Working MOMs

SmallCityLiving · February 2014

When did you go back to work?

My current plan is to be off completely for ~10 weeks (depending on when I deliver) and then go back 1 day a week for 4 weeks and then go to full time at that point. As I read other people's posts about babies sleeping (or not!) I'm wondering if you survived being back at work that early? I figure 14 weeks is a LONG maternity leave so other people must be able to make returning even earlier work right?

I'm still sleeping well at 29 weeks pregnant with twins and am so not looking forward to a complete lack of sleep. I think the whole twin thing is really starting to set in for DH and I (these are our first)! Thanks!

carrotcake06 · February 2014

I went back after 15 weeks. I WFH a half day every other Friday, which I really look forward to. I've never wanted to be a SAHM and I could've definitely stayed home another month, so you may find you want all 14w. Weeks fly by when you're in the weeds with newborns. I had a c/s and it took close to a month to recover (for me, others recover more quickly).

Sleep will come and go. You learn to function on less after the initial adjustment.

Wishing35 · February 2014

I went back after 3.5 months. I work evenings 4-12 and they do sleep through but get up anywhere between 6-7 am. I get a decent amount of sleep but I'm still tired, some days I go back for a nap when they take their first nap of the day.

24karat · February 2014

I went back after 6wks part time, 3-4hrs two or three times per week. I went back to a regular schedule by the time my boys were 2.5 months old.

pillowass · February 2014

I went back full time when my twins were 4 months old (born at 37 weeks) and I was more than ready. No one was sleeping, but my days at home were so exhausting that work felt like a vacation

TREDgirl · February 2014

I went back right at 12 weeks really loved maternity leave more than I thought I would. Fortunately I also love my job so it made going back full time easy. They are 19 weeks today and still getting up at least once during the night.

The toughest part of the day for me is the commute both ways which is about an hour. It's just so boring and that's when I really feel the lack of sleep.

ballygirl · February 2014

I went back 3 days a week around 3.5 months. I have a desk job and honestly, it is sometimes a relief to go into work. It is sooo exhausting being home with them all day. My girls are 4 mo now and sometimes they sleep well but we still have a lot of nights where we're up every 2 hours, but it's really a lot easier to be at work all day after one of those nights than to be home alone with the girls.

SWA80 · February 2014

I went back full time 8 weeks PP, my employer only paid me for 6 weeks. My boys were in the NICU for three weeks and i felt a little cheated for not having more time with them. I say take whatever you can. You won't get another chance to be with them while they are itty bitty.

ks3pink · February 2014

I went back after 8 weeks. It was rough for a while but I survived. For the first couple of weeks I only got about 4 hours of sleep a night, and they were not consecutive. Then we got into a routine and it got a little better. They didn't sleep through the night until they were around a year old.

Pittpanther · February 2014

Thanks for posting this. My 12 weeks is up in about 2 weeks and this post is making me feel better about going back. I'm now actually somewhat excited to go back because my part time job will feel like vacation compared to taking care of the twins all day everyday. Lol. Although it is much less rewarding!

shaunah816 · February 2014

I went back at 10.5 weeks, since I had taken 1.5 weeks off prior to my scheduled C section. I went back full time from the start. Going to work is actually a lot easier than staying home with twin newborns

Rynleigh · February 2014

Shit you not, 5 days postpartum. I was in the hospital on bedrest for 2 weeks, then had the boys on a Wednesday (vaginal delivery), got discharged Friday, and went back to work for a couple hours on Monday - brought my boys with me.. had a halfday that Tuesday, and was back mostly full time by that Wednesday. I was delusional and not being very cautious, though. I had a lot of blood loss after delivery (was just a couple points away from them forcing a transfusion), and it was not safe for me to be going to work the way I was. The only reason no one stopped me was because DH and I work at the same place, and I didn't want to be home alone with the boys if I lost consciousness or had an emergency... so we were all more comfortable with me being at work "with help" than at home without it.

PurpleIris30 · February 2014

Well, technically about 15 weeks, but we were living at a NICU out of town for 5 of those weeks. I did try to do some work from the NICU so I could maximize my time at home with them, but that wasn't too successful.

I have a mentally demanding job, and it's a little hard with lack of sleep, but I do have time to eat now.

My girls are on house lockdown through flu and RSV season, so they can't go to daycare or be around any other kids. I'm working 7-3, and then my husband has adjusted his schedule to work evenings and weekends. Although I'm glad they are with him while i am working, not having any time together is the hardest part.

CNYBride05 · February 2014

I went back, PT, at 5.5 mos. I work 3 days/wk.

I had been off since April b/c of bedrest, so none of my mat leave was paid, but it was so worth it, having that "extra" time with my girls. Our culture in the US is disgusting with it's mat leave practices.

It's so true that going to work is easier, physically, than being home, but I miss my girls every second of the day while I'm at work and pumping every 3 hrs is annoying.

solarflare · February 2014

Went back at 4 months, but I work from home, and my boss was still being nice about not loading me up. I couldn't have imagined leaving the house every day at that age.

My babies weren't sleeping great, not horrible though. I was exhausted all the time. I have an intellectual job and sometimes I'd just stare at the computer. I think 6 months would have been a better re-entry point if I had that financial option.

I didn't drink coffee then since I was still breastfeeding, but now coffee makes my work more manageable. It's just the truth.

daisy19782011 · February 2014

I was off 14 weeks, but only 8 of that was once they were home...Mine sleep pretty well. They were in the NICU for 3 weeks and came home on a good schedule. They ate every 3 hours, and we woke them up even in the night for 2 weeks. The pediatrician said after that they were bog enough to let them go as long as they could over night. It started at 4 hour stretches and now they go 5-6 without eating and sleeping through. They are 3 months. I started back a week ago and have been OK b/c I have gotten good stretches of sleep, but honestly, you learn to cope. The hardest was the 1st 3 weeks they were home. After that, either we adjusted or they got better...not sure which

jquirke9881 · February 2014

I went back at 11 weeks. It was hard but you get used to the sleep deprivation quickly.

meldoo2002 · February 2014

I went back at 3 months, they had been home from the NICU about 6 weeks. They were only up once/night at that point anyway. They were home with family during the day for most of the time and then went to daycare at 18 months. I minded not having 2 seconds to myself between work, getting ready for work, dinner, cleaning up, packing for next day of work, etc., but it wasn't horrible.

BabyCarryingVessel · February 2014

I went back after 12 weeks at 3/4 time for one month, then full time after that. It was a breeze, but the girls were sleeping 8 hour stretches and my work is relatively low stress. I also had a nanny so I didn't have to pack them up to get them out the door. I'm living a cushy life, huh??

Caffeine may be your friend for awhile, but you will love the "me" time!

Palan · February 2014

I think it depends on how well you deal with sleep deprivation. My first started sleeping from 11 to 5 at 4 months, I went back to work at 5.5 months. I know I could not have functioned at work with only sleeping in 3 hour blocks, I needed all the naps through day not too be a complete emotional wreck, I would have been worthless at work prior to the 4 month mark.

coffee bean · February 2014

I went back 16 weeks after giving birth. The girls weren't sleeping through the night yet, I was exhausted and I worried I wouldn't be able to focus and think at work ever again. By 6 months after they were born, things were much better!

PS - the 4 month wakeful period is very real!

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