Dealing with going back to work

Amander13

Anyone have any advice on how to deal with going back to work after maternity leave?  Logan was in the NICU for 33 days so my first month of maternity leave was spent there.  I took the full 12 weeks.

I don't know how I'm going to handle going back, I start crying whenever I start thinking about it.  I work about 45 min away and I work 9 hour days so its a long day.  

any encouragement is welcomed! 

Brummy14

I know I will be an absolute mess, too. And the girls aren't even home with me yet! On top of that, I'll have the constant fear of them getting sick...we are waiting until mid/late April before I head back, so hopefully we'll be done with flu/RSV season, but that won't make me any less irrational. Especially since one of our girls is just now weaning off the last of her oxygen...at 8 weeks old. It's so hard - you finally get them home to you, and then you have to once again leave them in someone else's hands! No matter how capable those hands may be, I'm pretty sure there's no way to feel completely, 100% okay with it. 

nicole0066

I had 4 months off and it was still really hard going back.  That said, the anticipation was much, much worse than actually going back. It is still really hard, but my LO absolutely loves daycare and I know it is really great for her to get the social interaction.  She is at an in-home daycare and has kids of all ages interacting with her.  I make sure that we spend tons of quality time together whenever I am not working.

I also second a trial run.  I dropped her off for a half day and then went shopping to taks my mind off of things.  Good luck! 

DrRx

I had about 5 months off from work (between hospital bedrest and my maternity leave).  I went back on a reduced schedule (I'm based at 30 hours a week and still get FT benefits) and only work 5 days in a 2 week period.  Honestly, I enjoy the balance that going to work gives me.  I feel like I get to be a SAHM when I stay home with her and a WM when I'm at work.  DH stays with her while I work (and vice versa), and he sends me pics or videos of her.  He will also stop by if he's out running errands with her.  I realize that not everyone can have this kind of setup, but is there any way that you can get whoever is watching her to send you a pic everyday or something?

Also, for me, it feels good to speak with other adults about things OTHER than baby stuff.  Granted, I still talk about Adalyn, and ask some mommy things, but it is nice to talk about current events, etc.