I'm looking for advice!

meggl28

Hello All!

I run an in-home daycare!  I keep 5 babies (ages range from 1-3).  They're great!  They really are wonderful children!  I am also a full time student!  My babies get picked up at 5 every evening and then I go to school from 5:30-10:00.  I will continue with this for the rest of this semester and through Spring semester! 

I'm actually due the week of my exams next April!  (I will take those exams early).

I am seeking advice on how much time I should take off when I have the baby.  I plan on having this baby naturally however, after hearing the doc tell me my pelvic bones are narrow I'm a little worried I may not be able to have the baby naturally.  Guess we'll see.

 

What is the normal time for maturnity leave?  I don't want to lose the babies I keep!  I thought about keeping the babies without taking any time off, but several ppl have discouraged that idea.

Any thoughts?

Gina418

Regardless of how you give birth, you will need time to physically heal. Running after 5 toddlers is not going to let you get the rest you need. Maternity leave plans differ - anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.

I would not recommend taking no time off. Take at least 4 weeks to give yourself time to heal a little bit and to adjust to motherhood.

SweetieD21

Normal maternity leave is 8-12 weeks.  But, since you have your own business, it's basically going to depend on how much time you can afford to take off from work.

erbear

to look after 5 toddlers + your newborn?  At least 4 months.  There is no way you're going to take care of a newborn, recover from a birth, go to school full time, and watch 5 toddlers anytime soon.I'd suggest hiring someone to help you now, then fill in for you for a little while after you give birth; you're not being realistic about the demands of a newborn.    I would not put my child in the care of a brand new mom.  It's too exhausting.

And ease back on the exclamation points!

staycee

my newborn didn't sleep more than 3 hours at a time (including all night long - constantly waking up) until she was almost 3.5 months old.   I was a walking zombie.

meggl28

erbear:

to look after 5 toddlers + your newborn?  At least 4 months.  There is no way you're going to take care of a newborn, recover from a birth, go to school full time, and watch 5 toddlers anytime soon.I'd suggest hiring someone to help you now, then fill in for you for a little while after you give birth; you're not being realistic about the demands of a newborn.    I would not put my child in the care of a brand new mom.  It's too exhausting.

And ease back on the exclamation points!

 

I am more than likely going to drop 3 of my babies.  I will continue to keep a set of siblings that I've been taking care of for 3 years now.  I won't be in school full time when I have the baby.  I'm due in April and will start school full time again in August.  Maybe I should have stated some of these thoughts in my initial post. 

I didn't ask for advice on the use of punctuation, but I appreciate your input on the time off.  I think 4 months is a bit much, but then again I could be wrong.  I'm thinking more along the lines of 6-8 weeks!