after maternity leave ends :(

Amy - posted on 08/19/2009

It should be hard at the begining but if u r on breast feeding, the only time to prolongs ur baby hunger maybe u could try to let him use formulae milk for the last feed before sleeping.



Otherwise, I would think that not letting him sleep too much during the day will help.



Nevertheless, all these suggestion does work differently on each baby.



Good luck

Tara - posted on 08/19/2009

This time after you bring baby home sucks!! I know I had the same problem with my daughter I didnt want to leave her but I also was kinda excited to get out of the house and back to work. When I first went back Ava would sleep in her swing off and on until 2 am and then she would be out for the night so her dad and I took shifts I would go to bed @ 10 and sleep till 12 and then he would go to bed and I would be up and half dozing with her until it was time for her to go to bed and then I would go to bed for the night too. sometimes we switched shifts but this allowed us both to take responsibility and get the same amount of sleep!

Jackie - posted on 08/19/2009

I went back to work when my son was 8 weeks old. He went into daycare 5 days a week. I cried the first day, it was hard the first week and I would race out of work to go get him everyday. But to my surprise it got a lot easier after a week. He did well in daycare and I really like his "teacher". There were not a lot of kids at his daycare and it was always quiet and organized. I think if you find a great nanny or daycare, it will ease your mind tremendously. Dropping your little baby off with a stranger can be very scary!! Loving my daycare is what got me through it.

Jeana - posted on 08/15/2009

I am there with you! I just had a baby July 1st and I had to go back to work August 3rd. I was SO emotional, and I still am, I've only been back at work for 2 weeks. I have to pump at work and I cry through it because I want to have my baby on me, not those stupid electric pumps! But it's getting better. I am falling into a routine and it's getting easier. I still want to be at home w/ my baby and my 3 yr old, but it really does get easier! I breastfeed at night w/ the baby in the bed w/ me (I know I am starting a bad habit) but it really helps me get through it all. It's the only time I really get w/ the baby because I work 10 hour shifts and I am gone for at least 11 to 12 hours of the day w/ driving times and all. I was really really tired the first week, but that too is getting better. You will make it just fine!! Promise!! :)

Flo - posted on 08/14/2009

I didn't think I could do it but I did, just like many before me. I returned to work after 12 weeks. The first couple of weeks was tough but (I hate to admit it) I did get used to not sleeping so much. He goes to sleep at 7:30PM right after a bottle. One trick I used is to feed him another bottle right before I go to sleep around 10:30PM. He would still be sleeping but has no problem eating. This way he would only get up once a night instead of twice or three times. One thing really helps me is to pump during the day. It is hard if you have a busy schedule, but I try my best to stick to a schedule and spend the pumping time to think about my baby and what I needed to do for him when I get him home...

Susan - posted on 08/12/2009

Yes it is so very hard. I had terrible guilt when I went back to work with my first. I am onto second time round and I have changed things for the better. I have changed career and get to spend alot more time with my kids. Yes it's less $$$ however I believe it is worth it for all of us. There is no right or wrong answer we all do what we have to do. Just love him to bits when you do see him. :-)

Erica - posted on 08/12/2009

I understand and it will get better! I decided to take my advantage of FMLA. I used 8 weeks of it full time. Then I went back to work part-time. Those 8 weeks gave me just what i needed to transtion back to work fulltime.

Annette - posted on 08/11/2009

Lisa,



It's so hard, but it can be done. I had to go back to work after I had both of my babies. Now, however, I work from home and can be here for my grandson, and it's wonderful! Have you ever considered working from home so you can be with your 2 month old during the day?



IF you would like some information, take a peek at this website. It may or may not be for you, you may not be interested in working from home, and that's great! Just take a peek. http://annettegoudy.buildlastingsuccess....



Thanks for your time, and GOOD LUCK!!! Be good to yourself, it's tough, but you can do it.



Annette

Jody - posted on 08/04/2009

First of all I so feel for you. Thanks for posting the thread,



I am also going back to work after 14 months at home with my baby. A couple of things I am concentrating on to help me deal with it is that my son will thrive being around other toddlers and I will have more money to actually do things with him. These last few months have been special but we've really had to watch our expnses and so I thought wouldn't it be better to go to work and actually have money to do activities with your child. We are going to continue the music class on Saturdays so I will look forward to our special fun time together (music class also costs money) However, I am jeleous of the lady who gets to spend 9 hrs a day with my son and I only get 2.5hrs before he goes to bed for the night.



I'm really suprised that USA does not give 1 yr for mat leave???

Dawn - posted on 08/04/2009

It was hard for me to going back after only 8 weeks. But, I was lucky enough to stay and work from home for the next 4 weeks. Then work from home two days a week. Now I am back full-time. It's hard, but this is what I do. As soon as I get home, I spend an hour with the baby, then we go out to dinner and then I wash bottles while husband spends time with the baby. Then, I breastfeed baby until he falls asleep. He usually wakes up once at night for feeding which you can do lying down. You can still rest without sleeping, then put your baby down again. Then, set your alarm an hour earlier than it would take you to get ready and commute and feed the baby while you rest. Helps with bonding and you can have more mom and baby time. Just tell yourself that you are going to work because you must and it's for the best at this time.

Angela - posted on 08/04/2009

I remember when I had to go back to work after having my son, it was hard. I cried for days but I did it because I had to and you can do it to. My son did not sleep through the night until he was 3 or 4 months old. My body was used to going on little sleep so it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Good luck!

Tierra - posted on 08/03/2009

so far i try to keep my baby up most of the day by playing with her, putting her in the bouncer, or swing. At 945pm I set up her bath give her a bath in the bed time baby wash, fix a warm bottle in lay her on her stomach. I know doctors dont recommend it but she goes to sleep faster and longer.Keep an eye on her while she sleep she'll just wake up for feeding but she should sleep better. Keep doing this everyday ans she get use to it.

Susan - posted on 08/03/2009

I just went back to work last week after having my second son. I was off for six months. Your son may be a little too young right now, but i would highly recommend sleep training when your pediatrician gives you the green light. My baby was waking up 3 times a night. I didn't go to him right away and let him cry for a few minutes and eventually he went back to sleep. Also, he's learned to soothe himself to sleep at night so it makes the night routine a lot easier. Good luck.

Laura - posted on 08/02/2009

You can do it! I remember it was sooo difficult to go back to work and it came with a lot of guilt. You can't let that get you down. I don't know if you're breastfeeding, but it provided some nice breaks throughout the day to go pump. I would get set up, turn of the lights and relax. I also spent that time praying for my sweet baby. It was refreshing. The only other advice I have is find a routine that works for your family and stick to it. That will help you and your baby adjust to the new schedule and sleeping patterns.