at the beginning of summer so we can all relax together without all of the school- year activities and responsibilities. DH will be off for 2 weeks. I see a lot of playing in the yard, getting together with friends for play/coffee dates and walks to the neighborhood pool in our future this summer.

Taymiller

I really want to quit my job forever but for now the plan is to take 6 weeks off and then work from home after that. DH is taking 2 weeks off but one of the partners is being an ass about if it is paid or unpaid because of the leave he had for when his mom died, the ass only wants him to take a week. My mom and sister are coming out to help me because I am having a c/s.

DH will help with all baby care, he wants us to try and alternate nights but we will see!

ElTrain5

So jealous of you Canadian ladies and your paid year the US needs to get its act together.

I get 12 weeks unpaid leave so I'll be doing that. DH will be taking at least one of his two vacation weeks right at the beginning. My mom and dad are coming out to stay for the labor and first couple of weeks. As long as BFing works out I'll be doing that and letting the three of them do everything else while I recover physically. Once my parents are gone I'll probably have DH do baby duty when he's home at night and on his days off so I can get the house clean/laundry and shopping done.

Once I'm back to work in September we'll hopefully split baby and non-baby tasks right down the middle. I'm not making a list yet, just hoping we kind of fall into some kind of semi manageable pattern.

MrsBHM

I'm quitting my job to stay home with LO. My husband will take about two weeks. I'm not sure if they'll be consecutive. Or if he'll work half days here and there or what. My depend on if my Mom wants to stay for a few weeks after he's born.

becomingmommyagain

I'm taking 6 weeks paid leave, 2 weeks vacation, and then work from home a bit too.
DH will take a few days here and there. My mom is coming for a week at some point in June and my Mil is coming July 1st and will stay til mid august. Lo will start daycare in August after mil leaves.

I'll be the primary feeder till my milk supply is enough that I can pump and store. Dh and the rest of the family will all help on diaper duty and soothing the baby. Dh is looking forward to feeding the baby solids and introducing him to foods.