Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Is anyone else going back to work after just 6 weeks?

I hate the idea of that so much, but it's really the only option for us financially!

How will/did/do you deal?

What effects does this have on BFing? Does that mean I can only do it for a little and then I have to pump?

Will I feel ready to go back that soon??

I'd love to hear from anyone doing this or anyone who has done this!

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Im going back at 12 weeks. Taking full advantage of FMLA. Im only getting paid for 8 weeks though. It will be tough financially and EXCRUTIATING to go back and leave DS!! Everyone says that first few days are tough but after that it's ok.

As for BF you can still BF when you are home but at work prepare to pump those feedings so you don't drop your production.

Im not looking forward to it AT ALL!!!!

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

me.

barring some real issue with the baby, I am going back after 6 weeks and I share your concerns.

I plan to continue breast feeding in the mornings/evening and pump for the bottles during the day.

I am HOPING this works out the merrily way it does in my head...but something is telling me to brace for issues too.

either which way, I am feeding the baby breast milk as long as my boobies will provide it. whether the baby sucks it out directly or I have to pump for all meals is the only variable (besides my milk coming in)

it does suck that the baby will be so tiny still, but financially it's the best thing for us too.

I hope it works out for us all!!!

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Me too...

and it reallly kills me inside...soo much. And, even if we could finacially afford another few weeks of me not working (which we can NOT lol) then my job may not be an oppertunity for me to return to. Soo...I really have no choice but to just suc.k it up.

I hope that we all get through it OK. I'll be counting down the second till I can get out of work to be with my DC again....

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

I'm going back to work after only 6 weeks. I plan on breastfeeding and pumping. I'll have my own office so I'll have a private space to pump. I'm sure it will be hard, not only leaving my baby but having to be at work and adding to the time away because of the LIRR commute. My consolation is that my parents will be the ones watching my baby.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Hayley-I am going to definitely need to have something in the works by then. I will probably pump for the daytime. This is unless I start my own law firm and can be a WAHM. It really stinks, I totally understand.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

I am going back and forth over going back after my 6 to 8 week disability or taking an additional 4 weeks. I get full-pay for the disability, but the other 4 weeks would be unpaid. Going back to work is one of the reasons I am not going to BF. There are no private offices here (all our doors are glass) so nowhere to pump.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

financially, its our only option. Unless the doctor tells me otherwise, I will go back after 6 weeks. ive decided not to BF bc Ive been reading up on it and I would have to pump at least once while at work and thats just not an option for me. Im going to talk to my dr about BFing for the first 2 weeks (bc Ive read this is the most important time for a baby to have that) and then swicth to formula.
I wish I could stay out for 12 weeks but its just not an option

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

I'm going back after 6 weeks i am not bf for that fact. i dont want to spend all my time pumping. i hate the thought of going back, but our mortgage says i must. dh and my mom are splitting the days so i dont have to worry too much!

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

I'm taking 3 weeks paid vacation/sick. After that I will work from home on an hourly basis for 9 more weeks and go into the office 1 day a week. I just hope I will be able to put in hours!

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Originally I was unsure if I was going back to work or not, but now since I will have been on bedrest since 25 wks I am DEF going back because we are going to be hurting really bad for $$. I am not sure how I am going to deal with this, but I will prob just work part time to start out and work my way back into it because with DS I was home until he was 5 months old.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

my boss asked me this the other day...i just gave him one of these looks

Im not sure. i dont think i could. we have $ in savings that we can use to cover our monthly expenses if need be. I will be paid for 6 weeks, plus maxing out 3 weeks vacation. The rest will be disability and i think company short term disability...not sure. but if i have to suck up 3 - 4 weeks with just disability, so be it.

HOnestly, im not even sure if i want to go back to work. but a lot depends on DH's job situation as well.

I feel your pain. its a hard decision to have to make.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

As of now the plan is that I am going back after 6 weeks - unless the dr. says otherwise... Like many others - financially I have no choice. I am not sure about BF right now...

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Posted by Ophelia

me.

barring some real issue with the baby, I am going back after 6 weeks and I share your concerns.

I plan to continue breast feeding in the mornings/evening and pump for the bottles during the day.

I am HOPING this works out the merrily way it does in my head...but something is telling me to brace for issues too.

either which way, I am feeding the baby breast milk as long as my boobies will provide it. whether the baby sucks it out directly or I have to pump for all meals is the only variable (besides my milk coming in)

it does suck that the baby will be so tiny still, but financially it's the best thing for us too.

I hope it works out for us all!!!

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

I went back at 7 weeks after having DS. Now, granted I only work PT so it's probably a little easier anyway, but it really wasn't as bad as I imagined. DS is with DH or my mother while I work so I don't have the daycare issue either.

As far as breastfeeding, we've been fine. DS still hasn't had a single drop of anything else & he's 4 months tomorrow. I pump twice a day at work (5 hour shifts). I also started with a HUGE freezer stash (over 300 oz... I had a serious oversupply the first 2 months) so there is no stress on me if I have a lower production day sometimes (which will happen & is normal!). I would definately recommend building a freezer stash especially returning FT that early on.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

Two years ago I took 7 weeks off after having my son and then returned to work...but...my husband was able to take off 5 weeks so that we could delay daycare until he was 3 months old.

For our situation...

How will/did/do you deal?
Since my DH was with my son it was easier to go. At the time I was so tired that I actually looked forward to the routine that work requires...shower when I woke up...out of the house for a while. I found it most helpful to have a routine in general and while DS was still trying to get used to it...it helped us to have a set time for things...a list of what had to get done. Most of all...it was the teamwork factor. My husband really did so much to make this work.

What effects does this have on BFing? Does that mean I can only do it for a little and then I have to pump? You won't really know until you get there. For me I had problems and just didn't push because I was going back to work...but I did pump and continued for 6 months supplementing where necessary with formula. It worked for us...DS got BM which was my ultimate goal.

Will I feel ready to go back that soon?? For me...it was yes and no. Yes because I was guaranteed a shower and time away from a crying baby. No because I felt guilty and missed him terribly. But coming home to him was (and still is) the very best feeling for me.

I do believe that this helped push our routine which in and of itself has been a huge help. We all live by our routine but know enough to allow it to be flexible when needed. It has changed with our changing needs but having something in place has been huge...and my going back to work (and my type A personality) really forced it. Also...having my husband to help - and I mean really take things on more than 50% at times - really helped.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

DS was born back on 12/30 and I went back by choice on 2/15 (I was planning on staying out longer). Prior to having and then being home with him, the thought of having to go back to work and leave him made me feel sick inside.

It all changed though when he came. I was starting to feel "stir-crazy". I missed interacting with my clients and colleagues, and I actually enjoy the time I get to be away from him. I do get to work from home a few days a week, and my family watches him, so I am sure that is why going back to work wasn't that hard for me. As much as I always thought it would be cool to be a SAHM, and as much as I love my son, I feel like I NEED to work and that it makes me a better mom too.

I am happy that I can still contribute financially and I still get to see all "the firsts", because whatever he does in front of anyone else, he will also do in front of me and it will be new and perfect.

I personally chose not to BF because I knew I would be going back to work and I didn't feel 100% committed to it, but, if we do have another child, I may try it because adjusting to life as a first time parent, and a working mom was not as hard for me as I thought it would be. Routine is everything.

ETA: I also asked for a change in role/responsibilities when I went back to work. I used to be a supervisor and had to work long hours and deal with a ton of stress. Now I am just a regular old social worker and life at work is much more bearable. I see my clients and do what I need to do and then am with my son. If this is an option for anyone, I highly recommend it. It was not a huge pay-cut either.

Message edited 8/8/2009 3:07:14 PM.

Re: Is anyone going back to work after 6 weeks? (or any BTDT that did?)

When I had DS I was back at work 3 weeks later and plan to do the same this time around as long as I'm physically capable. I only work part time, so that made it easier to leave DS. Plus I'm ot a sit at home type of person, so I was glad to get out of the house for a couple of hours without DS- especially since he was colic. It was nice to run away from the crying for a few hours. As for the BFing, I started pumping at 2 weeks to make sure DS was ok with taking a bottle while I was gone. I only had the need to pump at work once a week on my long day. It worked out fine and DS didn't get formula until he was 5 months old.