Just thought I'd add that I got a job when I was 5 months pregnant - they knew full well that I was UTD and they were more than happy to hire me. I finished up with them 1 week before DS was born, and I didn't get maternity leave of course. It suited their needs and it suited mine too.
Don't assume that no-one will want to hire you when you are pregnant, you should still try. You might be surprised.
Oh, and a SAHM is a great job too - tougher than your DP thinks! One day without you around, and he'll change his mind, i'm sure.
My DH was the opposite. He knew it was going to be financially tough as did I. But this was one of his main reasons for not wanting to try for a baby. I then saved my butt of for 2 years and saved $ just to prove to him that we could afford a baby and now our baby is almost here.
As for Centerlink. The new baby bonus 'means test' will affect you. If you both earn more than $75'000 combined income over 6 months then you wont get any assistance. But if you earn under that combined you will get some assistance. And I think it is something like $380 a fortnight. My DH is in IT and although he does not have his own business he is on OK money. But because I will not be earning a living in that first 6 months we will be under the $75'000 combined income so we will get some assistance for at least the first 6 months.
I will go back to work part time after 3 months (at this stage) but I can work from home. Then after 3 months of doing that I am back at work full time but some days in the office and some at home. I feel very blessed to have such flexibility but still the thought of feeling like I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK is frightening. So I can sympathise with you on that.
And if your anything like me this will eat at you until you both meet a compromise. I went through this at your stage of pregnancy and I lost sleep over it until we sat down and I explained how worried I was. In fact when we booked into the hospital I had a quick sych evaluation for the possibility of post natal depression (hospital policy) and while DH sat next to me the nurse said my results came back border line and I think it was then that DH realised just how worried I was about work and money.
My long winded post simply says. Try and sort out a compromise soon cause although things will change when the baby comes. You still have the rest of your pregnancy to go and you don't need this playing on your mind when you need to be looking after yourself!
His whole world will be turned upside down. DH works from home and although he never wanted me go back to work it made him build an onsite office to get out of the house, he couldn't concentrate on his work with DD around.
He is in IT too so I think you will find your hubby has the same problem, it was too hard for him to focus on his work when DD was awake.
Hi hun I agree that your DP will probably be shocked by how much time a baby needs! I have hired pregnant people plenty of times for contract roles or temp roles and it can be a great arrangement for both you and the employer. One because you know you can work for x number of the months and your employer is safe in the fact that you won't be off trying to get a full-time job which happens a lot with temp employees! Start scoping around now at agencies and see if you can get some level of comfort around potential temp roles just in case you need it.
Goodluck!
As the others have said, it doesn't sound like he has a real understanding of the reality of a new baby. You should keep negotiations open with DH, but don't push him too much until after the baby is born and he has a chance to see for himself. It may be that he has to reconsider drawing a wage for himself out of the business, or look into other avenues of financial support. maybe point out to him that there would be the cost of childcare (even if he is at home, he will be working!). But don't push him on it too hard too quick - because if he is anything like my DH and all the other males I know, he will get defensive about and even more stubborn and refuse to change his mind, or even consider other alternatives.
Also maybe you could look into a career change, a work at home job - or taking on a different time burden (ie, casual, part-time or after hours). find a job that suits your new lifestyle. I have a job that requires me to work as a casual, only a couploe of nights a week - the money isn't great because of the short hours, but without childcare costs etc, we seem to have about as much as if I worked fulltime. There are also options such as tupperware, Avon, etc.
I hope he changes his priorities around. Either his business starts earning the $$ to support the FAMILY or he can go and get a bloody trainee job somewhere....
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