did you go back to work early?

Kristina - posted on 04/11/2010

Yes I did, My job at the time only allowed 6 weeks. Also, I've always been a single mom and really had no choice financially. I was pretty sad at first, but I had a great babysitter that I completely trusted, so I was more at ease. I was so excited to see him at the end of my work day! :)

Colleen - posted on 04/06/2010

I agree 100% with what you said. I have just one child and had to go back to work when she was 4 months old. All we thought we could afford was daycare. And I hated it. We lasted there about a month and half, with 2 weeks off from us being sick. Lily, my daughter would get sick and wouldn't sleep at night, so we got run down and the whole family was always sick. Needless to say now we are really pinching pennies and got her a baby sitter. We are all much happier and healthier.

Zowie - posted on 04/03/2010

With my second child i went back seven weeks after i had her. i work in child care so i was able to have at work with me but it was still a tough decision to make but we needed the money. i'm still trying to figure out if it was the right thing to do but it has been three years and she seems to be doing great. i think it is a personal choice and you need to weigh up your pros and cons for going back to work.

Brenda - posted on 04/03/2010

I was able to take 3 months off. It was hard but others are right that having a good child care or babysitter makes it so much easier. My sister watched my daughter for 2 years and it was great. Now she is in child care and she is doing so well. it's a church child care and she has so many friends. Good luck!

Julia - posted on 04/02/2010

My maternity leave was for 6 weeks which started the day my water broke at work. Though i did work from home during the 6 weeks to prevent work from piling up. I went back to work fulltime right after the 6 weeks were up.

Nicole - posted on 04/02/2010

I went back after 4 weeks. I'm a teacher though, so it was only for two weeks, then two months off. It was still hard though.

Regina - posted on 04/02/2010

i back after 3 months...

Anne - posted on 04/02/2010

I stayed out for 12 weeks. Part of it was unpaid but it was worth every minute.

Marica - posted on 04/02/2010

i returned back to work after 10wks

Alison - posted on 04/01/2010

I opted to have a full 12 months off from work(paid for three months), but after 7 months (when Lara was 6 months old) I got bored of being at home and got a night job working at the local supermarket packing shelves. It let me have a bit of 'me' time and also some 'me' money which is nice.

I am currently looking for a part-time job and am having a lot of trouble finding one!

Traci - posted on 04/01/2010

I took off the full 3 months allowed by FMLA here in the US (even though I only got paid for 6 weeks). Part of me wished that I could've stayed home with them longer but part of me was ready to get out and have some non-baby time. So it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had read the stories at the time of the mom's crying and calling their daycare provider 5 times that first day. That wasn't me. I agree with another that having a daycare provider you trust is key.

Charity - posted on 04/01/2010

I am a surrogate mother. I had a baby on March 8th, and was back to work on March 12th. Worked one day half day and was back to work full time by that monday. With my own children i took 4-6 weeks off.

Michelle - posted on 04/01/2010

I went back at 6 weeks. I was very lucky to get that because originally I was supposed to be a temp resource, no benefits. But because the assignment was over 6 months, the supervisor (also a mom) noted I was eligible for benefits so I got short term disability (not on the job 12 months so no FMLA) as well as vacation hours for all those doctor appts.

Geri - posted on 04/01/2010

I went back to work for 10 hours a week when my third daughter was 2 1/2 weeks old as I only worked casually & so didn't get maternity leave. This was really hard for me as I'd had at least a year off with each of my older 2 (who have a different dad), but this was what my partner insisted. My youngest is now 3 & I work full-time but I feel like I have missed out on so much with her.

Michelle - posted on 03/31/2010

Hi there yes I was back at work 1 week after I had my son, and 3 days after I had my daughter unfortunately for me I am self employed so going on Mat leave was not an option. Thankfully with my job I can take my kids with me so I spend all of my time with them, or they are with their dad

Lindsay - posted on 03/31/2010

I went back to work 3 months after having my son. But I only work a few days and only work 4-5 hours. So it's not that bad.

Kirstie - posted on 03/31/2010

I went back to work around that time and found it very difficult. I think my son was fine but I just didn't want to leave him and felt very guilty. The longer I am at work the easier it gets and mum's just have to do what they have to do. Good Luck and take care.

Katie - posted on 03/31/2010

I'm jealous of all you moms who got to stay home for 2 months and longer. I only got the six weeks and during my lunch every day for a few months after I was going home to visit my daughter because I couldn't stand being away from her. We needed the money and I almost went back even earlier because it was hard financially.

Lisa - posted on 03/31/2010

I went back to work when my daughter was almost 3 months old. I worked only 1 mile away, so when I went on breaks I could pump or sometimes even go home to breast feed. But you should only go back when you are emotionally ready, or if you absolutely need to.

Kristina - posted on 03/31/2010

Hi- yes I had to go back 2 work when my son was 6 weeks old per job stipulations and requirements. Besides, being a single mom I had no choice financially. As long as u have a trustworthy person that watches your child for you it eases your mind. I thought about him all day long and it was hard. I just make sure I cherish every moment that I have with him every day! :)

Charlotte - posted on 03/31/2010

went back to work 2 and a half months after having baby, only part-time and boy did i feel guilty but on the other hand i did not want to be a stay at home mum. Make sure u are comfortable with the person looking after your child as you will worry whilst at work. Good Luck

Tammy - posted on 03/31/2010

After my first bub I went back to work when he was 7 weeks old. Due to daycare shortages ds had to come to work (fortunately my bosses were great about that) until he started daycare at 5 months and then fulltime daycare at 7 months so still got plenty of bonding time. Ds2 was 5 months when I went back second time around (he also had to come to work a couple of days a week for a coupleof months), much harder this time around, home life much to busy to work fulltime and do all the other things that need to be done. But you can't live the aussie dream of owning your own home without the extra income :( I hope the Australian government takes a leaf out of Finlands book soon!

Hellen - posted on 03/31/2010

i think we should all move to finland to have our babies lol

Pia - posted on 03/31/2010

Reading your messages, I consider myself very lucky. In Finland we have a possibility to stay home quite long. First three months with full salary, then next 6 mths with the government pay that is about 70% of the salary. Most of the people take the full nine months. After that we can still stay home until the child is 3 years old, without losing your job. With my first two kids, I stayed home for the nine months and with third I plan to be home until she is 13 months and still the thought of leaving her to daycare makes me cry.

Susan - posted on 03/31/2010

Went back to work 1 month after having my daughter. I was suppose to work 3 days a week for 2 weeks, than 3 days for 2 weeks, and than full time on the 5th week, didn't happen and thrush back into full-time the 2nd week I went back to work. Threw me for a loop. One day I was late for work and got treated like a child, did not like being treated that way and than I ended up in a car accident after hitting black ice on my way to work, spent the next 2 1/2 months home with my daughter, nursing injuries sustained in my accident.

I felt that I was rushed into coming back full time and had made arrangements with my boss to work with me on this, but somehow it all changed. After the accident, in which he was the first person at the emergency room, the winter time driving changed to adapt to weather conditions as I had 1 hour drive one way to work.

After my accident, my priority changes and decided to find a job closer to home and I haven't regretted the decision since and that has been 9 years this past January.

I think all employers no matter how big or small the company should be adaptable with the new mother and not making her decide between her family and career.

Hellen - posted on 03/30/2010

i was going back when my daughter was 4.5 months but everytime i thouhgt of leaveing her i cryed so i changed it till she is 9 months i would love to stay home but we just can not afford it so hope i can handle leaveing her then...

Deborah - posted on 03/30/2010

I went back when my daughter was 7 weeks old. I was on unpaid maternity leave and we couldn't afford for me to be off any longer, plus I was stir crazy sitting at home and needed to get back into the swing of things at work again.

Keeshea - posted on 03/30/2010

Yes, my son was 6 weeks old when I went back to work.

Amy - posted on 03/30/2010

after having my first I went back to work 6 weeks after having my son. I had to because DH's job kept getting worse and worse so he ended up being a stay at home dad.

Wow, going back to work 5 months later? I wish I had a little more time, but then by the time the 6 weeks was up I was ready to get back into it.

Libby - posted on 03/30/2010

consider yourself lucky. lots of moms (including myself) only got 4-6 weeks off. I hadn't even stopped bleeding when I went back to work. It was hard, but I think it only would have been harder the longer I stayed home.

Stephanie - posted on 03/30/2010

I went back to work when our son was 5 months old too, but I started back to school when he was less than 2 weeks. Luckily my fiance & I could alternate class days so he didn't have to go to daycare until he was 5 months.

Marie - posted on 03/30/2010

My children were born before you could stay out more than 6 weeks; althought it was heart wrenching to go back so early when we came together again at the end of the day we were both so happy to be with each other that it filled my heart each and every day. Trusting your day care person is essential for it to work

Angelina - posted on 03/29/2010

i went back to work 3 weeks after and my doctor didn't like it but i was ready and you have to do what you can. so she stays home with her dad and i go to work i know some ppl think that it should be the other way but i am just fine with it she is happy and she gets to spend lots of time with her dad.

Lisa - posted on 03/29/2010

My daughter is 3 months and I am headed back to work this week. I am so SAD. The time has gone by so fast and It has not been enough time to be with her. I am jealous of 5 months and I am sure that is not enough time.

Rameshwari - posted on 03/29/2010

I started working when my baby was just 4weeks. I started with a part time sorts and then started going full time when my bub was 2 montsh old. I hated it when I had to get back to work....;) But now both my daugther and myself are used to me going to work

Nadia - posted on 03/28/2010

I think that the longer you stay home with your baby the more difficult it is to go back to work.

Angela - posted on 03/28/2010

with my first I got to take off 6 months however with my second I went back after 6 weeks and actually kind of liked it. I was so much calmer when I was with her after work.

Jennifer - posted on 03/28/2010

I went back when my daughter was 4weeks old, we needed the money

Kayle - posted on 03/28/2010

I went back to work when my son was 4 weeks old =( I wasn't even supposed to go back til he was 6 weeks old because of having a csection. But my fiance had lost his job so mommy had to go provide for the family. I am often jealous of the time my fiance gets with him while i get so little =(

Suzanne - posted on 03/28/2010

I went back early with both children, by a few weeks. I was off for about 10 weeks with both. I needed to get back into the swing of things. I was supposed to stay off for about 12-14 weeks each, but I was getting antsy, for a normal adult routine. Going back was very healthy for me. Good luck and try not to feel bad. You did not make it clear whether you wanted to go back after being off work for 5 months.

Jessica - posted on 03/28/2010

I went bavk when my son was 3 weeks old. I couldn't afford to be home without pay.

Denise - posted on 03/28/2010

I started my maternity leave the monday before i had my son (he was born tues) i decided to take 3 months off from my full time job but i recently went back to my part time job because i need the income. its only one day a week and it give my son time to bond with daddy without me

Marie - posted on 03/28/2010

Hi - yes, my first was 6mths and i just started back at work part time a few days a week and slowly built up to full time. With my second however, we just couldn't afford it so I had to go back to work at 4mths. I hated it, but mostly cos I wasn't particularly happy with the daycare. Be absolutely happy with the care for your tot, it makes everything so much easier.

Aunty Val - posted on 03/28/2010

When I had my first two children I went back to work when they were 6week old.This is because I am a care assistant so I had to go on maternity leave at 7months pregnant because of the health and safety policy at work.Unfortunetly this mean't two months spent doing nothing and not enough time after to bond and enjoy being a mum.I could have had time unpaid but who can afford that with young children to raise.The laws have changed since then and mums have alonger maternity leave which is how it should be!!!