Childcare Challenge :-)

[treedelivery]

Ok this is my case. DD1, 5, at school. DD2, 1, doing her thing. I have a DH who works, leaves 6.30am, home 6.30 pm.

I am a midwife. I will work 2x12 hour shifts, which I will recieve 2-6 weeks in advance.

Night shift - I will need childcare 6am to 6.30 pm.

Day Shift - 7am to 6.30 pm

Some weeks I will need two days a week, some one, some none - as I might be working weekends.

What do I do?

In the past I had set days, and granparents could manage it. Now the shift pattern in non negotiable and not predictable. I would love to be able to take this massive commitmant away from the gp's, who are in theri 70's.

ANy ideas? Is anyone prepared to mirror my working week at so little notice with such harsh hours?

This dilemma goes a loooooong way to explain the midiwfery staffing shortage.

Hi tree, I'm a midwife working 2 twelve hour shifts a week too!! Fortunately, I can work set shifts and I have no idea what I'd do if this wasn't the case. Have you spoken to someone in HR? When our hospital threatened to axe set shifts about 2 years ago, I went to one of the HR managers and asked him how he suggested I organise my childcare. He couldn't make any reasonable suggestions, and so I kept my set shifts!! Worth a try.

I'm really thinking of trying this CheekyGirl. I feel so bad for what I am asking my in laws to do here, and I would really like to have another baby. I couldn't ask them to take another baby in a year or two. They would be over 75 years old! They deserve a break!

I just really don't fancy my chances.

It's a nightmare.

Could you make an application for flexible working, but there reverse, IYSWIM? Would they have to consider it in the same way?

Become an independant? Had two for DD2 - amazing service and they earn more plus mostly have control of their diaries for pre/post natal visits; obv for births need some kind of cover. Just a thought...