Anyone else work outside the home?

[haydensmom1]

I see a lot of posts from Stay At Home Moms. I can't imagine how challenging that must be. But I work outside the home, which also presents challenges. Just wondering how many other moms on the forum work outside the home?
I am an Administrator in the mental health program in a juvenile prison. It is rather stressful, especially while pregnant.

[swtpesq]

I work outside the home, but this will be our first bambino...we haven't decided yet whether I'll continue with my job after we have a child...we're in the process of starting our own company now, so we'll see how that goes.

Yes, being pregnant at work is VERY tough...as I sit here at home, I'm supposed to be at work but I can't seem to wake up early enough to get there on time, and even if I do, I'm so nauseous and dizzy that I can't make it out the front door. And, I just started a new job so I definitely am not telling anyone until I have to. I missed three days of work last week because I was so sick, and I spent all day at work yesterday inconspicuously (I hope!) eating ginger candies and taking Tums. :lol

One thing that is keeping me sane is my utter commitment to the idea that my baby and my health must always come first, no matter what. It helps me to keep that in mind so I know that if I have to make a choice between work and taking care of myself (e.g., whether to stay home when I'm feeling really sick, etc.), I have a ready-made answer.

I must say, your job sounds a lot tougher and more important than mine, tho...You go, mama!!! :thumb

[Zoomommy]

I too work outside the home. I am lucky in the sense that I make my own hours and only have to work 4 mornings a week, but it can be stressful. I have a 4 month old and luckily he is able to go to work with me (I have a baby sitter there for the summer). I am dreading what to do when summer is up--I really don't want to put him into daycare.

[Kritto]

I'm a grad student with a Research Assistantship - so basically, I work for my advisor as a lab tech when I'm not working on my own research. This is my first little one, though, so I don't have any experience (yet) with juggling a munchkin and work. DH is also a grad student, so our plan is to schedule classes/teaching duties/lab work so that we can trade off on child care, at least for the first year. After that, we'll see.

[snazzy_mom]

I work outside the home as well and have since ds was 3 months old ( he's 8 now ). Now that I am pregnant again, I am sure dh and I will have to discuss other options but for now I still work. I work as a technician for an appraisal software company and I am a massage therapist.

[blissfish]

I work FT. DH also, and DS is in fabulous, loving daycare.

My job is pretty high stress, in a corporate sense (not juv. mental health, though - wowee, haydensmom1, that sounds like great, tough work!)

I'm scared to tell my employers about baby #2. They are pretty cut-throat here, and fired a single mom recently.

I feel protected by the law, but it's definitely not a nurturing environment.

Are any of you waiting to tell your employers until you're further along?

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I work 4 days/week waiting tables. I plan to work until I deliver or my OB takes me out of work. It's good exercise:) and I tend to be lazy about exercising while pregnant (and all other times) so maybe this times I won't gain 100 lbs.

[Jess_n'_the_bean]

I work full time outside the home running a 24/7 crisis line for mental health crisis - I can relate to the high stress levels!!

I did tell my boss basically as soon as I found out (about 6 wks), which was a good decision as it will allow us time to plan for my replacement. I definitely work in a supportive environment but feeling pretty guilty about the fact that I have already missed 3 days of work in the past 3 weeks or so.

Between my hubby and I, we will be taking at least a year off to be with baby...but in Canada we get up to a year where you can collect employment insurance (up to 55% of your income) to help during that time. I really have no idea how it works in the US.

I am due Dec 30 (i straddle the Dec and Jan due date clubs) and plan to work up to about mid-december if all goes well.

I think if you can't tell work yet, you should make sure that there are some people who know and can support you when you're feeling crappy!

[niki_73]

I work as a Office Manager. DS #1 comes to work with me (for a couple more months) Everyone here is super supportive about parenting, although i have not told anyone yet as my boss is on holidays and i would like him to know first.

[babysol]

I am a public defender, and I work FT. I have an almost two year old in a daycare that I love. I intend to work FT after #2 is about three months. I will tell my boss when/if I pass my first trimester. They were pretty cool about it last time.

[meggles]

I work three days a week as a reproductive health worker at a sperm bank. We're non-profit and small, and so far everyone there has been very supportive. I decided to go ahead and tell because it was obvious I wasn't feeling well and I wanted support should I have to leave early, etc. Everyone is so excited and happy, which just makes being at work that much nicer. I can't imagine going back to work after the baby is born. I'll probably stop working the week before Thanksgiving, so that I can have the holidays off to nest and be with family. We'll see!

[swtpesq]

I'll probably stop working the week before Thanksgiving, so that I can have the holidays off to nest and be with family.

What a great idea! I didn't even think of that...I guess the holidays would be even more difficult being 8 - 9 months pregnant and still dealing with work!

I think I'll try to do the same. :)

[haydensmom1]

I had to tell my co-workers too. It is obvious that I am sick all the time and the pooch is already there. I've been wearing my shirt untucked for the past few weeks. I come in late or leave in the middle of the day to run home and rest for a little bit. My boss is very flexible. I took 3 months off with my son and am planning to do the same this time around. I'll just take my Chirstmas holiday and then plan to return to work around the first of April.

[Kierdan'sMom]

I work FT as a children's mental health targeted case maanger at a school for children' with emotional handicapos and severe emotional disabilities. I went back to work 1 mo. after DS as I was a single mom and no $$ to stay home. This time, I'm taking the summer to work at my dad's doing landscaping and hoping to continue doing that through Oct. and then take off from then until I go to law school Aug. after I have this babe. My mom has been my daycare provider until now but she's quitting :( so I don't know what I'll do if I have to come back to this job in the fall.

[Carrie Posey]

I work outside the home too! I work at a daycare center that my son attends, it's VERY family friendly, I took off 6 months with my son and plan to with this baby too. In the summer I run a swimming program I am not looking forward to the first trimester at the pool but, by July it should be a blast!

[ilovemyavery]

I work part-time outside the home doing nutrition education. My hours are very flexible and self scheduled. The university I work for provides 12 weeks leave with full pay. I plan on extending that by at least a month for a total of 16 weeks leave. I didn't go back to work after DD until she was about 8 months-- I had quit and stayed home as long as I could. DH and I are floating the idea of me quitting, but we aren't sure. It's nice to have the extra money, I can do much of my planning from home, cutting my hours back to about 10 out of the home. And my mom can watch the baby, so he/she won't be in daycare. We'll see....

[L J]

I am a waitress, full-time. I have already told my boss, and while he congratulated me profusely, he still scheduled me for 4 doubles (11hr. shifts) and two singles (6hr.) next week. Ugh. No m/s, but I am exhausted, and I am going to have to put my foot down about the doubles- I just can't do it anymore.

I doubt that I will go back to work after the baby is born, and if I do, it will just be one night a week, to keep a little extra "fun" money around.

[storychick]

Sort of. I teach a postpartum support class at my birth center, and am hoping to do some client work this summer. This year I had both kids in co-op preschool so that alone was enough of a job (worked in each class one day a week), I didnt take any clients!

I am lucky that I can bring my baby (and my big kids, if I really need to, though I would really hesitate to bring my DS because his special needs make him a disruption) to my class. The bad news is that its impossible for me to hide it from work that I am pregnant. :wink

[TattooedMama]

I work weekend package as a registered nurse on a cardiac unit. I work 24 hours in 2 days (12 hour shifts) with every 4th weekend off. I will take 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave like last time. It sure is a toss up which is harder, WOHM or *staying* at home. I always joke with my patients and tell them "I never miss my kids as much as when I am at work, and I never miss my job as much as when I am home with my kids!" LOL!

[tannersmommy]

I work FT for a fundraising consulting firm, owned by my aunt. We work out of her home office, and I have taken DS to work with me since he was an infant. When he was tiny it was wonderful, but ever since he started crawling full out at about 7 months and walking/running at 9 months, it has become increasing difficult. I feel like I'm being pulled in so many different directions, and I'm not able to do anything well.

Thankfully, my DH just got a promotion and we are moving to a town with a lower cost of living. I will be able to be a SAHM starting in July or Aug!

[quinbearzmama]

I work outside the home as a university administrator and my hours are usually 40-60 hours/week. I was given a very generous leave with my first- I was home for 13 months with my son and loved every minute of it. I knew pretty soon after returning to work that it was going to be impossible to stay in my current job and raise two kids...the way that we want to raise them. Fortunately a pretty incredible opportunity has opened up for my DH- it requires an out of state move, but I will be able to be home with our little ones for at least a few years.

I have had a really difficult time in the past year balancing work and family- it has been stressful, frustrating, and the rewarding aspects of my position seemed to disappear with all of the other problems returning to work created. I do know many moms who have made it work- without sacrificing too much in terms of their parenting values/beliefs. It seems the key is in finding a great daycare option.

I'll keep all of you fellow working mamas in my thoughts!!!

[mami_guera]

I work pt and go to school ft but I am fortanate to have family that wathches my children. Although I will be moving and considering other opions if possible.

[Ahappymel]

Me too...work out of the home Full-Time. I'm an advisor at a college.

[peaceful_mama]

Preschool assistant here, kids with developmental delays and/or language delays/speech disorders. LOVE the job. Plan was to get pregnant in time for a early summer 07 EDD so I could do the whole year and then figure out what was going to come next, easier transition and all.

My mom and dad are DCP for DS. However, they're older mom is 65 dad is 73 in June and both have some health issues that will make caring for 2 full time 4 days a week not feasible. (I really do have the perfect schedule, I'm off every Friday plus all school holidays and summer i only work 12 hours a week with summer school.)

My plan (that DH has agreed with in theory, we shall see what happens now that the time has come for practice) is for us to move into a house and me to take care of a couple of kids along with ours. (Ideally, I'd like to take my friend's 3, one of whom will be in school half-days 4 days a week, he's going to be 4, the little girl is 2 months older than DS and his best friend, and the baby is coming in August.) Hmmm, 5 children 4 and under....two infants, let's see how *I* do this in practice, :lol
Also I have another friend who might move down here but she's just got one the others are school age, I don't think I could just take him and nobody else...
It's a theory.