How long did you wait to go back to work/start a new job when you just had your baby?
Sooo I had complications during my pregnancy and had to finish up in my job veryyyy early on and even though DH would love me to be a sahm (which I love the idea too) I feel I would like to use my uni studies to good again, contribute finacially and find a new job that I can see myself in long term.
So what did you decide and what worked for your family?.x
I went back to work when DS was 3.5 months. Part time. He was at the child care in my building so I was able to BF 3 times a day until he weaned. I was super lucky. Found my perfect work life balance
Oooh that is so handy by having child care in your building BR, that is def something I will look into when I look for a new employer! I always wondered how to work and still BF so that worked out fab for you!
With DS1 I was hospitalised for 6 weeks before he was born at 34w. I went back to work when he was 4 weeks old, part time with him in a pram in the corner. He went into daycare at 12w.
With DS2 I had to go back to work at 12w part-time.
There was no other option - financially XH did not make anywhere near enough money to keep us afloat. We relied heavily on my income for everything.
Thanks for sharing Divvy. I admire working mums and it sounds it was the right choice for your family. I would love to take some pressure off my DH and help finacially even just going back part time.
First time DD1 had just turned 1 and started off just 5 hour one day per week. Best thing for my sanity and way overdue for us financially, really needed for me to working much sooner.
Second time around, DD2 was 2 1/2, went into a temp role for 3 months. Then after DD2 turned 3, I returned to permanet part-time role. Very much needed for the money, was beginning to go backwards. Much needed for my career, if I waited any longer my references would be too old and my skills, meaning a real drop in wages. Also the ideal job appeared and it was too good to turn my back on.
After DS1 I returned to work when he was 11 months old, finished work at 32 weeks. DS2 I stopped at 37 weeks and started back when he was 13 months old casual work though. Decided to do a further post grad dip and started when he was 13 months old.
i thought i was going to have to go back to work when DS was 3 months old. i didn't feel ready at all & i was gutted at the thought. thankfully i didn't have to. i've just started working one day a week for 6 hours in the last couple of months (DS has just turned 2). so far i'm loving it - esp because DP is home on the day i work so DS is at home. i never thought i would go back to the field i used to work in & thought i would never want to but i've slipped back into it without any trouble. i do feel a certain amount of guilt because my potential salary would be a bit more than DP's but i really do enjoy spending the majority of my time with DS.
it took me a long time before i really felt ready & i was lucky that we had the luxury of waiting. it did mean we were just afloat but it worked for us
I went back casual when DD1 was 7 months, not for long though and then we moved. I go back to full time work in just over a week. DD1 is now 2.5 and DD2 just under 11 months. I don't want to. But My earnings are more then DP's plus he can only get casual work which stops when the schools are on holiday, and mine is a more secure position with a fixed rate and penalties. I don't want to go back, but have no choice really.
DS1 – 3 months. I initially worked a 20% load and built back up to FT by the time he was 11 months old. He was cared for by DH and my Mum until I found a wonderful family daycare lady (when he was 11 months). I expressed for him until he self weaned at 14 months.
DD – 4 months. I initially worked a 40% load and built back up to an 80% load by the time she was 14 months. But it was too much with DH working full time (he also travels for work) so I dropped back to a 60% load. I expressed for her until she was about 12 months old, we weaned by mutual agreement ( ) at 22 months.
DS2 – Probably not until he is 18 months to 2 years old. Next year, if I go back to work and DS2 goes to daycare we’ll have a triple drop off. I’m a TAFE teacher and have to be in class teaching at 8:30am and because DH often works away there will be days when I’d have to do it all myself, just not possible.
With DS I returned to full-time work when he was 8 weeks old. It was purely out of necessity, but I was working from home so it wasn't so bad. Dh stayed home for 5 months, then we hired a babysitter.
This time DH is earning enough for us to get by, so I will stay home. I do plan to return to work (part time hopefully and something different) when DD is around 2, which is when we're comfortable putting them in daycare (ideally). I might look to do some casual work on weekends or something before then though. Some time when DD is eating more other foods and I'm getting some sleep
I started uni full time when my eldest was 6weeks old (out of neccessity to get a better life for us. I was 18) when I had DD2 I returned to work when she was 8months which was neccessary to finish my degree (midwifery I was still a student middy and the association only allowed 2yrs to complete the course)
Now DD3 is almost 4 months old and I plan on working casually around my DH work come Nov/Dec when she is around 8-9months old. We wont put her in childcare until she pleads with us that she wants to go. Been a shift worker I can pick shifts to fit around DH work (who is self employed as a tradesman) so no childcare is needed.
I returned to work both times out of necessity. I returned to work part time (3 days) when DD was 3 months old. Then I went to full-time when she was about 18 months. I returned back to work part time (3 days) when DS was 4 months. My DH doesn't earn enough to support the family on one income unfortunately.
This has been a real eye opener to me. I went back to work at when DD was 6 months old and this time around going to do the same. With DD I was ready to go to work and get out of the house, this time around I have another 3 mths to stay home but I am not ready yet to go back to work, that might change in the next three months. I think as I know how busy our life is when I am work, I am not as keen to go back.
I always assumed (why I am not sure) that most members on her were SAHM and often feel a little stressed about going back so early.
I guess it all boils down to doing what will work for your own family and not worrying about what others think.
DD1 was 12 months old when I went back to work part-time (5 days per fortnight). I had complications from the birth, couldn't walk very far, didn't drive and was socially isolated so in hindsight, I went back for my sanity more than anything else.
The job I had was two levels below what I was doing before as a manager even though I was paid the same and I was bored to tears and tearing my hair out.
So, wanting to avoid that situation again, we rejigged our life, sold up in the city and moved to the country to give us more financial flexibility.
DD2 is almost a year old and I'm not ready to go back to work yet. I'm having too much fun at home (whole different ball game this time, I can walk, can drive and am out and about rather than being stuck in the house) and feel like I'm making up for having such a rotten time health-wise first time around.
I'm planning to hire a babysitter and start doing some freelance work from home next year. When she's two, I'll assess where that's at and if it's not looking promising, I'll be looking for a part-time job for 2-3 days per week. Three days is realistic, two days per week in my profession is VERY hard to find.
DH had two weeks off (though half the first week was during the 78 hour labour!!) and then at the end of my 9 weeks, DH took 12 months unpaid leave.
He's just gone back to work, and we're deciding what to do when #2 arrives next year
It's awkward timing for us, because I can't afford to take 18 weeks off work in my industry (and am lucky enough to get 12 weeks paid leave from work!) but DH won't be eligible for PPL *or* 12 months unpaid, because he won't have been back at work for long enough ...
so we'll probably take the baby bonus instead, I think.
When DD was born, I'd had barely 3 weeks off beforehand, and was only off for about 4 and a half months before going back to fulltime work. It was a purely financial decision, we couldn't afford for me to be off work longer even though I wasn't anywhere ready to go back.
This time, it's all a little up in the air - we could manage with me as a SAHM, but I'm not sure my sanity could handle it long term. So am looking into combining a little PT work with PT study to set us up for me to have a better paying job when finished having babies
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When did you go back to work new mummies!
.x
) at 22 months.
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