STM- can you work after delivery?

jessica528 · October 2014

Quick question- FTM here. I run a small college consulting business and I have a lot of clients who rely on my services. January is a decent time to give birth (based on application deadlines) but I know that there will be some students who need my attention around the time the baby is due. I will have a lot of help from family after I deliver, but how long do you think until I could return to making necessary calls, replying to urgent emails? Basically, how long after delivery can you think clearly (or close to clearly)? (I work from home, so travel is not an issue) Ofcourse I am making the assumption that I have an otherwise normal delivery.

Mrs_Bennett · October 2014

I don't really think there is any real answer to this question. Every mom and every baby are different in regards to needs, time, and effort.
After my first baby, I'll admit that I had a lot of down time because he slept all. The. Time. I was actually really bored! But, he was also a really easy baby. As far as physical recovery from delivery, it wasn't bad--but I definitely would not have been wanting to be professional or see clients for a while.
DS2, on the other hand, was colicky and completely exhausting. I was totally drained emotionally and so very, very tired. My physical recovery from his labor was easy as pie though!

Really, I know this isn't a great answer, but you will not be able to plan for this until you see how your delivery goes, how you're adjusting to motherhood, and what kind of baby you have.

jessica528 · October 2014

@Mrs_Bennett‌ Thanks for the reply and input! I will not be going to meetings or seeing clients, but I do plan to maintain some communication. I know deliver and baby's nature are unique to everyone, but I was hoping to get some insight about feeling well enough to communicate... Hmm.. If anyone else has input or experience, please share! Thank you!

elleswarth · October 2014

If you aren't meeting with people and this is mostly computer and phone work, then I don't see what the problem would be to resume work close to right away if you absolutely needed to. You're having a baby, not debilitating spine or brain surgery.

csjsmom · October 2014

I would agree with being able to do some communication, especially emailing fairly soon. Maybe phone calls if someone else was watching the baby in case it was crying. They seem to know when you're on the phone and decide to make noise right then. Though I think I sometimes phoned people when I was nursing.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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southernyankeegirl · October 2014

I work with college-applying high schoolers, also, and I think as soon as you feel up to it would be fine to start picking up urgent work. I'd let your clients know you're giving birth, but that you know their application process doesn't stop and you'll be available for some urgent issues within a week or so after giving birth, if everything goes as planned. Even phone calls - if your clients know you just gave birth but it's urgent, they'll be more understanding even if the baby cries in the background. This isn't a white collar board meeting where people will judge you if they hear a baby cry - the parents and students will understand. The only thing you'd have to be more cautious with is communicating on the phone with admissions departments.

I wouldn't put anything in writing, but "as soon as I am able" seems reasonable. And really make sure it's urgent work only for the first few days/weeks.

TXUltraRunner · October 2014

My coworker had a baby last year and was working from home on the computer 4 days later.

Maebb · October 2014

With DS, I gave birth on a Friday morning and could have worked from home doing computer work, phone calls, emails starting Monday. I wouldn't have wanted to, and honestly I probably would have only gotten in 4 hours per day of real work because I needed to focus on breast-feeding until we both got better at it, and I was exhausted when I wasn't feeding or taking care of him. If I had someone to watch him, I probably could have returned to a somewhat full time work from home scenario around 2 weeks PP, but again, I would have preferred not to.

efujan · October 2014

Sadly, I was remoting in to my office from the hospital the day after DS was born. (I don't recommend it - take your time and be with your baby!!!) But I had close to half a day where DS was with the NICU doctors being evaluated & we couldn't go see him yet - plus I hadn't gotten everything passed off for maternity leave yet & had some urgent things that needed to be taken care of. It took my mind off of worrying for a while.

I wouldn't recommend starting back up to work too soon - stick with the urgent stuff only for the first week or two at minimum, then see how it goes. Don't over-promise yourself for the first month, if you're able to do more during that time, you can at your own pace.

AggieMom0809 · October 2014

I think it's a two sided answer. Assuming everything goes smoothly, you can probably answer emails from about a few hours after giving birth. You shouldn't be out of it, but you may be tired. Personally, say take a little time for yourself and your baby. I would put clients on notice that you will be having a baby. I'm sure most will be more than understanding and if nothing else not message you unless it really is urgent. If you can't stop completely, maybe limit the amount of time you spend working so you can still rest up and recover.

Hopefully you will have a baby that sleeps through the night early on, but plan to be exhausted for at least a couple weeks after the baby is born.

ghostof5letters · October 2014

I was on a conference call 24 hours after DD1.

Two weeks max, and you'll be back answering emails and phone calls.

Newborns sleep a lot.

jneden · October 2014

I felt normal again and was able to establish a routine by 2 weeks. I would think you could communicate by then.

mali3 · October 2014

I say train someone else to do the work for you - your time with baby is more important

BookitBoo · October 2014

It depends on everything goes according to plan. I had an emergency C and wasn't able to lift it drive for ~6 weeks (per doctors orders). So if that's a part of your job you may have to defer.

I grew up with stories of my nana who had 4 children, all vaginally. The day after she have birth to my uncle she was on the roof fixing a leak. WTF, super nana. I think it just depends on the person.

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