Any business owners advice with newborn?

[MaltedMilk88]

Hi

Is anyone a business owner here?
I’m expecting and trying to figure out how I’m going to manage motherhood and running a business.
I have a workforce of circa 50 people, half hr ish drive from home and I’m very hands on within the business.
Maternity leave of any significance is I think unachievable. Toying with ideas of taking baby to work a couple of days, DH becoming a stay at home dad (he loves his job though so it’s a big ask!) or do I have to consider a nanny?
Any tips from anyone previously or currently in this situation appreciated!

Congratulations! On your pregnancy and your successful business! I have a much smaller business and like you didn't get much maternity leave although I was able to be less hands on. Can you give yourself at least a month at home? Ideally 2 months. Do you plan to breast feed? Regardless, you have to feed the baby every 3 hours, so sleep is very broken (add crying and general wakefulness and some /many nights you will get no sleep at all!). So you may not be able to run the business realistically for a while. I would say it may be possible to bring baby to the office for the first 4 months as they sleep more and obviously aren't that active but after that, no way! I think a nanny is essential, but you need to consider the fact that you will probably hate handing over your baby to someone else. It is really heart wrenching, nothing prepares you for it! Can you reduce to 3 days a week work? With a nanny those days. Good luck!

We’re business owners. I went back to work way too early and my mental health massively suffered trying to balance it all and fit in breastfeeding and time with my baby. My kid fed every 1-2 hours and sometimes every 20mins so working with her anywhere near me was impossible. Unfortunately, I’d say your options are a full time nanny or find someone to replace you for a bit.

Could you have a nursery set up at work/space in your office? For the first few weeks it's best that you plan to only work short hours but you could take them in with you, once they reach 3-4 months they are awake more so a nanny or nursery place (or nanny comes to work with you perhaps?) I worked from 2 weeks part time but from home (sort of) and also did extra when dh was home

I did the same as @ThinkingAboutRL and would definitely not recommend it. I tried bringing baby to the office and working from home. My mental health did suffer as did my work. I am pregnant and this time around I am trying to find a nanny.

Thank you all for replying and really appreciate the advice/experiences, sorry for the late response..
Naively no doubt but my rough plan is for the first month to take completely out of the business as much as possible with contact via Skype only, my staff will be able to handle most things
2nd month keep in touch maybe a couple of days a week and just pick up anything urgent as opposed to proper working and after that I think we will just have to see a) how baby is most importantly as to whether they are feeding well etc and b) how the staff are coping without me being there 24/7 as to what we do after that.
My DH has no involvement in the business but will definitely be a very hands on dad so I'm hoping between us we can work it all out for the first 4-6 months and look for some proper childcare after that whether it be a nanny or nursery I'm not sure yet.

I’m a nanny and I would say you need to start looking a good few months prior to you wanting them to start.
Also with a nursery you need to realise the baby can get quite unwell when first starting. Lots of other children around means lots of germs and bugs floating around. You will need to factor in that one of you will be having to take time off to then look after a sick child.
Sorry if I sounding pessimistic, just I have been doing my job for 22 years and have had a number of charges that have been pulled out of nursery , to change to having a nanny.
If you find a good old school nanny, we also do all cooking and washing, which would make you life a lot easier.
If you can speak to a nanny agency and ask there advice, most are very helpful.
I hope this helps.

Thanks Em39ma really good point about looking for a nanny early on.

Quite prepared for sickness etc, that’s the beauty of being the boss I don’t have to answer to anyone and days off etc as and when required would be absolutely fine.
It’s the prolonged period away from the business I’m struggling with.
We do have a cleaner already and I think we will manage the cooking between us but I have started to batch cook and will make sure we have a good few months of meals for the freezer to ease some of the pressure

Great you have started to get ready early.
I also run my own company too now. And have had to make the decision to put it on hold for a year now I’m pregnant.
I have to go out to all the county shows, which means a lot of heavy lifting of gazebos and stock.
Having been a nanny I can see both sides. But if you are organised etc it is all quite easily done.
I would take the baby with you to start with, they are rather adaptable when little, not so much when they start moving

I am due next month, Partner is going to become a SAHD and I am cutting down my hours for a couple of months to have some time with baby. It worked out better for us financially and emotionally for DP to no longer work and stay home with baby than to have a full time nanny/ au pair.