Working - What is too early?

For those that work outside the home (or would consider doing so)...

... how early (after birth) is too early, in your opinion?

DH and I have been pulled really tight, budget-wise, lately, and it's looking like it'd be a very wise decision for me to go back to work if I can find something that's at least partially at night / weekend hours (as if we have to pay for childcare we wouldn't benefit financially after losing WFF). I've already seen a couple jobs that are up my aisle and that I think I would at least partially enjoy - one of which is exclusively evening / weekends (3 days per week, so part time) and the other is full time but only 3 days are 9-5 (so three days childcare, and two days with DH and/or work-at-home environment). But if I was to apply for either of them now it would mean starting back potentially as early as three weeks after birth Once upon a time I would have considered that ludicrous.... but now, and with the pull of the extra money, I really don't know

Of course, there's always the option of not even looking for work til 6 - 12 weeks postnatal, then seeing what's out there. I'm highly tempted to do that (I remember the cluster-feeding evenings with a newborn all too well, plus I'm strongly pro-BF so want to let BF get "established" before giving a bottle) but at the same time night / weekend jobs (other than flipping burgers) seem to be as rare as hen's teeth.

What would you do? Any thoughts from people who've been there / done that? I haven't worked since pregnant with Z, so feel a bit out of touch iykwim...

I think that you do what you have to do. If going back to work is best for your entire family unit, then that's what you must do. If possible, I reckon it would be good to wait until at least 10 weeks old, as for me, that's when we had established a bit of a routine and I was getting adequate sleep to be able to do other things.
Good luck with your decision.

I agree too,..was gonna say 3 months. Remember u wont be any good to your family or work if u are soo exhausted from being up in the night with a new born,...not to mention still recovering from the birth,..and trying to juggle work as well. When will u rest??!

I still not ready to go back to work! Finding hard enough leaving Isla at daycare now, and she only goes 9 hrs a week!

I could have gone back at 3 months (when Bella started sleeping through the night) and I think you have to weigh up how much sleep you're getting and whether you still are getting up during the night. I went back at 6 months though. And yes, you have to do what you think is necessary. I had to go back because we were crippled by lack of finances and now are slowly making even ground

Have you considered doing some work from home? I'm not sure what you previously did but it's an option for some jobs. Otherwise there's always doing something like in home childcare if you think that might work.

I personally wouldn't commit to anything at this stage, you don't know how the next few weeks are going to go with settling in with bub, helping Z adjust etc.

I'm planning to start back when bub is approx 2 weeks but I'm lucky that my job is super flexible, I work 90% from home and I can fit in my hours around the kids, plus I have a nanny and my boss is good about me cutting back my hours if need be (she thinks I'm mad coming back so soon!)

I wouldn't be even thinking about it in any other circumstance.

You might well find tho that by 6-10 weeks PP you are in a much better position to assess your situation and see how you are placed then to find work.

Don't forget too that if you are entitled to Working for Families the amount will increase once bubs arrives, you'll also be entitled to the $1200 Parental Tax Credit and if you don't qualify for WFF you might find you do after bub arrives coz the income level is higher for 2 kids.

I returned to work part-time (11 hours a week) when Jack was about 4 weeks old. I was like a zombie (still am sometimes haha). I found once he started sleeping through at 8 weeks life was so much easier and I actually didn't mind going in to work. But I HATED working when all I wanted to do was be with bubs or sleep. I was useless. Personally from what I've experienced (and I have a very flexible job as well) I would wait until bubs is born and they are sleeping well (and so are you) otherwise you're no good to any employer really.