Primary teachers who have gone back to work after having a baby - can you PLEASE tell me how you managed?!

[Caz10]

Sorry I know this should be in the back to work section, but I thought there may be some teachers lurking here!

I have to go back to work to a very demanding Yr4 class in June, for 2 weeks until the end of term, then back after the summer break (full time). DD will be 6mths when I go back before the holidays.

Quite apart from missing her terribly, I am really worried about the logistics of the whole thing:

• our school is quite planning/paperwork intensive, much more so than other places I've been. I used to be in work till 6-7pm and then still have some to do, inc weekends. I'll need to be leaving much earlier now, therefore I imagine doing most of it at home after dd is asleep - will I manage this?!
• I'm breastfeeding and would love to continue, but I can't see how expressing would work? Again lunchtimes are filled with work - even more so now if I'm pushing to leave earlier - has anyone managed to find a way to express successfully at school?! I can't imagine the stress of only having 10 mins at lunch while trying to eat a sandwich with the other hand will lead to successful milk flow?!

Aaargh I'm exhausted just thinking of it - I love my job but found it overwhelming and exhausting PRE-dd - I can't imagine the new levels of tiredness to come...has anyone managed this successfully? Any tips? THANKS!

I went back to work full time.
Each of my 3 were about 8 months old.
the first would never take milk from a bottle and just had water in the day and a lot of yoghurt and i fed when i got home. similar with second. Third i did some expressing for. i only ever expressed in the morning, v early before work, never did it at school. Breastfeed for14/13/17 months for the 3 of them.

I used to work in the evenings or get in early and do stuff.

got to go now, chaos down stairs, but will try to think of some useful advice.

My best friend is a primary school teacher, she now has 2 children, the second of which is 6 months old. She went back to work 4 days a week. I know that she spends most of her evenings and holidays planning lessons and marking etc. I think she does this when her children are asleep. As for the breast feeding, any employer who has staff that are breast feeding have to give them appropriate time off to express, refridgeration and a nice quiet room. They should give you a bit longer then 10 minutes to eat your lunch. Have you spoken to the head about your concerns?

Where will your child be while you are at school? My husband was a sahd with the first 2 and when the second one was quite ill he used to bring him in for a feed at lunch time.

I found it easier when he did go back to work, i can home to a tidy house each day.

Thanks all!

belgianbun i had pretty much thought that would be the answer - extreme organisation and late nights! (aargh i'm bad at both!)

the one good thing is that on most days dd will be cared for here, either DH while he's off (shift work) or Mum or MIL. DH could bring her up for a feed if necessary, although it is the time factor again isn't it?

yes, i should have said that she won;t take a bottle either...groan

i haven't spoken to the head - i can think of a room I could use, but it is really more the time issues. We are not entitled to time out of class to express are we, it would need to be lunchtime?

Really appreciate the responses!!

Is jobshare an option for you, Caz10?

I have just gone back to work last week DD is nearly 4.5 months I am only back 3 days per week and am doing PPA cover is it possible to go back as a different role? Otherwise you will need to prioritise and not take on too much extra stuff. Difficult I know with primary and expectations these days. TBH I'm finding PPA cover good because its much easier but hard because you can't do your own thing and its a little disorintating not having your own class. I express at break and lunch time and it only takes 10mins each get about 5 ozs

thanks again! no sadly job share or PT working isn't an option, at least for the next year or so.
I'm in Scotland so we don't have PPA but do have similar non-contact time, however in my school this is covered by visiting expressive arts specialists.
10 mins is impressive fiona! I haven't tried expressing for a month or so mind you, I might be better at it now.
Does anyone know if we are entitled to time out to express? I have a feeling the answer is no but you never know!

I've done it after both of mine, but only part time. I did continue to feed both morning and night for ages though. Would that be a satisfactory compromise?

There's no doubt that working full time without PPA time and perhaps being already inclined to work ndays that are too long is not going to be easy.

I think you need to think about why you are doing it.. I'm guessing that it is financial. Do you want a careeer or are you going to be happy with a job?
I would actually be upfront with the Head about your concerns. Ask for some advice on managing the workload in order to maximise your effectiveness in the classroom.
Is there a parallel class you can share with?
What are your areas of difficulty? Are you good at being consistent, "organising your class" so that it works well for you and that children learn efficiently and as independently as possible? Do you over mark?
Set yourself goals ie leaving at 5pm, confining planning to 1 morning at the weekend. Your partner needs to be supportive too and you need to share the childcare and domestic stuff.

good luck

I didn't!
I managed 6 weeks in the autumn term before asking to go part time. i got pregnant by Christmas and didn't go back after second child.
You might find that you don't care so much about the things that kept you at school all hours, I didn't.
In 2009 national individual tutoring will begin. I am taking part in the pilot now. It's great because I look after dc during the day and then tutor in the evening when dh comes home.
Look at your finances. I belived we absolutly couldn't afford not to work but we could. I loved my job too and didn't think I could bear to give it up but I'm horrified that I didn't after ds1. Everyone's different though...I'm not wanting to start a debate just sharing my experiences.

I went back f/t when my ds was 6 months. With one child it is manageable but you have to be really organised with your time and make yourself do stuff - not like me at all but I managed. As has been said, get in early to get things done like display and preparation. Keep on top of your marking, do things as soon as you are asked so you don't get weighed down. I used to wait till he was in bed to do my work and then at weekends I only worked on Sunday during his naps. Worked out okay. I also used to plan ahead for the half term really thoroughly, did weekly plans and photocopied the work so it was all ready for the coming term. You will cope - don't worry!

Berrie - what's national individual tutoring?

cat64 no i can't see it either! i'm starting to see expressing as one more thing to squeeze into an already full working day, and building up barriers around it i'm sure will meani get zilch.

robinpud i think that is what i will aim for, the morning and night feeding that is.

yes, my return to work is purely financial, i intend to ask to go job share as soon as our circumstances allow. i am very guilty of not saying no to stuff at work, i am fairly new to the profession and also to my current school, so always feeling obliged to

Cornsilk, I am taking part in a pilot of the scheme which is going on in 10 authoritiesin ks2 and 3. It offers 10 individual sessions in maths, reading or writing which take place out of school hours. There is another academic year to go on the pilot then the plan is for it to go national. I imagine there will be lots of work for tutors.

here

and here

I've got 7 at the moment in 2 schools.