Reflecting on maternity leave thread - going back to work next wk

[lovetravel2]

Hello all,

I'm just keen to hear how new mums like myself or mummies for the 2nd + time round have found maternity leave? Was the first year as you expected?

I've had my DD August last year and now doing the final settling in day tomorrow at nursery before I'm back 3 full days next week. A few months ago I felt so ready to go back, now I'm a little anxious with managing a new routine, plus little one isn't full on solids yet, so another challenge in its self.

However my main reason for this post is to discuss how you thought your year would go compared to what is was actually like? I found things really hard like weaning and breastfeeding which super hard. Breastfeeding we stopped and moved to bottles and fed on demand as well, so was feeding on a 2 hourly schedule during the day which I found tough with getting out at times. I guess all these things I didn't appreciate before maternity leave. We have been swimming and to baby sensory throughout the year, but I do feel a little sadness as well that I could of been better prepared. I felt the run up to having your first is focused so much on the actual birth when I fact that's just one small part of it. Oh I ended up with a EMCS so again something else that didn't work out.

On the whole, I'm so blessed to have a funny sweet little 1 year old and I love being a mum (in fact I think that's still sinking in) but I guess I'm just reflecting as the 1st year has passed so quickly xx

Was my second mat leave, my eldest started reception the day after my first day back (working up to 3 days a week), and dreading the logistics of school run, child minder, after school club and work.

It's been lovely being off, dd2 is v chilled and on the whole breastfeeding and weaning have been great. Sleep... not so much!

But I'm practically immune to sleep deprivation now however it does mean a lot of my planned sorting etc hasn't happened as I've had to rest in naps etc.

Dd1 was at preschool 3 days and 2 in the holidays which saved me but the highlight was actually spending so much time with her before school.

So glad returning part time so a little more flex all round.

I really e joyed it probably the best time I've had in my adult life. We used bottles by choice, so it kind of went as we expected, sleep was OK. I ate too much cake, spent time shopping, meeting friends, going on day trips, lots of time at the seaside, baby classes etc. Next time round I think it'll be more busy, but I basically did what I fancied doing for months, just usually with a baby attached to me in a sling. And I got to see my little one go from a tiny baby to a little person, and that was a lot of fun.

I've enjoyed it but am so ready to go back to work full time in November. I've not really done a lot as all my friends work, so day times have been pretty boring at home.

Had no issues with breastfeeding or bottles, and she sleeps 12hours a night.

It's been amazing to watch her grow up but i know she"ll get so much out of goibg to nursery and spending time with other babies/toddlers.

Don't plan on having another baby, just stickibg with 1

just finished my first maternity leave

I wasn't sure what to expect of my mat leave to be honest but i had always thought id be able to go out and about/see people because id have so much time!

In reality she was a colicy newborn (the first 3 months were very very hard) and very alert/wide eyed baby who didnt like classes until she was at least 6 months (found baby massage etc very over stimulating) ...then from 6 months she then refused to nap in the pram so i was trapped in the house for most of the day with only set 'slots' of time that i could leave and run to the shops etc.

I was getting very lonely around 9 months but then my DP took two months shared parental and we had a months overlap together which has been wonderful

all in all i have loved spending time with my daughter, shes the light of my life and so funny....but i guess i regret not being able to get out and see other friends/family due to her alert nature

Just coming to the end of my second maternity leave. I feel so unsettled at the moment as it is a time of big change for us all: DS starting school, DD starting nursery and me going back to work.

My best memories of this maternity leave are summer days and picnics in parks and playgrounds with DS and DD. DS has been at nursery 3 days per week throughout mat leave, and I had the two of them 2 days per week. It's strange to look back and realise my fondest memories are of the days with both of them, when those were the days I was most scared of.

It was quite different than my first mat leave. My first (DS) was a colicky newborn who was difficult to feed. But he gradually got better and I really got into the swing of mat leave and had a great social life.
I had my NCT friends and another local group of friends who I met weekly at baby groups and at people's houses.

My second (DD) was a much easier newborn, but has been a terrible sleeper and difficult to wean. It has also been a busier mat leave, in terms of having more people to look after and less freedom to do whatever I wanted. This time around I haven't really made any lasting connections with other mums which is a shame, just superficial chatter at groups and so on. I have kept up with my friends from mat leave 1 to an extent, but with children at different nurseries on different days and other mums at work is has been difficult to meet up regularly. I do tend to chat with a couple of mums on social media, even though we can't always manage to meet up it's nice to have the support and reassurance.

I've got two more weeks of Mat leave left, then back for 2 days a week.

DD will just be 9 months when I go back and although I'll be grateful for some more adult interaction and me time, I'm so sad not to spend the day with her. DD will be going to MIL for these 2 days and I'm scared MIL will text and say, she walked today etc. I don't want to miss these big mile stones! ☹️

We've had such a wonderful summer together, especially as DH took 2 & 1/2 months off through SPL. We had 4 holidays, plenty of days out and lots of lazy days when it was raining.

I am however 13 weeks pregnant with DC2 (this also happened during the summer 😉) baby is due in March. So I won't actually be back at work for very long. I'm hoping to use all my holidays to finish in Feb. So just 4/5 months to get through!

Just wanted to add to the OP that just because you will now be back at work doesn't mean it's all over. I found with my first that we had less time together (obviously), but it was more quality time. I have loved our Mondays together over the years, just chilling and doing whatever we wanted.

This time around, I have booked a cleaner so that hopefully our weekends can be kept a little it more for family time. I will still have Mondays off but with just DD this time, while DS is at school. I have booked her into swimming lessons, which was probably a stupid idea, but we'll see. Maybe I'll cancel those in a couple of months!

Hi all,
So lovely to read your stories 🧡 thanks so much for sharing.

@mockorangey we've also booked more swimming lessons starting again on Thursdays. You're right there so much to look forward too even though may leave has finished, plus I'm only working 3 days.

My little girl had her full first day at nursery and did so well. She had a terrible settling in day on Friday (the last one of four) and was clinging on to me this morning but today once she stopped crying she napped and she ate all her lunch. I love that the nursery has a app that follows their progress throughout the day.

mat leave*

@myotherbagisgucci congratulations on baby no 2 😍 that's amazing news xx