How early do you go back to work?

Question

Hi All, 
I wanted to find out who has gone back to work considerably earlier than recommended after having a baby. 
I work from home all the time and even though my husband works as well I make more than he does, unfortunately I work for myself so I don’t get maternity leave or holidays so my plan was to have 3 weeks of work to have the baby and get settled at home. Also recover a bit. 
My husband would have more time to take off so he offered to take over when I go back to work, although I still want to be part of the care of the baby. Especially considering I’ll be working from home I could potentially breast feed whilst working, rather than having to pump. 
I’m worried that I won’t be ready to go back to work but I also worry about the financial aspects of not going so. 
Anyone has any advice? Have you had a similar experience you could share with me?
I ask here because everyone I know have taken at least 3 to 4 months to go back and some even more than that but they were never in my particular situation. 
Also my husband could quit his job and we would still be ok with just my salary but not the other way around, he is very capable, he is the kind of man who loves having initiative and getting things done. Never pays anyone to do a job in the house he can do, even when he doesn’t have time to do it he just gets stuff done so I have complete confidence he would be good with the baby, as he is very good under stressful situations (unlike me)
Any advice is welcomed 
Thank you.

Answer

I think if you’re going to be working from home and still taking it easy, 3 weeks is great. I think the issue lies when women have to go back early to jobs that require a lot standing and lifting. If your husband is around to help, and you can still bond with your baby while working, I don’t see why you couldn’t. My only concern would be the pure exhaustion. Babies don’t sleep much at all the first 6 weeks and often times breastfed babies eat every 2-3 hours or will cluster feed continuously throughout the day until your milk is more regulated at 6 weeks. If you can get over that hump, you should be fine.

Answer

Do what works for you. There is no steadfast rule. Mom knows best!

Answer

I went back to work part time at 2 weeks and it was rough but due to Covid and the fact that I’m 1/4 of my company I needed to go back to work. I’ve been working from home and my mom/sister help with baby part time. I stop to nurse her and go right back to working. I do keep milk in the freezer in case she needs to eat and I’m in the middle of dealing with a client and can’t stop. Do what you gotta do, working from home and being a little flexible on time definitely helps. Sometimes my girl is having a hard day so I have to snuggle her during the day and work in the evenings, my husband takes over when his day is over as his time isn’t flexible like mine.

Answer

I didn’t need to go back to work as my husband’s salary was more than enough. But, mentally I needed to go back. I got 3 months fully paid leave and then partial pay for up to a year. That was for my first and second child. I now work for myself and will technically make an income as a business owner, though my income will decrease as I won’t be working myself. 
With my eldest I was planning on taking a year off. Well, month 3 (I’d taken a month off before the baby was born as I couldn’t safely work anymore and then another month after the birth and in that third month I realized I couldn’t keep staying home) rolled around and I was going crazy. My husband told me to go back to work. Initially we planned on my husband taking time off (by law we have a year off work which can be split between the parents any way you want) to at least get us to 3 months, but he wasn’t happy. My mum ended up stepping in for child care until we found a good nanny. I was a lot happier going back to work early. I received a TON of criticism for working. I was told I wasn’t maternal, shouldn’t be a mum since I just couldn’t wait to get away from my baby, etc. I felt awful. I love my kids and I put my all into being a mum. But, I am a better mum when I work. I found a lot of the tension at home went away, I was less irritable and everything was just better. We got a sleep schedule going that mostly had our son awake when my husband and I were home before putting him down for bed. I’d come home for lunch most days and see him too and feed him (I also pumped). With my second I went back as soon as a routine was established for my second- my first was an easier baby and he settled into a routine quickly. I ended up taking 3 months off with my second to get him to a point I felt comfortable leaving him. And with my third, I plan on the same. I hate maternity leave to be honest. 
If I could’ve worked from home that’d have been great- something that’d I’d have jumped on, but that’s just not possible with my job. It was hard physically leaving my sons both times. I cried for sure. I hated going, but once I was at work and focused on something else it was better. That’s not something you’d really have to deal with if you can work from home. It’ll be different for sure, but you could work and be there if he needs you. No reason you couldn’t breastfeed- you’d need to pump anyways and I’d much rather just feed as pumping sucks in my opinion. 
If you feel this is a best decision for your family then going back is not the wrong choice. It doesn’t make you a bad mother either. It’s not easy going back to work with a new baby, it’s another new thing to juggle. But, it’s definitely doable. Especially if you have a supportive spouse and it sounds like you do.

How early do you go back to work?

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