I work full time now 40 hours a week and have no choice at this point to not do so after LO is here. I know tons of moms do it and this is my first so my perfect picture of being a SAHM is not going to happen right now.
How many of you ladies plan on going back to work full time after your maternity leave is up? and any advice on how to make it a little easier on a FTM? I'm already dreading it and my baby isn't even here yet lol
TIA!!!!
Re: Who is going back to work full time after your leave...
I'm in the same boat as well. I can take 12 weeks maternity leave and that's it.
So, to stretch it out, here's what I'm doing after my maternity leave is up: I'm planning to use my vacation time as half days for the first 2-4 weeks back at work (I'm pushing for 4 weeks, my boss just wants me to use 2) so I just work 4 hour days at first. I'm also going to negotiate to work 1 day at home per week, but will bring that up towards the end of my maternity leave... My husband will be home taking care of the baby when I go back to work (he's finishing his PhD dissertation and can do it from home) and we live about 10 minutes from my work, so I'm also planning on going home during my lunch breaks and my husband bringing the baby to me sometimes to breastfeed (although I'll be mostly pumping at work).
BFP #1: 10/2011, Pre-eclampsia in last 6 weeks, emergency C-section, DD born 6/25/11
BFP #2: 8/16/14, Ectopic Pregnancy & Methotrexate Inj. 9/5/14, Adverse MTX reaction, HCG levels down after 2 weeks
BFP #3: 2/23/2016, EDD 10/28/2016
This is our 1st too. After my 12weeks of FMLA and PTO I will be back to work full time. I know it is a bit scary but I know our LO will be safe he will be with his daddy a SAHD My only advice would be think of why you are going back to work (Which I assume it is for your LO) That?s what makes it all worth it
Just board hopping...
I work full time and have a 20 month old son This is how I manage:
I do the very best that I can 100% of the time (at work and at home) and I forgive myself for what I can't control.
Last week I had two events that kept me from being the one to put our little one to bed. I forgave myself. Sometimes I leave school (I'm a teacher) as soon as the day is over instead of staying to work with students who may need or want extra help. I forgive myself for that, too.
Anyway, hopefully that advice will help! Good luck!!
I will be going back after 12 weeks as well. I'm the one with a steady job so I have to go back and I also have the benefits for everyone. We'll be getting married in July so he will go on my insurance as well as the baby. Because he can work at whatever hours he wants, and is project based, he will take care of the baby which I am jealous of! I don't want him to have a better bond with the baby than me! My assistant at work (I teach too.) said who would you rather have your baby? A stranger or your husband which is true, but I want to have that special bond! I know I'm being silly but....
Robyn
I'm a FTM but I'm going back to work full time after my STD is up, so about early December. I am already not looking forward to it at all, and it's just amplified by my job being a 1 hour commute (each way) from my house. I hate the thought that if LO gets sick or hurt I won't be able to get to her quickly. I'm probably going to work long enough to find a job closer to home and then switch (or see if I can transfer within the school district to a closer school).
We do consider ourselves very lucky in our childcare though. My mom owns her own massage business so she will be our care giver while we're at work and schedule her clients for when we are home.
House / Baby blog
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DH: 34/Me: 35
Married: Feb 2008
DD: June 2011
TTC# 2: April 2014
BFP!! 8/29/16 --> EDD: 5/11/17....it's a GIRL!!!
I felt the same way as you before DS. It's not easy, but hop on over to the Working Mom board to get some more insight.
Now that DS is 2, here's what I've learned:
1. Find childcare that you are 100% happy with;
2. If you can afford it, get some help on the housecleaning front;
3. Have a frank discussion with your significant other about how, exactly, you will divide up duties once you go back to work. Don't assume he will start picking up your slack once you start back to work.
4. Meal plan.
It's not easy at first, but it WILL get better!!
This is my third child and I've always worked full-time and never regretted it. It is possible to work and be a mother and love doing both.
Figure out what is going to make you feel most comfortable with regards to child care. How much can your husband be at home with your baby? Tour a million daycares to find one you're really comfortable with, or, would you feel better if a family member watched your child or an in-home provider? The more you know you are leaving your child with someone who really cares for them the easier it is.
That, and go with the flow. If you have to work you have to work and there's no point to wallowing over it. Hopefully by the time you return to work the baby will be in somewhat of a routine and that will make it easier for you to see what you need to get done when in order to make everything work.
Good luck to you and feel free to check out the working moms board.
Kelly, Mom to Christopher Shannon 9.27.06, Catherine Quinn 2.24.09, Trey Barton lost on 12.28.09, Therese Barton lost on 6.10.10, Joseph Sullivan 7.23.11, and our latest, Victoria Maren 11.15.12
Secondary infertility success with IVF, then two losses, one at 14 weeks and one at 10 weeks, then success with IUI and then just pure, crazy luck. Expecting our fifth in May as the result of a FET.
This Cluttered Life
Hi!
I'm 30 weeks with my second and I plan to go back full time to work after 13 weeks leave. After my first, I went back after 6 weeks (because I couldn't afford to stay home any longer).
Honestly, it affects us as parents more than it affects our children, especially when they are young. My daughter was smiling and giggling when I left in the morning, and she was smiling and giggling when I got home in the afternoon. What I did find to be helpful though, was to keep her picture with me (in a locket around my neck specifically) so that she could "be with me" throughout the day and anytime I really started to miss her I could see her smiling face. Sounds cheesy, but it really helped. Frequent phone calls to the sitter/nanny/day care helps too!! After a couple calls, you'll realize your little one is just fine! :-) My daughter was in day care from about 6 months on and as a result; she gets sick less frequently, had better social skills because she was around so many other kids, more advanced as far as walking, talking, etc. so there are other benefits to our kids being around other kids.
I hope it's as easy with my son on the way than it was with my daughter! :-)
Good luck, mommies!
I too am going back to work full time after my maternity leave is up. I have a higher paying job and better benefits than my husband so I really don't have a choice on this one. I also have a PT job waiting tables at a local restaurant and I am thinking about keeping that job and just working Sunday mornings (as I can make almost $100 on a Sunday morning). It is really difficult to think about how much time I will be away from my little guy. I am thankful that my husband will be able to work opposite of my so that he can stay home with the baby while I am at work. I never went to a day care when I was young so I would be a bet nervous about sending my kid to one.
I dont have any suggestions or advice for you but I hope all works out for you. If you ever need another working mom to talk to just let me know.