Returning to work

[Newbiebaby1]

Hi, have any of you returned to work from home a few months after having baby?
I’ve been offered the chance to work from home once I’ve had baby, hours to suit and was thinking hours equivalent to a couple of days a week. They would filter customers through to someone else but pass the work onto me where suitable. It sounds like a perfect situation and would nearly double what would be my statutory pay. Just wondered if any of you had done this?
I have the added bonus that the other half has one day a week at home as he works a Saturday so that would be an obvious day to do it. I will sit down with HR tomorrow to go through but just wondered if anyone else had done this.

I will be returning to work after taking 3 months off as I'm self employed. It does mean baby will be left with my mum and husband (only 2 days a week). I've had a lot of negativity about it but I'm not too worried. Will be good for dh to spend time with the baby aswell.

It sounds ideal (and as rare as hen's teeth).

It took me years and three DC before I got such a flexible arrangement.

What is your worry?

Thank you both. I know it’s a very good situation and I feel incredibly lucky, especially as we have had to put buying a house on hold for a couple of months so will give us a bit more income.
I am going to go for it, the only worry would be the time I take off beforehand. This is my first baby so I am unsure of everything a bit really and hoping that 3 months will be enough to adjust beforehand, I’m really looking forward to time off with baby and know that this is the perfect solution.

Three months? Is that negotiable? What childcare do you think you'll use?

Yeah it is, my partner is home one day a week and the other day they have said I can fit the hours around what suits, work in the evenings/weekends etc so I think it will be workable.

Sounds great. I went back to work when baby was 3 months. The only thing I’d say is I was not able to fit work around my baby - who only had tiny naps and didn’t sleep well in the evenings. I had to get childcare or it wouldn’t have been possible for me. But every baby and Mum is different, so maybe it’ll work for you! Good luck!

Thank you, hopefully it will all work out but I have some time before to make sure

You will be fine newbie
I always think that years ago woman managed on 3 months leave or less (including my mum). She managed and me and my sisters are fine.
I'm keeping a positive attitude towards it, I'm not saying I'm going to like that first day back but I'm doing what I have to do.

Sounds ideal, but don't rule out the idea of getting some childcare for at least part of the other day. I have worked from home since before having kids and imagined I could fit it in around them, but the reality is you're knackered after a day looking after them and the idea of working in the evening is not always realistic.

With my first I left work at 38 weeks pregnant and went back when he was just 2 months old... I was only 17 and single so needed the income and self worth. (Point to prove at that age too) My son went to my mum's whilst I was at work and has done ever since. He's 10 now, I'm 27 and 32 weeks pregnant with my second... totally different situation, I'm married, older and suffering with pelvic girdle pain... just started my maternity leave and don't plan to return until this child is 6 months. 8 months off in total. I want to enjoy my time with him for as long as I can afford to. I would dream for your situation! Grab it with both hands and good luck!! :-)

I'd look into childcare too.
If I try to work from home whilst my dd is there (being looked after by her dad), I get sod all done, as she constantly wants me. I can only productively work from home whilst she is at nursery.
Also, working in the evening means relying on having a child that goes to sleep and stays asleep!

With my first, I went out to work at a client 4 weeks pp. I have no idea how I did it tbh as I had a section as well. I worked from home on and off until resumed work full time when baby was 5 months. I can't believe I did that. I was a hormonal mess when I got back to work. The only reason I did it was my husband had lost his job during late pregnancy but thankfully found one the month I got back to work.

Good point Tino. When I had my first, the shock that he didn't go to sleep when I put him in his cot was palpable {smile}

Yeah I have been upfront and said that I need my time off first to find out how baby is, one of my friends who’s baby is coming up for 6months sleeps through the night apart from 1 feed, naps through the day etc and really isn’t a problem...my other friends baby is the total opposite!
I can do evenings/weekends etc as the majority of the things they give me will be set for the week so I can do them whenever I can, even a couple of hours a day if need be and the full day when the other is off. I don’t want to scarafice time with baby for this and put him/her in a nursery when I could have the time off.
After thinking about it I have decided it’s a no lose situation, I have 3 months off and a months trial period to say that I want my maternity so I may as well give it a go. I think it will be good for me too as I’ve worked 9-5 from the age of 17 to 34 and it will give me something other than baby to focus on. Wish me luck haha

I really think it depends on your baby, and as you have already said you are going to wait and see how he/she is then You’ll be fine. I went back to work when DS was 3 months old. Worked from home no problem. Like you have said, I worked around his naps and it wasn’t an issue, but, I was incredibly lucky, he slept well both day & night and liked his pram so was v happy to nap in there during the day. I knew that I needed to go back to work early on, so did absolutely everything I could to try & get a happy/ happy to sleep baby. Good Luck!