I'm currently on maternity leave from a full time, funded PhD. I was planning on taking six months maternity leave (which is funded by my research board), but just two months in I am finding myself desperate to get back to my thesis as soon as I can. I am managing to do bits of reading etc whilst feeding, and my partner is very good at looking after DD whilst I do a couple of hours writing, but it's just not enough. I have tried working when she naps, but its never long enough for a sustained period of concentration. Would I be unreasonable put DD in a nursery two days per week from four months (going up to four days per week at six months when my leave period is up) so that I can carry on with my work?
I was going to post this in AIBU, but want validation more than anything else, so have moved it to feminism. I guess that the problem is that I am feeling guilty about wanting time away from her, yet my partner (who absolutely adores her) doesn't feel at all guilty about going out to work everyday. If he doesn't, why should I?