To be considering another baby soon after returning from mat leave?

[RockingGazelle]

I went on mat leave in November 2019 and returned to work ft in November 2020. We are now trying for a second DC but I just feel a bit bad that, if it were to happen quickly, I would only have been back a bit over a year before clearing off again! I know I'm fully entitled to do it, and I have worked for the same company for over 10 years so I've put my time in, but I'm just feeling bad about how inconvenient it would be for my team, especially as I'm currently applying for a promotion! I'm 39 so time isn't on my side and I'm aware it might not even happen but I just wanted some other views. Thank you 😊

Go for it. I was in the same position as you (albeit 2 years younger). Time wasn't on my side. I wanted more kids, so I got pregnant again when my oldest was just 6 months. I didn't plan on twins though....

I went back 8 weeks pregnant after a year off with my first 😂

Although my job now deals with staffing budgets so maternities are a nightmare 😂

Surely this is what most people do. Many many siblings are about two year apart. They will manage at work as they did before and if you are organised they will be able to pick up where you leave off.

My friend went back to work pregnant after mat leave, was there for 10 weeks, and then on mat leave again. I'd not worry!

There are 22 months between my boys and I had 13 months off, so I was pregnant within a few months of returning to work. Don’t worry about it (can’t believe some people have voted YABU!)

It's fine - just do what's best for your family. You've been there 10 years - but even if you hadn't, it's normal, there's nothing to feel bad about. I was back a year between my 2, and got loads done in that time

Not at all, it’s your choice and you’re protected as a pregnant woman!

I’m pregnant with no 1 but we’ve already discussed no 2 fairly soon because time isn’t on our side either (subject to no 1 not terrifying me out of it!) I wouldn’t think twice about returning and going off again :)

If you plan to have 2 kids and a year off for each it’s the same amount of absence whether they’re close together or 5 years apart. I don’t think people will be surprised or annoyed. Good luck TTC

I found out I was pregnant the week before I was due to come back from mat leave. I got promoted just before heading off the first time round.

It's not harmed my career at all, although I might be extra exhausted when I return next spring! I've got two days left of work before I'm off again :)

You’ve been back ages. Nothing is ever “convenient” so don’t worry about that!

I went back to work after Mat leave 20 weeks pregnant, so I wouldn’t worry about it!

Ask yourself... Would a man think twice?

Also I've found in life that one tends to think that one is MUCH more important to work than is actually true...

I'm in senior management and maternity cover can be a pain ...but take it from me your family comes first, of course, not any job that you do.

If it makes you feel better my friend is a midwife, she was pregnant DURING her maternity leave and hardly returned at all. 😂

Thank you all! You've all made me feel much better about it and made some really good points. Will crack on TTC now!! 😄x

My friend had 12 months maternity leave. Took the 5 weeks holiday she was entitled too and started her 2nd lot of maternity leave without even stepping foot in the office.

I was in may leave for 9 months and returned to work 2 months pregnant.

Totally normal. I went back in March 2018 and was pregnant again in May 2018, left for mat leave Christmas 2018 and never went back. Happens all the time

I’ve just gone back from my 2nd mat leave at 3 months pregnant with my 3rd. I work in a school and my next mat leave starts at the beginning of September. I’ll have only really been back for 3 months. No one has said anything negative.

Sorry to be so morbid but, if you dropped dead tomorrow they would replace you within the month. They can arrange cover for your maternity leave. Fertility won’t wait. Good luck

I went on maternity leave in Aug 2019, returned Aug 2020. I was pregnant with #2 by Dec 2020 and am due Sept 2021 (3 months from now!).

I've been at this company for quite a while, though not quite as long as you. And whilst I feel a little bad, it's going to be inconvenient no matter when I take maternity.

Also at 6 months pregnant I've just been offered a promotion into a management role. I'll be in the role for 3 months max before going on leave. I appreciate I do obviously work for a fantastic company. But just wanted to be clear that they offered me the job knowing full well it meant finding a fixed term contractor to cover my role. If they'd not offered me the job they wouldn't need to arrange cover at all as I'm not currently line managing anyone or managing a team.

My friend isn’t even going back to work before her next mat leave starts. Her two will have 11 months between them.

The only thing that would make me slow down my plans would be making sure I would get my full maternity entitlement and pay again.