October Working Moms Check-In

Brittnic531 · October 2016

Working Mama's... How's it going?

Brittnic531 · October 2016

I've been a little MIA lately trying to juggle our new normal. Work is going well, but slow to get going (I started a new job going back to work). I had to quit breastfeeding this weekend and I am really struggling emotionally over it.

joleri23 · October 2016

I'm sorry you had to stop breastfeeding. Please don't beat yourself up over it! We all have to do what's best for our family and ourselves, so I'm sure you made the best choice you could.

I'm giving my notice this afternoon and am so nervous! I think I'm making the right choice by going part-time but learning a new job is a little nervewracking.

winnie1122 · October 2016

@joleri23 Good luck! I was so nervous about resigning full time teaching, but so glad I did! I hope your new job goes great!

LDSJM123 · October 2016

I return tomorrow, part time, but M gets to come with me. I'm so thankful for that! I've felt pretty good since she was about 8 weeks, so I've enjoyed being home and tackling projects, cooking nice meals, hanging out with my oldest after school, and just feeling like $h!t was done and caught up (unlike when Im working) in addition to hanging out with thre newest member of the family. I'm grateful I don't return full time until January, but I'm sad this time home has already come to an end.

kellz14 · October 2016

Today was my first day back. I was really happy that while I was gone, someone else took over what I was doing... He's going to keep doing it and now I get to actually move onto a new, even more interesting project. So I'm really happy about this.

I have the world's best childcare arrangement, and I still missed my little man like crazy. I work from home sometimes (I'll probably be doing it all this week) and I have a nanny (who happens to be a great friend) come in and take care of him, and she brings her 1.5 year old daughter. Even though I get to see him here and there throughout the day, I didn't get to hold him and play with him, and honestly it just sucks.

I realize that I'm pretty much only going to be able to see him at night just in time to put him to bed. In the morning I feed him and try to play with him, but at the same time I'm rushing to shower, eat breakfast, get ready for work. When I start driving into the office it's going to be even more crunched.

When do you working mom's actually get to spend time with your little one?

addyplusone · October 2016

If I didn't take Koen with me to work I would only have from 5-9 with him and DD (4). It's really not fair for those that have to do that. By December Koen will have to go to daycare and I may just lose it.

jjtruffles · October 2016

@kellz14 my work schedule varies from day to day but my shifts are 7-3:30 or noon-8:30 most days, so I usually have from 4pm-bedtime or 3-4 hours in the morning & then roughly an hour at night with my little guy. We spend all day together on whichever 2 days I happen to have off every week. It stinks & I wish I worked a normal M-F 9 to 5 job so that things would be consistent and it wouldn't be so difficult to get him on a schedule. Or someone could always just pay me to stay at home and play with him

edited because long day and words are hard.

MollyH1987 · October 2016

@kellz14 I've been back at work for almost 6 weeks and it is definitely not fun dropping off LO at daycare but I get so excited to pick her up at the end of the day! I spend a lot of time with her when we get home as I usually change her, do her feeding, and either play with her or just sit with her as she falls asleep in my arms (she is at the stage where she LOVES being held all the time).

I actually have an interview for a completely new job in a couple hours *eek* My current work environment is just not a place where I feel I can succeed/advance and I'm thinking more about my career now that I have a LO to take care of. I have a friend that works at this place and she seems to really enjoy it so fingers crossed!

kellz14 · October 2016

@MollyH1987 Good luck!!

mldutton · October 2016

My first day back was yesterday. We started LO in daycare 2 weeks ago so I could practice being away from her during the day and so we could see how drop-off/pick-up was (that time was invaluable, I think yesterday would have been way harder if we hadn't done that). Hubby drops her off in the morning so I can go into work early and I pick her up in the afternoon (I work 7-4, hubby does 8-5ish). I started showering in the evenings to cut down on the time it takes me to get ready in the morning.
The weirdest part about going back to work is how normal it feels! Yesterday was very anticlimactic and it honestly doesn't even feel like I left! I think that's a good thing cause I already feel like a normal person. I do look at my pictures of her alot during the day though

HoneyBear40 · October 2016

3rd week in. Being away from my baby during the day is getting a little easier, especially with getting back into the swing with a full plate at work. I still anxiously await 5pm everyday and I have LOVED the past 2 weekends to soak up all the time with her.
I had a breakdown at the end of last week. (It's a whole long venting to strangers on the mental health check-in.) I am still struggling with a lot of the working mom balance things & guilt over a lot of things but all we can do is keep pushing along and hope it gets better with time. This week's newest dilemma is the mandatory fitness classes to earn a wellness incentive at the end of this quarter. They start at 5:15, same time I pick up LO. So, I have to try and leave work early to change clothes, go pick LO up and come back to the class - all while keeping my fingers crossed that she's a happy/content baby for those 45 minutes of the session because I have no option for someone to watch her or leaving her a daycare longer.

I agree with @mldutton, besides some personnel & a few policy changes it is mostly the same and feels like I never left.

setosh · October 2016

I am on week 4 back to work. Starting a new job was really tough and so was stopping BF. I felt really guilty about it, but everyone says that fed is best so there's that.

FTM53 · October 2016

Start work on Monday after 13 weeks off. I'm both excited and REALLY dreading it.

randypluskate · October 2016

It's my first day back today. I have only cried twice and am pretty proud of myself!

FTM53 · October 2016

Dropped LO off at daycare today. He was fine and happy. I still tear up thinking about it.

shaylalr · October 2016

Anyone else really struggling with their babies schedules on the days they go to work? I only work on Wednesday and saturdays. On Wednesday I drop my baby off but it is right in the middle of her normal nap time. Thursday is spent trying to fix everything and then the weekend comes and we are a mess.

sboston06 · October 2016

@shaylalr I'm worried about that too. On daycare days lo will be waking up an hour earlier and needing an extra bottle. Not sure I can keep up with that demand even though I pump enough for her now. So much to worry about! I go back to work next Monday

HoneyBear40 · October 2016

Another week. Another struggle with the working mom balance. My house is a DISASTER (in my opinion...) and we are so dang busy on weekends lately that there is no time to catch up. Feeling unorganized & behind at work and at home....

jjtruffles · October 2016

I hear you on that @HoneyBear40. I've been back to work full time for 7 weeks already and I still haven't even come close to finding a balance. It's just me and my little guy together at home, and it's so hard for me to get anything accomplished on my days off. But I figure he's only gonna be this little once and if me enjoying this time with him means my house doesn't get cleaned as often as it should and the dishes & laundry pile up a bit, I'm ok with that.

Jodi1980 · October 2016

I think the same and I only have one babe...LoL..Props to ALL moms but especially with multiple children. Going over a week without cleaning kills me. Like you @jjtruffles I see that he's only going to be little for a short time and we need to enjoy this time with him while we can! The cleaning can wait but easier said than done!

FTM53 · October 2016

I just dropped LO off for his 3rd day at daycare. He started red faced, screaming as soon as I put him in his crib. How do you walk away? Feeling like the worst mom ever right now.

mldutton · October 2016

I have definitely had to come to terms with a messy house (I was always the type who had a spotless house before LO came). My floors haven't been swept/mopped in a couple months probably, I don't even remember at this point it's been so long. The kitchen is the only sort of clean room because we have so many bottles to clean every week! I have talked to my DH about getting a maid service. Have any other working moms made that choice? I almost feel like it's frivolous and I could just clean myself, but then I look around the house and think, HA! I don't think so...

Brittnic531 · October 2016

I wish I could be more active on here (especially seeing as how I started the thread, lol) but I'm struggling with a lot of things right now.

@FTM53 - it's heartbreaking and all I can say is hugs. I don't know your daycare situation but for me, I know my babies are being loved on and that they will call me if S cries for longer than normal and they can't seem to calm her. My girls are my priority when we get home and I wait to do all my housework after they are down for the night or I take that time for my own sanity. Being a working mom because I have to has been tough... I have good days and bad days. You mommas are doing great! You'll figure out your new routines but it does take awhile. Hang in there!

erinjay1015 · October 2016

I'm going back to on the 24th after having 15 weeks off. We're also moving across state on Sunday & DS is starting daycare. Safe to say I'll have plenty of meltdowns coming up. I just hope I don't have to stop breastfeeding.

yoshi1230 · October 2016

Going back to work today part time. I transferred to a new location within my company to be closer to home. Hopefully I can keep it together today.

kmurdock925 · October 2016

When I went back to work I was definitely glad I packed my makeup bag to touch up before walking in. The car ride there was rough...

On a different note...by the time I get home from work my DD usually wants a nap (between 5 and 6). I usually get home just before 5. I feel like that is entirely too late to let her nap but if I keep her up she will just be super crabby but I worry that she isn't sleeping as long at night as she could because she is rested from that late nap. Realistically, I can't start her bath/bedtime routine until 7:30/ 8:00 by the time i get home, settled in, dinner ready, etc. How late do you guys let your babes take naps?

joleri23 · October 2016

@kmurdock925 We try not to let her nap too late, but we just asked our pediatrician about it and he said that it really doesn't matter what time bedtime and all that is! He's a very middle-of-the-road doctor as far as sleep schedules and all that are concerned, which fits well with our parenting style. He said that his babies didn't go to sleep until 11pm or 12am when he was in residence - that way he could see them when he got home. All that is to say... if you want to let her take a nap and then put her to bed a little later, I think it's quite alright! I'm going to have a varied schedule soon with my part-time jobs and some nights I won't be getting home until 9:30. I think I'm going to see if DH can start putting her to bed... but if she ends up staying up, oh well.

kmurdock925 · October 2016

joleri23 thanks! That is definitely good info. Our next pedi visit isn't for 3.5 weeks. My husband deployed on Monday as well so it has thrown everything off again. I just don't want to sacrifice precious night time sleep because I'm allowing her to take late naps. Glad its a non-issue!

FTM53 · October 2016

@kmurdock925 my LO is 14 weeks and he usually naps for a bit from 5-6. He is rrDy for bed and asleep between 8-9pm and sleeps till about 3-4 then wants a quick midnight snack and will fall asleep again until 6:30-7. I actually like the little nap he takes. Gives me time to unwind, make dinner, ect and since he's up a bit later I get cuddle time.

kmurdock925 · October 2016

@ftm53 that is almost the exact schedule she is on (pending we aren't having a rough night with extra wake-ups). Mine just turned 14 weeks yesterday so that is comforting!

FTM53 · October 2016

So...I have the day off, but decided to do a half day of daycare anyway (one for LOs schedule, 2 to get some big errands done). Got to noon and couldn't figure out why my boobs hurt so bad. I had completely forgotten to pump. It had been like 4 hours and I usually pump every 2...#mommybrain

mnkenned · October 2016

Hey guys, anyone use the spectra s2 and/or have tried Freemies? I rent a medala symphony but I remember good reviews about the spectra and it's wayyyy cheaper. Just hoping for some reviews now that we're back to work

Heathereaddy · October 2016

I have the spectra and like it but I don't really have anything else to compare it to. @mnkenned

LDSJM123 · October 2016

mnkenned said:

Hey guys, anyone use the spectra s2 and/or have tried Freemies? I rent a medala symphony but I remember good reviews about the spectra and it's wayyyy cheaper. Just hoping for some reviews now that we're back to work

I love my spectra! I had a PIS last time and I'm equally happy with it. The spectra is lighter and I love the nightlight feature.

It seems to drain my breast very nicely. If I have any complaints, it's that it only has 6 ounce bottles with with it and realistically with it hooked up to the pump and the membrane that dips into bottle, it can really only hold about 5 ounces so if I'm really full I have to stop 3/4 the way through to swap out an empty bottle. But otherwise, very happy with it!

FTM53 · October 2016

So....first day back (and at a different office today). They had to scramble to find me a place to pump. The sad part is...I work in a hospital...

kellz14 · October 2016

mnkenned said:

Hey guys, anyone use the spectra s2 and/or have tried Freemies? I rent a medala symphony but I remember good reviews about the spectra and it's wayyyy cheaper. Just hoping for some reviews now that we're back to work

I have the spectra s1 which is basically the same exact pump, except it has a rechargeable battery. I love it! It's SUPER quiet, very powerful, and very comfortable.

FTM53 · October 2016

I'm sure it's been asked, but how do you get enough milk in only 3 allowed pumpings?!

LO eats every two hours and can easily down a 4-5oz bottle. That's almost 20oz. I can get 4-5oz a pump session, but that still leaves me a bottle short...

kmurdock925 · October 2016

Going back to work on Monday mornings is the worst...boo

mgotay15 · October 2016

Do you usu pump both breasts at each session? If not maybe try that! I think i may have to start doing that as it seems like my LO is starting to eat more than 3-4oz at each feeding! @FTM53

mnkenned · October 2016

Thanks guys! I think I'll try the Freemies and thinking about the spectra for sure since it's basically 3 months worth of symphony rental.

Had my first day back today. Aside from forgetting deodorant, water, and ice packs it went well haha. Downside is that I only get to pump once and I basically miss a feed's worth of milk like @FTM53. Super nervous about how this will affect my supply :-/

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