Working - What is too early?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15775
Printed Date: 13 September 2025 at 10:46pm
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Topic: Working - What is too early?
Posted By: KiwiWonder
Subject: Working - What is too early?
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:31am
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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... ------------- Margo |
Replies:
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:45am
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I havent been there done that YET, but DF and I are living off one wage at the momment and will be until I return to work...BUT I dont know when I will return to work as we really want me to be with Caden for as long as possible, and then when he is about 18 months we want to try for number 2, so I doubt I'll go back to work until after that.
My friend told me this and it makes sense, she said she could go back to work for "extra money" but then really that extra money would just get spent on childcare while her and DH are work so whats the point? I have to agree with her. However if you really want to go back to work etc then Id say a good time would be once the baby is over 3 months old...? Im not sure lol, thats just my views on returning to work and such  ------------- |
Posted By: Lulu
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:45am
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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. ------------- Lou http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:47am
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I agree Best of luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Lulu wrote:Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:51am
| 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??! |
Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 11:51am
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my girl is 4months old and I am still not ready to return to the work force (I would need to find a new job) we dont want to put our daughter in daycare when she is still so young.
Money is tight for us but we are managing ok. I have no idea when/if I will go back to work but for now I will just stay at home. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 12:03pm
| 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! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 1:56pm
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If I had another, I would really struggle if I had to go back before 6mos. -------------  |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 2:43pm
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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 ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 4:26pm
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I'm an HR Manager and the earliest I've experienced someone coming back is one month. Quite a few will take the 14 weeks paid maternity leave then come back reduced hours or do some work from home for that first couple of months. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 4:33pm
| 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. |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 5:43pm
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If your just looking for a little extra cash what about a pamphlet run or newspaper delivery you could take baby with you and can possibly work around your partners hours? Josh is only just 3 months and about 3 weeks ago i helped out for 2 weeks at work and i really enjoyed being back so even though i told the boss i was taking a year i have already asked (when i move back) if i can do at least 2 days a week and not because we need the money i just want to keep my sanity. dont get me wrong i love my boy and wanted to spend at least the first year with him but i miss the feeling i get from being good at what i do and using my brain a little more. I couldnt have handled it in those first 6 or so weeks tho i just wasnt getting enough sleep and was pretty stressed. Fortunatley DPs mum can look after him although i will definately put him into daycare (even if just for a few hours every couple of days) when he is older whether i go back to work or if i have a second and stay home. So many kids love it and its good for social skills - ok totally off topic now when all i wanted to say was as early as your comfortable with. There isnt too early ive heard of a real estate lady who popped out her third in the morning and went back to work in the arvo! -------------   
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 8:46pm
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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. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 9:27pm
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I returned to work when Gina was 8 weeks old or so and def found that to be too early for me - this time I'm having 3 months off from when we get Emma home ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 10:12pm
| 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. |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 10:32pm
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You do what you need to, but remember if for some reason you have a c section, you won't be able to work at 3 weeks. -------------  
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