Anyone else back at work/getting ready to go back?

[Jelinifer]

My 12 weeks of FMLA leave is up a week from tomorrow. I've been dreading this day sine the minute ds was born- and it doesn't help that I had to waste a week of it on bed rest at the end of my pg too.

I'm also really stressing about how my pumping routine will fit into my workdays.

Anyone getting close (tips/advice from wohm pumping moms would be awesome too!)

[Starfish11]

Hey mama! I lucked out and had my baby at the end of the Spring semester and don't have to go back until the work period right before the Fall semester SO I will end up with 4 months off total. I have to say that I am super paranoid that someone will call and tell me that they made a mistake and I'm not approved for that and I will have to return sooner than that.

I, too, have dreaded going back to work since the moment I had Wyatt. BUT I love my job; truly love it so that helps. With Evangeline, I felt so sad and depressed and did the requisite crying BUT by the end of the first week I felt good about working and being a mama. I needed perspective and time for sure.

Let yourself be sad for sure. AND it totally helps when you trust and care for your daycare provider. Ours is an old friend who I just adore and she loves our kids like they are her own.

Pumping for me is a nightmare b/c I travel between campuses all the time AND have no set schedule. I bought a new pump this time as it comes with a battery pack so I will be able to pump in my car. I keep giggling over this b/c part of me wonders if I will really freak out students when they walk by my car and I'm hunched over with my boobs out

[Jelinifer]

I'm thinking of pumping in my car too-because of a lack of a good private space in our office where I can pump.

I am incredibly lucky with childcare. Finn will be with my mother while I'm at work. I'm very close to her, Finn absolutely loves his grammy and my parents house is on my commute route too... that situation really couldn't get anymore perfect.

I think I'm just really surprised by how hard I am taking going back. I knew I would be upset, but didn't expect it to be so earth-shattering.

[Zangua]

I am back at work. Sometimes I bring baby with me and sling her while I work (she has attended 4 births now!) and sometimes I leave her with DP or a family member/friend. I have a hospital grade pump at home, but I have found that for pumping on the go, the Avent handpump works just as fast/effectively. I can throw that in my purse along with some storage bags and a cooler pack of ice and I am good to go.

The first day back will be the hardest. It gets easier and easier.

[KSDoulaMama]

Originally Posted by Zangua

I am back at work. Sometimes I bring baby with me and sling her while I work (she has attended 4 births now!)

This is amazing!

[Starfish11]

Zangua, that IS amazing! I would love to have had babies at my births.

J, earthshattering is a GREAT way to describe it. It made me examine so much about myself and who I thought I was.

[rhiOrion]

DDCC

Not too many people in the April DDC seem to be going back to work around the 12 week mark, so mind if I join you over here?

I went back June 28th. It was so damn difficult. I sat in my car after I dropped her off at day care and bawled. Like, sobbing, hiccuping, crying.

I've gotten to where I feel pretty confident in her care, but I still miss her constantly. I feel like part of me is missing, or like I'm forgetting something.

Pumping is a battle. I'm lucky in that we have a spare office I can use to pump in (I share an office). So I set up my pump and net book in the morning and then go pump several times and read MDC and surf the net. I usually pump twice in the morning, over lunch (I sort of cluster-pump... two or three short pumps during lunch), and once in the afternoon. I'm getting enough milk, but it's hard work. Breast compressions are my friend.

I've found that I go into things on Monday feeling pretty good. But by Wednesday I'm feeling pretty run down. By Friday I'm absolutely exhausted.

Another difficult thing is that when I get home I want to do nothing but sit with L and look at her and nurse her and play with her. But the milk needs to be put away. Dinner needs to be cooked. The dog needs out. Etc.

Don't let this discourage you, it's doable. But it's not easy. Everyone says it'll get easier, though.

[mamaspirit]

Originally Posted by Zangua

I am back at work. Sometimes I bring baby with me and sling her while I work (she has attended 4 births now!)

I did this with Freya (my third baby) when she was a baby... I assisted a midwife. It worked really well. I even attended a few hospital births as a doula with her in my sling.

[Wolfcat]

I've been back at work since 6/14.

All I have to say is GET ORGANIZED. I have a bag for my pump, a diaper bag for ladybug (~3 mo), a bag for bug for anything he needs. I clean and fill as much as possible at night and my morning routine is very specific. Keeps me sane. Also, I just recently took up meal planning. Now, I look at the meal for the night before leaving in the morning, and I can stop at the grocery store at lunch if I need to.

For pumping, I share an office with two guys, but I was upfront with them. If they need the office and I need to pump (and can't wait until they're done), I see if the other office can be used. I haven't had any problems yet. Take a baby blanket with you... if you have difficulty getting let-down, you take a sniff, close your eyes and picture the baby... works really well.

Other then that, start by doing the bare minimum to get through the day. You can always add onto your to-do list. Don't forget to take time to chill.

BTW, I'm a single mom working QA in a manufacturing plant, and due to the situation, my kids each go to a different daycare. Timing is EVERYTHING...

[Jelinifer]

Originally Posted by Wolfcat

I've been back at work since 6/14.

All I have to say is GET ORGANIZED. I have a bag for my pump, a diaper bag for ladybug (~3 mo), a bag for bug for anything he needs. I clean and fill as much as possible at night and my morning routine is very specific. Keeps me sane. Also, I just recently took up meal planning. Now, I look at the meal for the night before leaving in the morning, and I can stop at the grocery store at lunch if I need to.

For pumping, I share an office with two guys, but I was upfront with them. If they need the office and I need to pump (and can't wait until they're done), I see if the other office can be used. I haven't had any problems yet. Take a baby blanket with you... if you have difficulty getting let-down, you take a sniff, close your eyes and picture the baby... works really well.

Other then that, start by doing the bare minimum to get through the day. You can always add onto your to-do list. Don't forget to take time to chill.

BTW, I'm a single mom working QA in a manufacturing plant, and due to the situation, my kids each go to a different daycare. Timing is EVERYTHING...

I really need to get on the ball with that. We exhausted the end of our freezer meals halfway through last week and ate cereal or taekout the rest of the week. I've had to revamp my diet to work around ds's food intolerances recently too so trying to figure this whole super quick dinner thing is tricky!

[d_lighted]

I'm going back in 2 weeks and am alone in looking forward to it? I'm only going back 3 days/week, so I'll have Tuesdays and Thursdays home. I'm looking forward to thinking/doing things that are not baby-related, to leave my neighborhood and be elsewhere, and in general expand my world for the first time in 3 months...I mostly don't feel guilty about it, but anyone else?

[maydaymom10]

Originally Posted by d_lighted

I'm going back in 2 weeks and am alone in looking forward to it? I'm only going back 3 days/week, so I'll have Tuesdays and Thursdays home. I'm looking forward to thinking/doing things that are not baby-related, to leave my neighborhood and be elsewhere, and in general expand my world for the first time in 3 months...I mostly don't feel guilty about it, but anyone else?

I have mixed feelings. I go back next Thursday, but only in the afternoons. On one hand, yes, I'm excited to have some time to myself without DS. But, I'm also anxious about leaving him and afraid that I'll miss something. It's really ridiculous b/c he'll only be in daycare about 4-5 hours a day. I think in the end I'll appreciate both my time away from him and then cherish my time with him more once I go back. Either way, I'm prepared to be a wreck that first day. At least I don't have students who will see me crying... just my colleagues.

[Wolfcat]

Originally Posted by Jelinifer

I really need to get on the ball with that. We exhausted the end of our freezer meals halfway through last week and ate cereal or taekout the rest of the week. I've had to revamp my diet to work around ds's food intolerances recently too so trying to figure this whole super quick dinner thing is tricky!

I got a white-board calendar that I mark two week's meals at a time. I use what I have for that planning and pick up an item or two throughout the week. I build in leftovers days and I've really cut back on wasted food, plus we eat healthier meals. I'm looking into crockpot recipes which I'm hoping to start using within the next month.

[Starfish11]

Originally Posted by maydaymom10

I have mixed feelings. I go back next Thursday, but only in the afternoons. On one hand, yes, I'm excited to have some time to myself without DS. But, I'm also anxious about leaving him and afraid that I'll miss something. It's really ridiculous b/c he'll only be in daycare about 4-5 hours a day. I think in the end I'll appreciate both my time away from him and then cherish my time with him more once I go back. Either way, I'm prepared to be a wreck that first day. At least I don't have students who will see me crying... just my colleagues.

I go back August 16 so in about a week. I love my job so I am looking forward to being stimulated by it again; I will cry like a fool the first day, though. DH will do the morning drop off to help ease my pain about leaving my two little sweetie babes. This summer was my test to see if I wanted to be a sahm and I have to say that I have loved it; yet I am the best mama I can be when I am balancing work and mommyhood.

I am NOT looking forward to pumping, though. I have to do compressions so I can't use both pumps and pump both breasts at once. It's a cumbersome thing that pumping.

[organicpapayamama]

Im dreading going back as well. I just finished up the last of my baby bonding time and now am using the savings I had saved up just for this. Im thinking I maybe have another month or two. we shall see how far I can stretch the money.