Going back to work after baby

[rootbeerfloat]

I went back at 10 weeks with DS, and it was too early. I went back with DD at 12 weeks, and it was fine. But I still would've liked 6m to a year in an ideal world.

[litasail]

I went back at 16 weeks. I was ready to go back then.

[whitepicketfence]

DD1 - I went back at 12 weeks. I thought I was ready, but I was far from it. I resigned a month later and became a SAHM for 3 years.

DD2 - I was a SAHM when she was born and didn't go back to work (part-time) until she was almost two. I was content with not working but we knew that if we wanted more kids, I'd have to be working in some capacity in order to afford them.

DD3 - I wet back at 9 weeks to a part-time (23 hours/week) position. After being home with all 3 kids all summer and with the construction to the house, I was more than ready.

[elocrates]

Was on ML for 4.5mos with DS1. I was excited to go back, but it was mostly because I was starting a new job and was eager to just get going with it. There were lots of tears in the evenings for the first couple of months. I don't know that any more time would have made that better.

Had 12 weeks of ML after both DS2 and DS3 (but was on bedrest for 11 weeks prior to DS2 and 8 weeks prior to DS3). Particularly after DS3, I would have really loved more time, but I wasn't coming back to anything exciting at work. There was just nothing there to anticipate but the daily grind.

I think 6-12 months would have been just about right. I have no aspirations to be a SAHM, mostly because I really enjoy my job and we have a great daycare. But 12 weeks of ML just isn't quite enough for me.

[h]

I took 13 weeks with DS1 and 18 weeks with DS2. I was planning on taking 18 weeks with DS3, but then DH got a job out of state in my 10th week of leave, so I went back at 12 weeks so I could work a couple weeks before moving.

18 weeks was really nice, but I think 6 months would have been even better. I loved maternity leave, and while it wasn't that hard for me to leave my kids, I could happily have taken more time off.

[Deleted]

I went back just before 5 months and it was perfect. Sure, I would've loved to stay home a year like the Canadians, but I felt fortunate to get the leave I did.

If we were to have a second, I wouldn't get the same amount of time off (I left that company) and don't know if I could only do 6-12 weeks. I'd feel guilty for having the time with dd versus another child.

[dcn]

I sah until he was 16 months, but didn't plan on that, we moved when I was 31 weeks pg so I didn't bother looking for a new job in our new location.. At three months I was not ready at all. At six I felt like I could be ok. By a year I was totally ready and started looking casually.

Ideally 6 months I think would have been good for me.

[dancingirl21]

I went back after 12 weeks. I would have preferred to never go back, but our plan is for me to SAH when #2 comes along.

[djc315]

I could have gone back at 8 weeks if I had to. I was off 12 weeks. I went back doing four 10s, so I think that helped.

[Deleted]

I went back just shy of 6 months both times. It wasn't too bad but in an ideal world I would have gone back after a year. Then I could have just skipped pumping all together.

[leonard131]

I am with @starry. I had 16 weeks but went back at 12 PT because I was so over being home. I never truly felt like I got into a routine and always had one foot in work so I was ready.

I sometimes wonder if I had second if I would feel different. If would approach ML differently. The first time around I felt like everything had to be the same as before M so I never really relaxed and took time to chill if that makes sense. If he was napping I was cleaning or doing something in the house, I was teaching PT so I was trying to keep up with my class and I just felt anxious. I think having a screaming nonsleeping baby didn't help either.

[simpsongal]

Readiness wise, I could have gone back by 10 weeks or so, but I took 13 weeks. I had a nice maternity leave. Ideally, part time for the first 6 months would have been nice.

[mrsGreeko]

DD1 - went back at almost 4 months. It worked fine.

DD2 - went back at 4.5 months. Again it was fine.

DS - went back at 5 months. It was fine. Then I got laid off two months later and wasn't employed again until he was 17 months. I wasn't ready to go back again until then.

[pinkdutchtulips]

went back FT at 7wks

wished I  could have gone back at 6 months

[egishere]

16w - 8 w was paid and the rest was a combo of vacation time and unpaid leave and I was out 3w before I delivered on bed rest. It was good because I worked from hone 1/2 day on Fridays so that seemed to make it not as bad.

[Brie]

I went back at 15 weeks with C and even though it was a hard transition, in hindsight I was ready.

I'm taking 12 this time and think that will be perfect.

[MrsAggie]

W is 7 weeks and I will be going back at 11 weeks. I'm ready to go back. I rarely get out of the house and it drives me crazy.

[jene]

I went back at 12 weeks. My new company allows you to take up to 18 weeks, so I will likely take that full time with #2