Becoming a SAHM (temporarily)

[NewToAllThis11]

Hi, I hope I'm posting this in the right place. Have mainly been reading the pregnancy board up till now. I'm 6months pg with dc1 and am planning to leave my very full on job (which I love) when the baby's born to concentrate on looking after dc for probably 2/3 years after which time I will hopefully get a part time job. The reasons for this are because dh and I live 2hrs from family and friends because of work, (so won't be able to get much help there, even though they are very keen to do what they can) - we're trying to change that but it's not looking likely for at least a year or two and we felt that we didn't want dc to be in childcare from 8-6 minimum everyday, although obviously that's the best solution for some parents.
Basically, although I am SO excited about the baby, I'm also a bit nervous about not working, not having much community around me, although I will join mother and baby groups etc, and generally having a completely different life. DH's job is equally long hours, including weekends and we'll be moving to an area where we don't know anyone.
Anyway, apologies that this post is getting quite long, but I would really appreciate any advice / experiences of becoming a SAHM that anyone would be able to share. I feel like I am doing the right thing for the baby and for me and dh but it's also a bit scary!
Thanks for reading.

Congratulations, great you're thinking ahead. I wouldn't box yourself into a corner either way- you don't have to decide anything yet, do you? See how you feel after baby born and things settled down. but no need to have to justify being SAHM on here, to yourself or anyone...if its what you want.

Hey and welcome to MN! I'm a GP and worked fulltime prior to having ds (now 4). I didn't return to work until he was 18 months and then only for a day a fortnight initially. I started working 2 and a half days a week when he was 3, and I'm now on mat leave with dd2 (now 4 months). So I haven't worked a great deal since he was born - big contrast to working long hours previously. We had also just moved to a new area when ds was born. I would say that initially you'll be plenty busy enough with a newborn to miss working, but it is important to avoid feeling isolated and lacking in adult company. Definitely look for some classes you can join with baby - I made friends at a pregnancy yoga class, and then a local mums and toddlers group. You can take a small baby to a toddlers group - they'll just watch from your lap or sleep and you can drink coffee and chat. We go to church too so I made a lot of new friends from our new church. Babies are a great ice-breaker so it is easier than you think to make new friends if you are pro-active about joining some baby groups.

Thank you for the advice. Yes, being starved of adult company is definitely one of the things I'm worried about so I'll join some classes. Have also signed up for antenatal classes in are we're moving to so hoping to meet some mums there.
salbertina I kind of do have to decide what I'm going to do now, because I wouldn't be able to do my job part time, so if we don't want the dc to be in childcare all day, then I can't go back to work. Also, I want to avoid having to pay back a lot of enhanced maternity pay, so thought it was better not to claim it in the first place.

I was meaning leave your options as far as possible as you cannot predict how you're feel with a new baby..Life changes hugely.

The system is set up so you don't have to make the decision now, and I would take advantage of that. You can always pay any enhanced maternity pay into a different account if you're worried about that.

Your first child will change your life completely - I wouldn't make any decisions until you know a bit more how things will be and feel.

Of course while you're at home on maternity leave you can look out things like mother/baby groups. My experience of being a SAHM was that I needed to make myself a schedule for the week or I started Monday morning feeling a bit bleak.