When did you go back to work?

[Moomad]

After having your baby?

I'm thinking about starting some part time training in September, two weeks after the EDD of our baby but my OH told me I'm being naive and unrealistic.

I know I'll be tired and it may not be the best time to start but it was just a thought and I feel as though he expects me to stay at home for ages. He mentioned 4 years!!

He will be bringing the money in when I can't work, and when we live together, so I shouldn't be ungrateful but I feel as though he has no consideration for my own personal goals in life. He's just got a fantastic job too and he seems unkeen to ask about his paternity leave which bothers me a bit.

So my question, to those of you who've had babies, is when did you go back to work?

Is one month unrealistic? Two months? A year?

I don't mean to sound selfish, I love my baby already and will do anything for it, but I'm 22 and I haven't got a career so I'm paniking a little. I want to get it sorted as soon as I can.

 

[MrsRH]

honey!!!

You are going to be knackered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you say 2 weeks after your EDD, what if you are 10 days late like me??????

You and your LO aren't going to be in any sort of routine untill a good 3 months. What about breast feeding, sleepless nights, post delivery complications, you may need a c section!

You are young enough to enjoy your baby and get a good career afterwards. If oyur OH will look after you , that's great!!!

I'd say most ladies go back any time after 6 months.

When your LO is here you will love him/her so much you wont want to go back to work and being a mummy is so much fun AND hard work. All the baby clubs and activities to go to

I'd see how you feel being a mummy and then plan training/job
xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Moomad]

Aww thankyou!! You're right.

I've been thinking about it more and more and I realise now that I am being naive.

I guess I was feeling a bit panicked. Thankyou x x

 

[suzib76]

2 weeks is a bit soon, but after having jack i went back to my saturday evening job when he was 3 weeks? ok it was just for a few hours and i had the rest of the week to sort the house etc i dont think i would of managed to be out full time

Lana is 4 weeks and i am itching to get out and work a day lol

 

[LankyDoodle]

I won't be returning til January 2011 at the earliest (baby due in April). Money will be tight but I just can't imagine leaving her. I'm trying to think of ways I can stay with her for longer.

I really think you will be too tired to return to work so soon. I am keeping doing some casual hours in my 2nd job, but it's only about 5 hours a month! I could not do more than that I don't think.

At 22 you still have a long time to get a career and change it at least once! I am 26 and have already done my degree while working as a nanny, trained and worked as a teacher and now work in social care. I will be returning to uni in Sept 2011 to train as a social worker and won't qualify til July 2013, at which point I will be a few months off my 30th birthday!! Enjoy the here and now with your baby. Life is full of opportunities whatever age you are!

 

[Jules]

MOST people have at LEAST 6 months off, usually the full 9 months you get paid maternity leave. My LO's 18 months and i still haven't gone back to work, can't bare leaving her

If you can manage without the money then i'd stay home with LO for a while, they grow up so quick.

 

[wannabemamma]

I'm not going back indefinitely, for at least a few years. But each to their own and completely do what feels right for you and your family!

 

[kiwimama]

I went back to work when lo was 10 mths old. Don't commit to anything until you know how you'll be feeling, you may feel great to start some part time study when lo is only a few weeks old but you might feel completely and utterly exhausted and unable to do anything other than feed/ change diapers for a few months.

 

[AC81]

I'd wait to see how you feel when you've had the baby. I was convinced that I'd be itching to get back by the time she was 8 weeks old! How wrong I was. I had to come back when she was 6 and a half months and I hated it (and still do). I have changed job roles and gone part time since returning to work and I can't believe how differently I feel compared to before I had her. I hate leaving her!

 

[adh]

i have only just got my bfp i work full time at the minute and i earn as much as my hubby i am hoping to work right up till my due date i would like to take of as much time as poss but i know for finance reasons i wont be able to...i would wait and c how u feel thats what i am going to do..the bills will have to wait

 

[xJG30]

I had Tom in the September and was supposed to go back in June 09 but due to health problems didn't go back til July.

 

[OmiOmen]

Well, I am not talking from experience because thins will be my first baby but I am due on the 10th of May and am starting back (as a mature student) at University full time in September. Of course most of the work needed for me degree will have to be completed at home while looking after a baby at the same time. Then should be returning to my part-time job in February 2011 if my husbands shifts will cover childcare for my part-time job (I work out of regular nursery/child-minder hours, he works nights at the moment). I think I am really going to have my hands full with a baby too and it seems to me that two weeks after your EDD seems too soon. I do understand the worry about age and wanting to start a career as I am almost 25 and need to get a degree and even then don't know what to do with it but like someone else said, you could easily be 2 weeks overdue before they will even induce you!

 

[Kitten]

9months after (when my mat pay runs out)

 

[Julie74d]

I planned to go back after 3 months but that turned into 1 year! I just couldn't leave her and having a baby is hard work so needed longer to get settled etc