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Jaxnz1 
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Joined: 17 March 2009
Location: Hamilton
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 Topic: Returning to work - your experiences
Posted: 17 March 2010 at 4:48pm |
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When did you return to work after your first? How many hours did you work and did it all work well for you?
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AzzaNZ
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Joined: 02 June 2008
Location: North Shore
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 5:03pm |
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I returned after 4 days with my first - albeit only for meetings so I was in and out (and she'd come with me).
I was officially back fulltime when she was 16 weeks old and she stayed home with a nanny.
This time round I will return to work fulltime at 12 weeks and the LO will be in daycare.
*editted to add, it was shocking. I ended up with PND and got mastitis several times because I was trying to work and breastfeed and express. I am hoping spending some solid time off with the second baby will be better.
Edited by AzzaNZ
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Shelt
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Joined: 17 May 2008
Location: Tauranga
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 7:43pm |
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I went back to work when G was 5 months old doing 30 hours a week. It was a bloody struggle to be honest even though I did some of my hours working from home initially so I could keep breastfeeding. I went back to work at the begining of May and G got sick 10 days after I started back.....and then was sick all winter. I dropped a few hours and rearranged my days in November so I am now doing 27.5 hours squashed in to 3.5 days a week. Its much easier to cope with now she is older.
In hindsight I think going back to work would probably have been a lot easier to cope with if G had not been sick continuously and my marriage hadn't fallen apart. I am enjoying working and G enjoys her time at daycare. I feel I have a better balance now of time at work and at home even though I only dropped 2.5 hours a week.
Also - I wish I had realised working from home is actually harder than working at work! When you have a baby who won't sleep and you are supposed to be working from home its hard to get the work done. I ended up working nights and weekends for months just to get through my work.
Edited to improve grammar and spelling : )
Edited by Shelt
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MrsMojo
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Location: Wellington
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 7:44pm |
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I returned to work fulltime when DD was 5mo. I found it really difficult and by the end of the 1st week I decided to use accrued leave to take wednesdays off for a couple of months. I missed my daughter terribly, I had trouble expressing and really battled with the decision to move her to formula for daytime feeds and I felt very resentful and jealous of my DH (who was a sahd). I also lived on very little sleep for the 1st 5 months as DD didn't sleep through until 10mo and I was still bfing overnight.
Having said that there were many positives. I got regular breaks, hot cuppas, time to read books and catch up with friends. I found my girlfriends were a great support, they took me out for boozy lunches, shopping, coffee - things I couldn't do easily (or at all) with DD in tow.
I have been off work this time for 9.5mths and just returned on Monday. I have returned 10 hours (2 mornings) per week for the next 7 months and although I'd rather be at home full time I'm definitely finding the transition to work easier.
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Mum2ET
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 7:47pm |
I went back to work 2 days a week when Ella was nearly 7 months (was suppose to go back at 3 months but she refused a bottle and I decided it was a sign that I couldn't leave her just yet). Ella went into home based care and settled a lot better than I expected so we had quite an easy transition.
2 days a week (8.30-4) was perfect for us, as I got the best of both worlds.
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minik8e
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Taranaki
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 8:29pm |
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I went back to work when the girls were almost 4 months old. I quit my full-time job, and started working part-time at the Warehouse, over Christmas, so was doing around 20-30 hours a week while the girls were looked after by family. After Christmas, when life settled down, I got 11.5 hours per week permanently but regularly do an extra day a week, so usually about 20 hours a week. It works really well for us, as the care is split between grandparents, and we still get time together as a family in the weekend. It has been made easier by the girls being fully FF however.
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kakapo
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 8:45pm |
My DH and I swapped roles when DS was 8 months old - I returned to work full time and he stayed home full time. It was a bit of a shock to the system for the first couple of weeks, but actually went much more smoothly than I'd anticipated. DS started sleeping 12 hrs/night at age 6 months, so I'd had a chance to catch up on some sleep by the time I started work, and he was also fully formula fed so I didn't need to express etc. A couple of months later he went through a stage of night waking for 3 weeks, and I really struggled with sleep deprivation during that time. I did miss him often, but DH and I had agreed before TTC that he would be the SAHD - so I couldn't really go back on my word and beg to stay home full time. And I really appreciate the quality time I get to spend with DS after work and during weekends. But I have negotiated to take the full 12 months leave with this baby  .
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surfergirl
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Location: Christchurch
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 9:06pm |
I started back two weeks ago (although never really left as i have been in at least 2 x a week since she was born)...but anyhow I went back 'really' 2 weeks ago, with two weeks on the road - my DH came too and was house dad for two weeks while I went to appts and came back for breastfeeding. It was GREAT, it has been amazing for DD to spend time with her Dad and his confidence with her has skyrocketed. He totally rocks!! So it looks like I'll do full time road trips when needed (3 x a year) and then part time when we get back from each trip and then take a few weeks off before hitting the road all over again.
Sounds odd, but works for us as we both have flexi jobs and a really easy baby.
The hardest thing is other people judging me for my decision to return to work - but I think a happy mum (and I am happy and feel really confident again) = a happy baby and happy family.
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Jaxnz1
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Joined: 17 March 2009
Location: Hamilton
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Posted: 18 March 2010 at 8:40am |
Thanks ladies. Surfergirl, that's what I'm thinking about is people judging, but really it's our decision at the end of the day. I'm also a bit worried about DC and how she will adapt to it, but I think most babies adapt to it well. I guess it's normal for a first time mum to find it hard leaving them for the day! But no doubt she will really enjoy it.
I'm thinking of going back when DD is 7-8 months old which will be in July/August. My boss has said I can name my hours and can also work from home. I also enjoy my job, so I don't really want to lose it in today's market. I would only be doing about 2 days a week anyway, so not sure what I'm worried about!
We are looking at buying a new house too, so I really need to return to work as it's tight enough now as it is. 
Anyway, I was just curious about when people had returned to work and how the transition went. Spose it's not something you know until you do it! 
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emz
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Posted: 18 March 2010 at 9:19am |
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With #1 I was back at 5-6 weeks (12 hours pw). #2 was the same, then 30-40 hours from when she was 5 1/2 months.
I've found it hard because DH is always away for work so I'm basically doing it all by myself, but absolutely love being back at work. It makes me appreciate the time I have with the kids too.
The hardest thing is illness - you need to have a plan in place if they get sent home from DC etc - which we didn't and now we have to sort out.
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MrsH
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Joined: 27 September 2008
Location: Porirua
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Posted: 18 March 2010 at 9:54am |
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I've been back at work now for 4 weeks so went back when DS was 8 months old. He is taken care of by my ILs which is great but I still miss him during the day - not heaps but enough to be happy to see him in the evenings.
I found it alot easier than I thought it would be. We drop DS off at 7.15am and pick him up between 5.30 and 6pm. He eats dinner with us on most occasions and then it's bath and bed by about 7.30/8pm. Either DH will do bath/bottle/bed and I'll do dishes or vice versa. Oh and I'm not breastfeeding so that makes it easier.
I enjoy being back at work and that's what I feel a bit guilty about. However, we have more money and I am going to the gym during my lunch hour which are two things which never would have happened had I stayed home.
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Blankney94
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Posted: 18 March 2010 at 2:06pm |
Just thought I'd add my bit.
Returned to work 15 hrs per week, a month ago. Wee girl is 13 months. I do like to work, but I didn't want to put Brooke in daycare all day, everyday IYGWIM. So I do like the balance and intellectual stimulation, getting out of the house, Brooke getting socialised etc. Oh and the $$$!
There were a couple of things I wasn't prepared for...... firstly, just how much time the pick up / drop off routine takes up, getting baby ready, settled etc - took a while for me to get into a work routine. Secondly, at work I wasn't prepared for a change in the way I was treated by my boss - got treated like I had 'baby brain'  . Apparently that happens to a few ladies returning to work.
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Returning to work - your experiences
