Working mamas question...

[AGlimmeringHope]

When do you plan on going back? I'm 3 weeks pp and wondering when I should start the job hunt, since I have no job to go back to but we do need me to be working. Living with my parents has gotten even more exasperating since Reese was born and we need out of here like yesterday. I am going insane, it's negatively affecting dd1 and mine's relationship, etc. I can't take this for much longer. I stayed up all night last night doing budget scenarios in my little finance notebook I use and unless I get a temporary job to help pay some things off and build a small savings for emergencies, we can't afford to move anytime soon. And staying here longer just so I can be a SAHM isn't worth it- what's the point in being at home when being there makes you so uptight and miserable that you're not being a good mama to your own children?

I've started looking at job ads, etc. My breastpump should be back to me in a week or two, at which point I'll begin to pump regularly (I have like 6oz or so in the freezer from my hand pump) to build up a freezer stash. I'll probably start applying for jobs around the same time. Just wondering if anyone else will be going to work so soon? I hate it, but I just don't see another option that will keep us all happy, safe, and sane.

[Code Name Mama]

I'm going back end of Feb., Kieran w/b 2.5 months. I don't want to go back either, but we can't afford for me not to

[LaLibertad]

Ugh, I don't want to even think about it.

I'm going back part-time at 3 months then full-time at 6, I think. I am also looking for jobs. I also don't know if the 3 months at part-time will be do-able for us financially. There are a lot of different scenarios that could happen between now and when I'm suppose to go back.

I haven't even thought about pumping yet either, though I should and just not put my head in the sand. Maybe I'll start practicing and working on it in a couple of weeks just in case.

[Belleweather]

I'm going back March 3, unless there's some problem or complication that will let me stay off longer and be paid through short term disability. We really can't even afford for me to be off that long, and will end up putting everything on the credit card until I'm working again. (Which I hate, but that's why I was so insistant on praying for a tax deduction baby...)

I suppose I'll probably start working with the pump when he's about 3-4 weeks old, just to get a stash built and get used to it again. Frankly, I'm looking forward to that about as much as elective toenail surgery, so I'm just focusing on enjoying my little guy while I can.

[mama2rey]

I go back in early March-I don't want to-but I have to. I go back and forth between staying at my job-or working as an independent contractor with my friend's business. Working independently scares me, but if I take the plunge, I may make more money that what I make now, and be home more.....

I have to work. Our mortgage is huge-and we can't pay our bills without my income. Right now I am trying to find childcare-but it breaks my heart to even think about leaving my LO with someone else!

[AGlimmeringHope]

Originally Posted by expectantmami

I go back in early March-I don't want to-but I have to. I go back and forth between staying at my job-or working as an independent contractor with my friend's business. Working independently scares me, but if I take the plunge, I may make more money that what I make now, and be home more.....

I have to work. Our mortgage is huge-and we can't pay our bills without my income. Right now I am trying to find childcare-but it breaks my heart to even think about leaving my LO with someone else!

I think part of the reason it feels a bit easier for me to look for work is because I know Reese and A-L are with my parents. And although they drive me completely batty and don't do things quite how I would (more junk food and tv, for instance), they do everything with the love they have for the grandchildren. And nothing they do actually puts my children in any kind of jeopardy.

That being said...I'm calling after the holiday on a receptionist job at a natural healthcare center.

[mama2rey]

Having the babies stay with family does make it easier. It looks like a family member might be able to take care of my ds when I go back to work. I know I won't put him in a day care center yet.

[clintonhillmama]

i'm taking until at least march, and then we'll reasses the financial situation. i'll definitely go back to work at some point - i'm freelance, and so it's not as though once i decided to work, i have to commit to 5 days a week, so that's good. the bad part is, i have no control of how much or when the work comes in!

thinking about work now makes me have an anxiety attack, so i've given myself a pass NOT to think about it until march 1.

i'm not going to build a big breast milk stash. as much as i love nursing, i hate pumping. ds got formula : when there wasn't any breast milk in the freezer. but the days i do work usually provides at least a day's worth of milk, so it pretty much works out for me.

[Nantucket]

If you pump, you don't necessarily have to introduce the bottle, right? I hadn't even thought about that... what do you use to freeze it?

I wasn't planning on pumping until I started to go back to work because I thought the LLL book said something about it but now that I think about it, maybe it said not to introduce bottle yet.... I'm reading these books to figure things out but every book says something different, I have no idea what to do!!

I'm going back to work in March and the idea of working/bf'ing is daunting! The LLL book has anecdotes of moms working all day and bf'ding all night... that's got to be wearying!! I agree, thinking about this gives me anxiety attacks too!

[AGlimmeringHope]

I'm not concerned about pumping and working, really, but I worked from the time dd1 was 3 months to when she was 13-14 months, so pumping is really no new thing. My concern this time is making sure I always have milk in the freezer- last time I did no pumping except for a day before I started my job, and it was daunting always worrying about if there was enough for her. Especially with my dad's Parkinson's...it's not uncommon for him to spill milk when pouring bottles.

I use the Lansinoh storage bags. I pump into the bottles with my pump (I have a manual medela and an electric avent) and then pour the milk into the storage bag to freeze. It saves space and I don't have to have as many bottles on hand, either.

[*MamaJen*]

I'm planning on starting to transition back at four weeks, and be fully back by eight weeks. I'm so lucky, though. I'm going to take Cyrus to work with me, at least three days a week. I'll be doing a lot of work out of our satellite office, which is small and quiet, and there's another baby who goes to work with mama there, and it's 90 seconds or maybe two minutes from my house. The other day or two I think we're asking his paternal grandma to watch him, or maybe two half-days. I'll probably start pumping at three weeks or so, just to get the hang of it, and freeze the milk.
I am already doing a little work from home at six days postpartum--I was actually writing my magazine column this morning with Cyrus asleep in my lap (it's on the joy of babymooning and I think it's pretty good; I'll post it when it's done).
I really am lucky about the entire work situation.

[mom2liv]

I'm going back mid-to-late Feb (still deciding on the exact date), though I am trying not to think about it right now! I'm very lucky that I work from home, so I'll still be able to breastfeed, and dh is stay-at-home-dad, so that helps. (Though I'm still SOOOO jealous. Wish so bad I could spend the day with the girls instead of him!)