How Soon PP Did You Start WOH?

[mamacatsbaby]

On Friday I'll be 3 weeks PP. I've got to find a job WOH PDQ because our 1.5 incomes just ain't gonna fly anymore (the .5 is from me working very PT pre-birth). I feel great but don't want to push myself too much. Thing is though a good majority of the jobs I'd be looking into would be fairly physical (server, barista, etc.). I haven't even gotten back into an exercise routine yet, besides walking, b/c I really don't want to push it. I have to WOH though, no other option. Very lucky that hubby and I will be able to work opposite shifts/days so daycare worries aren't an issue.

Didn't really have to deal with this with DS1. More or less a SAHM with him since birth. I do not, not, not want to leave my DS2 this soon, so I'm freaking out a bit about that. OK, I'm freaking out a lot. A good GF of mine made me feel a bit better though. She said she still cries sometimes when she has to leave her 6 and 8 YO's to go to her JOH .

Gah, I'm rambling again . About to get back to studying (having a hard time focusing on classes ). So, how soon did you WOH? What type of work did you do? How hard was it on your body?

[Teenytoona]

I went back at 5 weeks PP. But my job is an office job, lots of desk work, very little heavy anything. I didn't have much PP bleeding either, I was quite done by the time I went back. So I'm sure it would make a difference in that factor. I'm sorry youhave to go back soon, especially since it's a need rather than a want.

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

I went back at 8 weeks with both. I had 2 c-sections and have an office job with minimal physical time. With my first, I was feeling 'normal' around 3 weeks and with my second it was about 2 weeks. Easy recoveries and physically easy job, so 8 weeks was fine.

[Sharlla]

Well I dropped down to sub status after I had her with the intention that DH would go back to work and I might work a shift or 2 during the week for extra $. well his job hunt isn't going so well so I've been working 40 hours a week picking up overnight shifts (mostly sleeping). I started back at 6 weeks, I really wasn't ready until then but I had to start back then because we really needed the money as my job had only paid for 3 weeks while I was gone.

[Carita]

I went back PT for meetings, etc. about 2 wks (VERY PT), hit 20 hrs about 3 weeks. It was a bit painful (bad tearing). Fortunately I had a mostly sitting job. I would go ahead and start interviewing now - it may take some time to find something, go through the interview process, etc. By 5-6 weeks I was feeling much better.

[RollerCoasterMama]

I was 9 weeks and fine for an office job. Just a bit tired after the first full week.

Whenever I started whining about the length of my maternity leave compared to our European and Canadian branches, my mom pointed out that for me (her first) she had 2 weeks before going back full time. And my sister, she had 1 week. My brother she had a bit more time, but she also had a toddler (me) and apparently my brother was nocturnal and colicy. I appreciated my leave after that!!!!

[_betsy_]

I went back to 40 hours a week at 7 weeks with DD1 and 11 weeks with DD2.

The longer time off was better. But I also had a well-established job waiting for me, I wasn't in a tough spot financially by taking the extra weeks off.

By 6 weeks with both, nursing was on track and I was physically up to it, though I work a fairly low-stress, office/desk job.

[bluebunny]

With my youngest two, I went back at 6 weeks PP. I technically have an office job but there is a lot of standing when working in court. I would say it is a "light" job rather than "sedentary." I felt fine physically but pumping is a pain.

I would think that working a server or barista job at 4 weeks PP wouldn't be too terrible but finding time to pump (if you are nursing), would be difficult.

[Mountaingirl79]

I was a nanny and worked at the Y when I had my second son. I started back at exactly 6 weeks. I watched the kids during the day and then took my son's with me to the Y at night for a short 4 hour shift. I didnt have to leave him yet, but I had a 3 yr old and a 9 year old that i watched all day on top of my newborn and 2 year old sons. It was hard, and I went to sleep very early every night but we made it work.

Now I have an office job and my boys are 7 and 9 and it is still hard to be away from them when I'm at work and they are out of school, but I know it's for the best and I love my job. ( I'm the WOH parent and also bring in the bulk of the income) Good luck with what you do, you will make it work.

[jemama]

I went back at 42 days with DD1 and about 2 weeks with DD2. Good luck!!!

[Alyantavid]

With my first, I went back at 7 weeks. With my second, it was 6 weeks.

[mamacatsbaby]

t1h

thx so much for the input all! im trying to just do wht i gotta do but that can certainlty b dificult .

Originally Posted by Carita

I went back PT for meetings, etc. about 2 wks (VERY PT), hit 20 hrs about 3 weeks. It was a bit painful (bad tearing). Fortunately I had a mostly sitting job. I would go ahead and start interviewing now - it may take some time to find something, go through the interview process, etc. By 5-6 weeks I was feeling much better.

im so glad to have gotten only skid marks this time around. its been a much easier recovery by far. the bold part: thats what i was thinking. going to start applying tmorow probly.

Originally Posted by bluebunny

With my youngest two, I went back at 6 weeks PP. I technically have an office job but there is a lot of standing when working in court. I would say it is a "light" job rather than "sedentary." I felt fine physically but pumping is a pain.

I would think that working a server or barista job at 4 weeks PP wouldn't be too terrible but finding time to pump (if you are nursing), would be difficult.

yeah, woried about the pumping aspect. dh and i were discusing the unfrindly bf atmosphere of the hospitality industry last nite. figur ill pump bfor wrk then just try and wrk somtging out wen im ther. what its goin to b is anyones gues lol. ill work it out though 'cause i hav to...

[tonimk19]

I went back to work at 13 weeks PP when my FMLA leave ran out. I have an easy low stress non-physical office job. I have my own office so I was able to pump for DD while at work and went home during lunch breaks.

Can you see about getting a job with a temp agency? They are usually office/ filing/ reception jobs with not much to qualify and you can pick and choose each assignment. Though it also means it is not stable income.

[ShadowMoon]

I went back to work at 8 months PP, part time. At 10 weeks PP I was back to my full-time status.

Daycare wasn't an issue for us either because DP and I do tag-team shifts.

[nola79]

I went back at 8 weeks with ds, to an office job. I was fine. I was fine to go back around 5/6 weeks, but I wanted the extra time with him.

[mamabutterfly]

If it were me I'd really try to only take a job with some way for me to pump if it'll be full time & babe a month old. Like a lunch break etc.

Good luck!

[One_Girl]

I went back four weeks after, but I was able to bring my dd with me because I was doing child care. When dd was eight months old I needed steadier work so I started applying around. I was very upfront about the need to have time to pump and I found that this paid off because nobody questioned me taking time to pump at work.

[c'est moi]

i went back to being a part-time student and occasional substitute teacher 4 weeks pp. i went back to full time student status and occasional substitute teaching 8 months pp. i started working full time as a teacher 13 months pp.