Has anyone else returned to work?

Janice - posted on 08/25/2011

I'm back at work this week and missing every single minute away from my little one. I'm using the Baby Connect application on the iPhone and PC to keep tabs on what she's up to though and I love it. Very happy that my mum is as diligent with using the app as I am so I am constantly updated with pictures and funny descriptions of what she's up to! http://www.baby-connect.com/

Doni - posted on 08/24/2011

I understand; it was hard for me to leave my little girl, who too is cared for by my mom. It helped (at first) to go visit her on my lunch breaks somedays and have pictures of her wherever possible. I pick her up as soon as I can and sometimes have my mom bring her out to lunch on my lunch break. You will find that you will start to be okay with it because it is something you have to do for him. Some days might be harder because you are having so much fun with them that morning but you know that he and you can look forward to that at the end of the day too! It will all be ok and you are always his mom; no one else takes that place. you have that connection ( I was worriedmy girl would just love everybody and not know the difference of me or day care). But those extra hours you spend with him are important. Enjoy mommyhood!

Tenaya - posted on 08/06/2011

I have a now 5yr old and my 2 1/2 yr old that stay with my mom as well while i work... its been 7months now and David(2yr old) is finally ok with me dropping him off and leaving. for the first idk 5months i had to walk in the house take him to the leaving room and sneak out the front w/o hin seeing me or it was a crying throwing a fit session for 10min which broke my heart everyday! Even when i left and they were with their dad the fits happend and i still hurt, eventually they will realize ok moms coming back and grandma is just as fun...I work FT, go to school and am going through my externship right now, and when i get home and my kids say "mom we missed you, we havent seen you all day" it kills me, but all i can think is im doing all of this for you both, and all of the sacrafices will soon pay off! Dont worry Amber the pain will ease and things will start to get better gradually. ~Tenaya

Caitriona - posted on 07/13/2011

In the samedilemma Amber but determined there is another way. If it isn't what you really want in your heart of hearts...there is way. I know the financials is a biggie...but stick with it and you will find a way around it. Will keep youposted how I get on. Thinking of you.Keep the faith you will find a way, don't give in to all aroind who tell you there is another way. C

Joanne - posted on 05/19/2011

after being home with my little man for three precious months, I will return to work May 23. I'm very sad about not spending my days with my baby but I'm eased knowing he'll be with his awesome daddy, who will send me picture updates and come for visits during the week. I plan on treasuring our nights and weekends together as a family.

Bethany - posted on 05/01/2009

I went back to work after 6 weeks of maternity leave. It was definitely hard, but a couple of things really helped me through.. figured I'd share. One is, in my line of work, I have constant access to an Internet-capable PC at my job, and am able to e-mail and chat my husband throughout the day; he is an internet consultant and works from home, so he's doing double-duty as a Mr. Mom, too. I'm able to hear from him about the spills and smiles and spit-ups, and sometimes get a pic via e-mail to cheer me up if I'm feeling sad and missing baby. The other thing I found helpful was keeping a couple of pics of my little guy on my desk, so I can "see" him all day, even when it's 11+ hours between saying 'bye' in the a.m. and getting back home late at night. Chin up, working moms - we do what we have to do because it means we are doing what we must to take care of our little ones. :)

Tanya - posted on 04/29/2009

I'm also from Canada and get a year off on mat leave. I cant imagine

how hard it must be having to leave your baby with a sitter when

they're so young! I just know I'm gonna cry when I have to go back

to work and leave him at daycare :( If we could afford it, I'd love to be

a stay at home mommy.

Tanya - posted on 04/29/2009

I have been on maternity leave since Jan 3 my daughter was born on Jan 16 I have to return to work om May26 although I do have to work this sat and this Tuesday coming. Then Im off till May 26. My sitter is going on vaca. I am so upset I have to leave my little I am sick just thinkin bout it. I will miss her like crazy! I am really nervous too she is BF and doesnt like the bottle to well I am afraid she isnt going to take it while I m gone.She likes to be nursed to sleep . I am so sad.

Heather - posted on 04/25/2009

I've been reading the posts and feel so sad for so many of you. I couldn't imagine going back so early. In Canada, we also get a year mat leave. Hang in there.

Sarah - posted on 04/25/2009

i got 54 vweeks in total actually as i left work 2 weeks earlier than i intended to as i was shattered .. plus i ended up in hospital with a stomach bug

Rhonda - posted on 04/24/2009

I had to go back to work last week too - and I cried when I dropped her off at daycare! Pumping is the thing that sucks the most about it all!

Jennifer - posted on 04/24/2009

My small office does not offer paid maternity leave and because of the economy I went back (part time) after 2 weeks and full time after 5 weeks. It has been hard, but mostly because I am so gosh darn tired! This is my second child and we have a great babysitter so I am a lot more at ease than with my first, but I should have worked part time longer so I could recoup! i really wish I lived in England! My only advice to those of you worried about going back to work is to focus on work when at work and then spend quality with your baby when you get home - it is an amazing reward when you come home from work and have your baby smile at you or your toddler run up to you and give you a huge hug!

Alma - posted on 04/24/2009

I also had to go back after 6 weeks. It was the hardest thing to do. I started crying two days before my first day back at work. Those weeks just went by too quickly.

Amber - posted on 04/24/2009

I am so jealous I want to move to England or Norway. I had ten weeks and it just wasn't enough. It has been a month now and I still miss my baby the minute I leave him. I miss every smile I don't see during the day and every coo.

Anne - posted on 04/24/2009

Here in Norway we can choose between 44 weeks fully paid and 54 weeks with 80 % salary. We have chosen 54 weeeks leave, so I will not go back to work before the end of November and then my husband will be on leave till mid January.

Sarah - posted on 04/23/2009

i take it most of you aren't from england??

we can get 52 weeks in total ..26 weeks of 'Ordinary Maternity Leave' and 26 weeks 'Additional Maternity Leave' .. i've taken the full year so i go back to work just before christmas .. which is annoying as it'll be oliver's 1st xmas .. i'll have to try and book xmas eve etc off (we dont open xmas day ) .. stop getting paid in oct though so i have been considering maybe going back early if i'm skint.

Crystal - posted on 04/23/2009

i'm going back on May 4th and it just tears me apart. its like a cruel joke thats being played on you, you carry this baby for 9-10 months you get 6-12 weeks for maternity leave and then BOOM you have to be away from your baby for 40 hours a week!!!

i just keep telling myself, alot of people have to do this and it WILL be ok.

she is sleeping now and i miss her already!

Jennifer - posted on 04/21/2009

I go back in three weeks, May 11th....the day after Mother's Day! I am getting more sad every day. I play with my son and he just smiles and talks back, then I get all weepy. I know I am lucky that he will be 16 weeks when I go back, but it's definitely hard to think about.

Amanda - posted on 04/21/2009

I returned to work March 1st. My son was only about 6-7 weeks. It was sooo hard but I had been off work for 5 months prior due to bedrest. So I financially had to go back sooner. It was the hardest thing ever since I just wanted to be at home with my new baby. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Lisa - posted on 04/19/2009

I went back at 8 weeks with the twins. I welcomed it.

Kelly - posted on 04/15/2009

I have returned to work. I went back about 7 weeks after my c-section. It was very hard at first and still is. I work in the resturant business though and i keep picturs of my daughter on me at all times seeing her face every time i go to take someones order keeps me motivated...she is 11 weeks old now, so after being back at work for about a month it has become much easier

Robin - posted on 04/15/2009

Where I am from we get a year off (mat leave) I didnt return to work until my oldest son was 2.   For my youngest I dont plan on going back to work until he is in school.  With my oldest child(girl)  I went when she was 9 months.  She was born before they changed the mat leave to a year.  They changed the mat leave in 2002 to a year because they say that mother/fathers should have this time off to be a home bonding with their baby.  6 months is maternity 6 months is paternity leave.  For the last 6 months it could be the father or mother staying at home with the baby.  Unless the child is addopted then they only get 6 months.  And daycares here do not accecpt babys under 6 months old and some even a year. 

Brydget - posted on 04/15/2009

I went back to work when Willow was 10 weeks, but only for four days before having 2 weeks off -L- I teach at university so I went back the week before mid-semester break as a way of easing myself into it and easing Willow into being away from me. She is with my sister for three days, I have her one day and my hubby has her one day so its not too bad. I missed her terribly though and while I love my job I am torn, I would love to just take the rest of the semester off! But only 6 weeks to get through then I have another 6 weeks off. One of the worst things has to be expressing, I miss being able to feed her during the day :(

Kimberly - posted on 04/14/2009

I went back to work when mine was 10 weeks. I was supposed to go back at 6 weeks but her Dr. would not release her for daycare. i cried for days going back. I still hate leaving every morning. But I am a teacher so I only have 36 days left and then I will be off for 8 weeks.

Justine - posted on 04/14/2009

I had to go back to work at 6 weeks because I didn't get FMLA yet...It was really hard and still is...I don't have any good advice except think of it as another why you are able to give him all he needs...love him a lot when your home and it does get a little easier, but being a mom I think it will always be hard to work!

Erin - posted on 04/14/2009

I had to go back to work as soon as I was done with my 6 weeks and I hated it.  It's so rewarding though when I come home and LilaRay gets all excited to see me.  It's hard but you do what you have to and they'll understand.

CoreyAnn - posted on 04/13/2009

I'm suppose to return to work next week and I just can't stand the thought. I just wanted to let you know your not alone and wish you the best of luck!

Clare - posted on 04/13/2009

my little boy will be 3 weeks to the day when i go back to work. i applyed for another job whilst on mat leave and didn't think i'd get it but did. i'm terrifyed my little girl was 6 months that was hard enough!!!

Jenny - posted on 04/11/2009

I too had to return early to work. The first several days were difficult, but I know my baby is in good hands so that was comforting. His sitter, also my friend, would send little text message updates. That was a HUGE help to me. Now we are in a routine after 3 weeks and it's a lot easier.