Back to Work Quickly??

Question

Anyone else planning on returning to a full work schedule at around 6 weeks? I’m a doctoral student and will be returning to work at a new grad assistant position when fall semester starts Aug. 16 (I’m due July 5). MIL will be caring for baby starting then for 1 month before we start full time daycare in mid September. It’s super important to me and my program/career progress to be back full time quickly. I am not worried about baby because I know I’ll be the best mom I can be while doing this (please no judgement) but I’m super nervous about trying to learn to breastfeed and more specifically how to pump enough for her to be mostly using a bottle that quickly.

Answer

Can I just say I love your attitude about this! I’m in a respiratory therapy program so I’ll have 12 hour clinics twice a week along with class for 9 hours once a week. All that jazz starts on September 4th. I’m due July 11th and I’m sure he’ll be late. I feel bad for leaving my baby. Also breastfeeding is gonna be tough because pumping and carrying everything around will suck! I don’t have any advice besides you’ll rock it and you’ll figure out what works for you and baby. Just make sure your pump fits you so you can get the most out of pumping. Don’t think you’re a failure if you don’t pump enough! It’s normal to only get about 2oz total each pumping session.

Answer

I’m taking 6 weeks max then will go back to working full time

Answer

I’m a doctoral student at Utah State. I am returning to a 12 credit course load and my GA position on August 28 (around then not sure of the exact date). My baby is due on July 12th. We got this lady!

Answer

I plan on returning just past 8 weeks. Only because I want my 8 weeks, then start back on a full week.  I plan on using a PTO day for the day before my section, then 3 days PTO after my 8 weeks are up.

Answer

I will get 9 weeks, which is more but not a lot more than you. I think we will pick up breastfeeding and pumping pretty quickly. 
I know it isn’t ideal, but you might see if your ML can watch baby longer. Or at least be able to pick up baby if baby gets sick. My mom will be watching baby for the first 6 months to a year. Partially because I don’t want baby to get sick in daycare. I work at a hospital and don’t want to have to leave work just because baby is sick. I foresee needing to be flexible with her on certain topics but it will save us $13k and baby will be less exposed to germs. 
Hang in there. If you are getting your PhD then you know how to learn. Just have faith that you and baby will figure it out. Plus, you can ask to see the lactation specialist multiple times before you discharge from the hospital at no additional charge. La Leche League is national and they also offer support.

Answer

I don’t have experience going back to work but i did take care of babies in the infant room at a daycare whose mamas did. They were some of the coolest, strong, and empowering people. Seeing them walk in on a lunch break to snuggle and nurse their babies or to just drop off more pumped milk was awesome to see and encouraged me to breastfeed when I had my own. My biggest struggle with pumping was trying to relax. If my son nursed I always had so much milk but pumping was alway tough because I would literally stress myself out watching every little drop come out 🤦🏻‍♀️ so my biggest bit of advice is to do something while pumping that totally relaxes you. Once I got that down, I was a pumping champ!

Answer

I’m planning on returning to work pretty quickly as well, but I’m a realtor so my schedule can be crazy or I can be working from home. It sounds like you have an awesome plan for your baby! And I’m sure you will figure out what works best for both of you with breast feeding/pumping/bottle feeding. You’re going to do great!

Back to Work Quickly??

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