Working mom check in - October

DolphinLover2002

Back at work? What's going on, anything good or bad!

ksimo6

Been back for three weeks and just got some work to do a couple of days ago. I've gotten a lot done on the church fundraiser, found a new chiropractor, had lunch with friends etc.... But have not accomplished much by the way of work. Oh well. Easing back in I guess.

Getting two kids out the door is interesting. I forgot that you have to get up early to feed the baby a bottle. How did I forget that!?!?! Good thing my husband lays in bed until the last minute. I hand him lo and a bottle and get myself ready.

mindaa

DH was out of town for a week and a half, so I had six days of doing daycare duty, both dropoff and pickup. Went fine, which was a total relief. LO was a champ. 

The cleaning lady walked in on me while I was pumping one day. Awkward. So, got that over with, but I still carry two major pumping fears. One that I'm going to find myself going into a meeting with a shirt button unbuttoned (or otherwise not completely put back together). The other, that in my distraction/fatigue, I'm going to spill a whole bottle of pumped milk. ( have had a close call with a bag).

I kind of hate how I've become such a "clock puncher" at work - rush in right on time, then leave the minute the day is over. Gotta get home and feed that baby!

dancegurl1118

Got 3 hours of sleep today. Tonight should be fun. Cool. I love that the people who woke my up by texting were my husband and sister...both of who know better.

caitlincunn

I am ready to start working. I graduated from school is May so I've been waiting to start a new job. Luckily the dentist of where I'll be working understands that once my lo will drink out of a bottle I will let him know. I'm just ready to get working!!

HoosOnFirst

I've been back at work for 6 weeks. I feel like I never left, which I think is good!

It does suck to have a set schedule. I started working from home one day a week, which truly does give me more energy for work, which is awesome.

I formula feed, and I'm relieved to not have to deal with pumping at work. I'm truly in awe of you ladies.

LO has been a champion overnight sleeper since the week I went back to work. I'm so incredibly thankful. However she started some 4 month sleep regression this week which is throwing off the morning schedule. It's still not unbearable but it's tough since it's random. Some nights she doesn't wake up and others she does.

LolaMarley23

I've been at work 3 weeks and it has been good and rough... pumping at work is so strange. I too worry about either spilling my milk or leaving the room with my boobs hanging out or milk dribble on my shirt! Haha

DH and my relationship has taken a hit these past 3 weeks. I just cannot seem to find a way to balance work life, mom life and love life. So far baby and work have taken priority. Thank goodness DH is so awesome and is just letting me find my groove and not bugging me!

tiffanyclark87

I'm a kindergarten teacher. It's tough! I desperately wanted to be a sahm but we are building a house so it's out of the question this year. Also breast feeding so I pump twice at work. I have spilt 3 oz out of a storage bag all over myself. Had to run home to change. Cried over spilt milk. All I can think about is my sweet baby girl while I'm at school. I've been back to work since the beginning of August. Some days are better than others but most days are just hard!

klkonwi

@dancegurl1118 you have to start using the option to only let certain numbers come through if it's an iPhone!!!!
I feel you though........... I always tell ppl I'm going to start texting them at 2am and see how they like it.

Work is going well tonight so far. Mother in law said he was an angel for her today while I slept ....so apparently he was just crabby for me yesterday.
Like @virginiaunicorn11 says babies be babies!!!

I do despise pumping at work...... Also whoever pumps in there that makes a mess needs to be more courteous. Wipe your damn breastmilk off the chair please!!!! Gross.

delujm0

Every Friday, I rejoice to know that I only have to pump at work three more times for the week, and then I can just nurse all weekend.  I am so over the pump by Friday afternoon, I want to throw it in the trash.

 

And then it becomes Saturday, and my boobs are all "wait, I thought we had a schedule.  No?  Ok then.  I guess we'll just be hard and painful and engorged until LO feels like eating again!"  and I wind up needing to randomly pump and ounce or two to take the edge off because LO doesn't eat at regular intervals (she's really more of a snacker and will cluster feedings in the morning and late afternoon but only eat once between the hours of 11 and 3).

 

I'm really trying to pump less because I am still getting a major surplus but it's hard (sometimes literally...ha).  I'm worried that i'll get clogged ducts or mastisis if I start cutting pumping sessions too abruptly.  So right now I've decided to continue my right before bed and MOTN pumping (MOTN only if LO is sleeping through) but limit them to 2oz/breast max.  Previously, I would totally empty one side and just take a few ounces out of the other, in case LO woke up suddenly wanting to eat.  I'm hoping that eventually this will lead to me completely cutting out the MOTN pump, and maybe the before bed pump too (though if LO only takes one side when she goes to bed, I will likely still pump the other side, to even it out).  Monday I had a 14oz surplus but by yesterday it was down to 9oz, so that's good!  Some surplus is nice, but really I'd be happy with 4-5oz/day extra. 

ciennah99

Feeling mommy guilt. Just so tired I'm going to have DH take LO to daycare early so I can maybe catch another hour or so of sleep before work. I'm just too tired & I need to be able to function there. I usually take that time to spend with LO. She hasn't been to daycare in two week bc we've been sick or family was watching her so of course I'm nervous about it again.

slr1229

Who schedules a 5:30-6 meeting?? Ugh

hudson202

@slr1229 that is the worst! I would be so mad

rrcameron21

slr1229 said:

Who schedules a 5:30-6 meeting?? Ugh

I hate meetings now that I have LO! Last week I had one 8-10, then had to come back 2-9. So I had to take LO to my moms, pick him up after meeting, then do it all over again a couple hours later. That's like 2 extra hours of driving.

Working sucks!

hudson202

It is picture day at daycare today! I'm pretty excited to see how they turn out. My mom and I went shopping for a new picture day dress for LO, which was totally unnecessary since she has tons of clothes, but we had fun with it. It makes dropping her off that much easier when I know there are fun things going on at daycare

hudson202

I just ran into a male coworker on my way up to pump. I was carrying my pump bag, so he says "are you headed out for the day?" Thinking it was my computer bag and i was packed up to go home. Lol, no, no I am not. I wish. .

AlyLynn07

^^^ same here, and it was my boss. It was only about 1015am when he asked... Yeah, I wish I could cut out 8 hrs early!

addingon

hudson202 said:

It is picture day at daycare today! I'm pretty excited to see how they turn out. My mom and I went shopping for a new picture day dress for LO, which was totally unnecessary since she has tons of clothes, but we had fun with it. It makes dropping her off that much easier when I know there are fun things going on at daycare

@hudson202 Whoa! Without being too creepy - it was picture day at our daycare today too! And I think I remember you also live in central Ohio ? Maybe our LO's are daycare BFFs and we don't even know it. Haha! I'm sure it's just that time of year for pictures.

kcl283

I go back next Tuesday and don't want too at all. This is my second and with my first daughter I was home for almost a year and a half. Daughter #2 is sugh a happy baby and big sister is almost 3.5 and such a fun person (most of the time).

I'm a teacher and am just dreading all
the work and extra time involved at home and am freaking out about I'm going to get it all done and be successful in both. Although all I care about right now is my girls...

Sorry for the rant... I know we're all on the same place, it's just hitting me with less than a week left.

hudson202

@swaugh14 ohhh i hope they are baby friends!!!!!

cheriep3

I'm struggling to balance work and home. Every second I can spend with LO, I do. But when am I supposed to clean the house, do the laundry, cook and be a wife? I try staying up late but it's rough getting up a couple of times a night then getting up for work if I've been up cleaning the night before.
Anyone found a way to rock this balance thing?

Sammy K

DH has been gone for 2 days but I actually feel like I'm getting this figured out. Granted, I couldn't do it without a little help from children's TV, but DS only gets to watch after he's completed his list of tasks. Besides the occasional potty accident and the dog chewing up a Costco case of paper towels, we've had a good run. Now if only LO would sleep more than 4 hours straight, I'd really feel good!

ciennah99

@cheriep3 I have not figured it out. I feel the same way as you. I think I'm going to hire someone to help me clean

delujm0

ciennah99 said:

@cheriep3 I have not figured it out. I feel the same way as you. I think I'm going to hire someone to help me clean

Do it. I love my cleaning lady so much I'd eat fast food and Ramen noodles every night to save money before I'd get rid of her. Best decision ever.

slr1229

Agreed with being a super woman. I don't want to cook, clean, work out, have sex. Once I get baby down and prep for the next day I'm so tired to do anything and with it getting darker earlier, not helping.
Struggling to get 4 oz pumped each pump session too at work.

dancegurl1118

I asked 3 times for coverage to pump. And then I finally said I need to pump now. And got shit for it because "blah blah this patient is coming in". Ok that's fine. There's always going to be a patient coming in. If I would've been covered the first time when people were standing around at the desk I would've been done by now. Really frustrated.

momtobe613

dancegurl1118 said:

I asked 3 times for coverage to pump. And then I finally said I need to pump now. And got shit for it because "blah blah this patient is coming in". Ok that's fine. There's always going to be a patient coming in. If I would've been covered the first time when people were standing around at the desk I would've been done by now. Really frustrated.

Totally know how you're feeling with this. I try to go at 10 before it gets crazy and then to lunch around 2 and then I pump at seven thirty after shift but every day the two o'clock pump is getting later. I try to get to lunch and they're like you have a new patient I'm like yeah no I don't I'm going to lunch. We work in the fricking ER and as much as I'd like to close the doors sometimes... There will always be a new patient and trust me... They can wait 99% of the time. I've gotten to the point of telling my nurse manager I'm going and just stepping off. Don't have time for a song and dance with everyone else.

krystleshel

Saturday's are the best day. I am not a morning person, but 6am on Saturday is okay when I get a smiling active baby. (& a nap later).

Kbchavez23

I just came back to work today. My job title before maternity leave was "accounts payable specialist" it is now "accounting clerk". I have absolutely NONE of the same duties I had before. Is this even legal?!

47923ang

I should be working. Instead, I'm bumping. Oops.

I'll regret this tomorrow when I'm not prepared for my appointments.

slr1229

I hate pumping at work. Hate!

rrcameron21

So sometimes I pump 7oz at work but sometimes it's 2! I am so sick of the inconsistency. It's impossible to plan for the next day when I don't know how much I'm going to get. I've had to dip into my freezer stash almost every day. It also doesn't help that LO has been up every 1-2 hours the past 3 nights and wants to nurse. There goes my MOTN pump sesh!

Pumping at work is the worst. Working is the worst. I'm on the verge of giving it up! (Pumping, not work)

hudson202

@Kbchavez23 that really stinks, but unfortunatrly.i do think that is legal. They just have to give you an "equivalent" job when you come back. I'm so sorry you are having to put up with that.

@slr1229 totally agreed. It's the worst.

Kbchavez23

hudson202 said:

@Kbchavez23 that really stinks, but unfortunatrly.i do think that is legal. They just have to give you an "equivalent" job when you come back. I'm so sorry you are having to put up with that.

@slr1229 totally agreed. It's the worst.

It doesn't seem equivalent to me. This is like answering phones and checking emails. I had way more responsibility before.

aresee

Kbchavez23 said:

hudson202 said:

@Kbchavez23 that really stinks, but unfortunatrly.i do think that is legal. They just have to give you an "equivalent" job when you come back. I'm so sorry you are having to put up with that.

@slr1229 totally agreed. It's the worst.

It doesn't seem equivalent to me. This is like answering phones and checking emails. I had way more responsibility before.

The FMLA language is:

"Virtually identical to the employee’s former position in terms of pay, benefits and working conditions, including privileges, perquisites and status. It must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities, which must entail substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority."

delujm0

Well we made it through exactly one month at daycare before I got called to pick up a sick baby. It is just 3 loose BMs today. LO almost always has loose stool. DH now has to bring her to the Dr tomorrow to get her cleared to return. I have my own dr appt tomorrow so I can't go with. Sigh.

I know dehydration is a concern with diarrhea but seeing as lo has taken 26oz in bottles and nursed twice since 5am today, I'm thinking she's fine on that front. She's also extra fussy though. Trying for early bedtime now bc her last nap ended at 230...she skipped the nap she typically takes around 4-430. Ugh.

Kbchavez23

aresee said:

Kbchavez23 said:

hudson202 said:

@Kbchavez23 that really stinks, but unfortunatrly.i do think that is legal. They just have to give you an "equivalent" job when you come back. I'm so sorry you are having to put up with that.

@slr1229 totally agreed. It's the worst.

It doesn't seem equivalent to me. This is like answering phones and checking emails. I had way more responsibility before.

The FMLA language is:

"Virtually identical to the employee’s former position in terms of pay, benefits and working conditions, including privileges, perquisites and status. It must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities, which must entail substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority."

Thank you. Guess I have to call and find out what to do about this.

virginiaunicorn11

Kbchavez23 said:

aresee said:

Kbchavez23 said:

hudson202 said:

@Kbchavez23 that really stinks, but unfortunatrly.i do think that is legal. They just have to give you an "equivalent" job when you come back. I'm so sorry you are having to put up with that.

@slr1229 totally agreed. It's the worst.

It doesn't seem equivalent to me. This is like answering phones and checking emails. I had way more responsibility before.

The FMLA language is:

"Virtually identical to the employee’s former position in terms of pay, benefits and working conditions, including privileges, perquisites and status. It must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities, which must entail substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority."

Thank you. Guess I have to call and find out what to do about this.

If you like and trust your employer, you may wish to raise your concerns without invoking the FMLA. And then escalate it if they don't respond accordingly. Or if you think that approach won't work, hopefully the HR department knows enough to take a complaint like this very seriously. (Our Hr is pretty incompetent but they know better than to mess with FMLA protections. Hopefully yours is the same.) GOOD LUCK!

I just started work again yesterday! From home, and only 4 hrs/day to start. And like others said, I'm pretty distracted and not suuuper productive. But it's nice to ease back in, and nice for DH and LO to spend some good time together. One challenge is letting DH be the parent, and not rushing out of my office when I hear LO crying / letting DH learn from "mistakes."

Looking forward to connecting with you ladies on this thread now! I hadn't opened it yet, so am still catching up.

Kbchavez23

@virginiaunicorn11 my boss just about hates me and she is our HR. Lol so I don't have any other choice but to call FMLA.

virginiaunicorn11

Kbchavez23 said:

@virginiaunicorn11 my boss just about hates me and she is our HR. Lol so I don't have any other choice but to call FMLA.

Oh lady, I am so so sorry. Hang in there and stand up for yourself. I read a good meme today that said when people are bad to you, it's their deal, not yours. Because what kind of person chooses to be bad to people.
What kind of HR chooses to be illegally bad to her staff?! What a jerk.
Keep us posted. I hope you get a good outcome here.

Kbchavez23

virginiaunicorn11 said:

Kbchavez23 said:

@virginiaunicorn11 my boss just about hates me and she is our HR. Lol so I don't have any other choice but to call FMLA.

Oh lady, I am so so sorry. Hang in there and stand up for yourself. I read a good meme today that said when people are bad to you, it's their deal, not yours. Because what kind of person chooses to be bad to people.
What kind of HR chooses to be illegally bad to her staff?! What a jerk.
Keep us posted. I hope you get a good outcome here.

Yeah she hired her best friend to take my old job when I left on maternity leave. Now I'm the office bitch (or that's how I feel) I will keep you all updated. Thank you