Anyone in outside sales?

bancbev

I'm not pregnant yet (we will start TTC in January) but I am trying to mentally work some things out. ?I am in outside sales and am out in the field 4 days a week, the remaining day I work out of my home office. I spend 80% of my time in the car. ?I am completely overwhelmed with the thoughts of continuing this job after we have a baby, and we can't afford for me to SAH. ?

Does anyone else have a similar situation? ? Is there anyway to pump?successfully (in the car, no where to wash parts, no?refrigerator)? ?I'm also worried about morning sickness.

Blah!?

sara1104

me! I am in the field 5 days a week.  I pumped in my car for months.  I can't say it was easy, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I just set short term goals - I gave it 3 weeks to start & if it didn't work, then it didn't work...I ended up pumping for 5 months I think.  I just had extra parts, so I cleaned them at night & took a cooler to hold the milk during the day.  Since I am always in different locations, I had places in all cities mapped out where I could pump without anyone taking notice.  Parks, empty parking lots, etc.  I've only had a little morning sickness with this pregnancy and it isn't fun, but you work through it.  Really, it isn't as bad as you might think!   GL to you!

mgfit1

I am in outside sales too.  I am on the road a lot as well.  I did not go back to work until my DS was 15 mo's old so the pumping was not an issue for me.  As far as work, it works out pretty good for us.  There are some days my schedule is completely in sane, but overall eventhough I work more than 40 hours I can juggle pretty well.  DH does drop off at daycare in the morning because my schedule is different each day.  I try to start work very early by 7am so I can be done early too. I pick up DS at daycare late afternoon and have a good amount of time with him.  I do additional email after he goes to bed since I work out of my home office.  On the days I do work at home from my home office, DH still drops off DS at daycare and I start work at 6:45am at my desk.  I work straight through lunch and pick up my son.  It works well for us.  I can also schedule his dr's appointments in the late afternoon and not have to take time off work since I start work so early.  I also did not get any morning sickness at all.  Good luck!

sparky88

i was in outside sales for a 5 state territory. i transitioned out of my career before ttc. so, i am probably not much help. i will say that after experiencing 22 weeks of pregnancy i do not think it would have worked out...there are so many preg symptoms that are big ?what ifs" and i got many of them. i could not drive a car for weeks w/out throwing up in containers. and the fatigue is something else (for me)! it may also depend on how much your dh can help out on a day to day basis. goodluck!

dogmommy4now

Great question! I am in exactly the same position as you.  Another thought I had is that knowing my accounts, I will not be able to stay on maternity leave that long without it really affecting my job.  Any thoughts on that?

bancbev

dogmommy4now:

Great question! I am in exactly the same position as you.? Another thought I had is that knowing my accounts, I will not be able to stay on maternity leave that long without it really affecting my job.? Any thoughts on that?

I hear you on that. ?My company only offers 4 weeks unpaid leave and we don't qualify for FMLA (under 50 employees). ?I refuse to ask my boss ahead of time if more time is possible because...well I don't want to even tell her when I get pregnant until I can't hide it anymore..lol ?It's not a very family friendly company, actually I don't think anyone working there has children at home. ?Worse case I will take the 4 weeks and I guess SO with have to take a few off before we can start daycare.?

I can't pump in my accounts, that would never work. ?I guess I will just have to figure out the car/cooler pumping situation.?