Anyone who didn't take Maternity leave?

[Koala86]

Could you please share your experience if you did not/could not take maternity leave after your baby? Or just had a short period of time off before heading back to work in any capacity?

I have a very unconventional job that allows me the benefit of being able to work as and when I wish, without affecting my income so I'm tossing up options.

I'd really just like to hear from women who have continued working largely throughout to get that perspective.

My cousin is a hairdresser and also had just six weeks but became mobile so could work around feeds and my aunt did the childcare .

It might be really hard with fluctuating hormones and emotions coupled with sleep deprivation. I was crying a lot and knackered but doesn't mean you will be!

The early days with a newborn can drag so working might help in that respect. Only if you've got good support and someone to take the baby if you need to be on conference calls etc.

So do you still have to work 40 hours per week but could choose to do 12 hours on some days and 3 hours on other days, or do work at 3am if you chose to?
I think it would be very tiring to look after a baby and work as well, even if you're not doing both at the same time. Wouldnt you have to work late into the night to make up your hours.

What childcare will you be using, and how many hours will you be working?

I mean, technically I could do my job whenever I wanted... but there's no way I could have done much of it for the first six months of my child's life, because I was getting so little sleep and my brain was mush.

I am in a similar position.
I'm self employed and can choose which days and hours I want to work.
I am only going to have a few weeks off after I've had the baby.
My partner will be taking the shared parental leave.
When I return to work (working from home), I will do 3 days per week. Possibly 3 and a half days. But like you, I can choose my hours which makes things much better.