For all you STMs who went back to work after maternity leave last time... How did you deal with being out of the loop at work for that long without, well, working the whole time? I'm seriously not sure how I'm supposed to not work for 3 months. Did you keep up with email, but not really respond and get involved? Still work a few hours per week after a while? I have bi-weekly revenue status calls with my 3 properties, for which I will still be updating the reports after the first few weeks because they're tedious, I made them, and I don't feel like dumping them on other people. Am I crazy to think that maybe I can just get on the phone for an hour and do the meetings myself?
ETA: I realize all of this is completely dependent on the baby. But, in a more ideal situation, am I crazy for wanting to continue running my own meetings? I already work remotely from home, so it's just a matter of hopping on the conference line in my yoga pants.
Re: Not working on mat leave - Question for STMs
ETA: As jobs go, I definitely don't hate or dislike my job. Since I have to work, I like what I do. But overall, I would quit in a heart beat to be a stay at home mom and I am feeling totally burnt out (like I did last time), so that might influence my decision. If you really love your job, I can understand staying more involved.
I took 12 weeks off with DS and honestly, it was fine. My first day back I had to kind of remember a few things and get familiar with things again, but it came back very quickly. I wouldn't worry too much!
I don't think it's crazy to think you can handle some work things here and there either. You should be able to do that.
BFP # 1 - 12/19/09 EDD 08/27/10 - D&C 1/26/10 @ 9w5d
BFP # 2 - 06/05/10 EDD 02/17/11, DS1 born on 2/14/11
BFP # 3 - 04/10/13 EDD 12/21/13 - D&C 05/15/13 @ 8w4d
BFP # 4 - 07/27/13 EDD 04/08/14 - CP 07/29/13
BFP # 5 - 09/14/13 EDD 05/28/14, DS2 born on 5/22/14
When I had DD I had to defend my PhD 8 weeks after she was born to make the graduation deadline. The university gave me 8w maternity leave due to csection. I did nothing for 3 weeks. Then wrote my thesis from home the next 3 weeks and was back in lab at 7w PP. I tried to get a little done while DH was at work but the bulk of the work I did from 4pm to 1am after DH came home.
How much you can get done will depend a lot on your LO. DD had to be held constantly and didn't go more than 30min between nursing sessions. So when DH wasn't home I worked with her strapped to me in the carrier if at all. I also discovered that she would let me put her down in the carseat (not the bouncer though) and sometimes I could get an hour of work done like that. But you don't want to keep LO in the carseat too much it's bad for the spine.
2011: FSH 13.3 & E 99; AMH 0.54 2nd FSH 6.2 E 40's AFC: 8
BFP from Clomid/IUI ~ Pre-e and IUGR during pregnancy ~ DS born 9/4/12
Feb./March 2013: AMH less than 0.16 (undectable) and AFC = 4;
BFP from supps ~ DS#2 due May 2014
May 2014 January Siggy Challenge:
I took 12 weeks off with DS and I gave myself two hours each week to read emails (but not respond) just to keep myself in the loop. I kept my blackberry shut off and would only turn it on during those times. There was a few (maybe 5 occasions) where I received calls on my personal cell with questions that literally no one else could answer for them and I answered them, would chat for a few minutes and that's it.
This time, I will have a full time replacement and she will overlap me before and after leave for a couple of weeks on each end, so I don't plan on reading emails or anything. If she needs to call me on occasion that's fine. But since I'll have her there should be no reason for me to read emails since she will be there handling everything. I'm taking 4-5 months this time.
1st BFP-8/17/12! Missed Miscarriage discovered @ 8 week US. D&C.
2nd BFP-2/13/13! Blighted Ovum discovered @ 8 week US. Natural miscarriage.
3rd BFP-5/22/13! By early June, progesterone plummeting. Another loss.
August 2013 - started Donor Egg process, but surprise BFP with my own eggs.
Dear Son born 5/28/14
I took 12 weeks with DS and got approved to take an extended leave of 16 weeks this time. I have no desire whatsoever to read emails or attend conference calls while I'm on leave. I've put together a super detailed maternity leave plan on how my responsibilities are being delegated and handled while I'm gone and I have a colleague from another account stepping in for me to deal with my client. I'm hoping the way I've set things up will make it easier for me to catch up when I return...I'm just ready to completely turn work off and focus on baby.
It goes so fast and I remember being so sleep deprived while I was home with DS that I didn't start to feel like I could hold a normal, functional conversation until he was sleeping through the night, around 3 months.
BFP#1 - 11/27/09 EDD 8/5/10, DS1 arrived 7/24/10 via emergency c-section.
BFP#2 - 6/18/12 EDD 2/23/13, sweet baby girl born sleeping on 10/4/12 at 19 weeks, 3 days.
BFP #3 - 1/18/13 EDD 10/1/13, natural mc on 2/2/13 at 5 weeks, 4 days.
BFP #4 - 8/29/13 EDD 5/12/14, our sweet rainbow, DS2 born 4/29/14 via c-section
LCT - 5.15.14 ~ 9lbs, 22.5 inches
LCT - 5.15.14 ~ 9lbs, 22.5 inches
This time, I have an assistant and a couple of direct reports, but this initiative is mine. So potentially similar. I'll check in once or twice a week and get a package each week to review and sign budgets and invoices. I plan to take at least 12 weeks....and those first 4 I will probably be minimally involved...and then slowly more as it goes on.
T 2.12 | W 5.14
I don't think it's crazy to want to do your meetings. How soon after the birth would you be doing them? For me that was very important. I'm happy to work a little bit on leave but in that first 3-4 weeks, don't call me unless the building is on fire.
I'm kinda leaning towards what @yvanehtnioj mentions and not doing anything for the first few weeks, then playing by ear. Thinking about 150 emails a day x 10-12 weeks makes my head spin. I just know my General Managers won't watch things as closely as I do and I don't trust them to not leave money on the table. God, I suck at not working.
*hope that a doctor would not need to put me on disability after 9 weeks
I'm a self-employed fiction editor and copy editor. With my first I took 3 months off. During that time I didn't take any assignments but still kept up with emails, social media (a must in my industry), new book releases (I read a lot in my spare time just to keep up with what's out there), and any bulletins or style changes that my publishers and indie clients sent out.
I probably spent an average of 15-30 minutes a day dealing with business matters during my off time, and much of it I could do on my phone while I fed DS or pumped so I never felt like I was taking time out of my day or away from my family. I was able to maintain my business and keep up with clients, which made my back-to-work transition much easier.
DS: 11/8/11 | 9 lb 7 oz, 22 in
DD: 5/22/14 | 9 lb 9 oz, 21.5 in