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!

went back full time after ds1 including a heavy management role. Hard work but he was a good sleeper and was formula fed by then

tried to go back after ds2 full time and maintain my management. After 2 months I was off sick. He was fully breastfed. I expressed at lunchtime and at every feed as well.

After about 4 months of trying, I dropped my management role and reduced my hours to 2 days a week. Continued expressing at lunchtime until he was 18 months - by that time I was only getting a few ounces and was only working 2 days a week and tbh I didn't really need to by then.

I can give you lots of expressing tips if you would like them.

I love teaching and am glad that I found the balance. Am pregnant with ds3 now. will go back when he is between 6 and 9 months (depends on money) and will continue to work 2 days. Plan to express again all being well. Good luck - it can be done. If you have a supportive partner, you will be amazed how beneficial it will be for you to have a few hours to yourself to get things done on a Saturday or Sunday.

ds3 should say dc3 - I have know idea whether it will be ds3 or dd1

sorry dd was at the controls earlier!
bed time now so must dash but appreciate your responses, will reply tomorrow, THANKS

No problem, they love it. Am doing KS2 so perhaps that it why. They love the attention and it really works! It's great professional development too.