Returning to work soon

So I'm heading back to work- my decision.

For DH and I we have always agreed that at this stage we wold rather one of us home to look after DD rather than use child care.

At the moment DH is working FT and I am getting maternity leave pay- but that finishes in Dec so we will only have DH's wage. Seen we can survuve soley on my pay if I work full time we have decided I will go back rather than DH working FT and me working PT aswell and never having family time. DH will be a SAHD.

Now with all that said, I really don't mind being back at work. I am a nurse and I love my job. I have been offered some really great training opurtunities and look forward to it all. I am just soo worried DD is going to miss her mummy. Will she know I'm not there...will she think I have abandoned her? Gosh- I know it sounds silly but I don't want her to be sad. I know that I will miss her like crazy- my heartbreaks just thinking about it- but it makes it worse if I think that she will be missing me too IYGWIM :(

I'm not worried about DH caring for her- I have trained him well ...LOL...I am just sad that I won't see her 'good morning' smiles and have morning hugs and basically just won't be around her all the time :( The longest I have been without DD is 3 hours at that was very hard work! :o

I am not the first mum to return to full time work, I know that, and I know I'm not the last so how to I get rid of this ache in my heart and the anxiety I feel about not being around her? What strategies do you use during your days at work when you start to long for your baby? Should I start being away from her for longer periods now so she can get used to it? (or me get used to it more like it...LOL)

AHhh, I am beginning to understand why my mum told me to get used to feeling guilty when I became a mum...:)

TIA

I think that the separation is much harder for mum to cope with than for bubs. Especially if she is at home with her dad, who I assume she is already comfotable being around. It is probably a good idea to start leaving her a bit more so she (and you) can get used to the idea though.
When I went back to work part time, my boys went into daycare. For a couple of weeks before I started back I took them to the centre for a half day and built it up so it wasn't such a shock for them when it was full days.
Unfortunately it was still really hard leaving them, and 9 months on, sometimes they just want to be with mummy and it is still really hard to say good bye. You just have to get tougher, and make the most of the time you do get to spend with her. :)

I was the same when I returned to work. I was working a desk job and was able to go in for only a few hours each day. I was leaving him with MIL and he loved it. I could express at work and leave that MIL. I wasn't back at that job long (long story). I was out of work for about a year and I decided to get a different job. Now I work in a nursing home. MIL would take care of DS for times between when I started (230pm) and when DH got home (6pm). Now she has a job and I decided to go to uni (as well as work). I transitioned DS into daycare. He loves it. I feel so guilty if I don't have to be at work/uni and he's over at daycare (it's in the same street, so sometimes I can hear him playing and having fun), but he loves it.

Your daughter will adjust, DH will adjust. Everything will work out. I second the transition. Can you start leaving her with DH for a bit during the hours you will be working?

Thanks guys :)

I think I just have to mentally prepare myself and try to stay positive about it all :)