Back to work after baby #3?

[Lilnugget]

In my eternal questioning as to whether baby 3 is right for my family, the question of FT work comes up And going back FT.

with my previous children I’ve gone back FT, in fact it never crossed my mind to do anything less. Dc1 I used some annual leave to phase my return and dc2 I just went straight back (4 days wfh and 1 office).

my job is medium stress middle management (55k) if that matters.

aibu to think I’d be able to go back FT is realistic if I have another child?

(dh is largely wfh, I have 2 office days and the nursery and primary school are next door to each other for drop off and collection)

tbh we need our salaries to keep our lifestyle and I do still want to progress in my career

Depends how old DC? If 4 year age gaps and first two DC in school, then it will be cheaper than multiples in nursery. Or need to factor in taking them to different settings in future, hobbies and clubs and friends. I think managing children at different stages of life is really hard from what I’ve read hear and from friends. If all close and doing nursery, early years in one go it’s more manageable but past 6yo they need support in their individual pursuits and friendships.

Disclaimer: not direct experience. I have a 4yo with DC2 on the way and read threads on this a lot, talk to other parents. Also work FT and plan to go back FT with this one. Wondering if to go condensed or reduce hours once DC1 starts school. Holiday clubs, breakfast club and after school clubs add up to a lot and they’re not Ofsted regulated or monitored as highly as nursery setting. I probably read too many stories about the clubs on here too.

I work FT with 3 - two in school one in nursery. Littlest does 4 days in nursery and a day with Grandma. The hardest bit is juggling activities for 3 around work and other commitments, but it's hard with 2 as well. If you want to do it you find a way.

Wrap around and ofsted registered club on the same site too, there’s 2.5 years between the first two and the third is hypothetical.

we can’t really do any after school activities on office days just wfh but youngest doesn’t do anything yet but will be starting swimming in the new year. Eldest just does dance and swimming on a Saturday.
the state high school is en route to the primary, but my preference would be a grammar school, opposite direction but that’s a bit far to plan for as we have no idea what our lives would be like then. I also think there’s school buses to the grammar school.