how soon did you go back to work after baby?

[moomin35]

Just wondered when people returned to work after having a baby?

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

7 months (6 mat, plus accrued leave) with DD1; 12 weeks with DD2, then part time for 3 months, and fulltime at 6 months.

I had 6 months fully paid mat leave with DD1 so it felt like a no-brainer for me. However, I was put at risk of redundancy and it turned into an incredibly stressful mat leave. Had I gone back sooner, it would not have happened imo.
With DD2, I only qualified for MA as I was pregnant when I started so I went back part time at 12 weeks. Had a fulltime nanny at home though for DD1 so the transition to add DD2 to the mix was very easy in many respects.

Personally, I was keen to go back as I enjoy my job and I am well paid for what I do. I love my children but I am not naturally a "fun" mum lining up fun craft activities and baking etc. We have a full-time nanny and a cleaner and on the weekends I try to make it just about spending time with the kids. Weekday evenings seem to be a constant round of household admin though.

Just because you are allowed to take a year+ off, does not make it the right decision for you or your child. It's a bit like university, it's not for everyone and there are different roads to take before you achieve the right balance.

My mum was a SAHM and I'd love my children to come home to an open house after school with their friends. There are a lot of things about my childhood that they won't have though - starting with walking home from primary school so I try to keep the rose tinted specs about being a SAHM locked away. I do the odd week here and there of full-time childcare and going back to work is a rest

[edwardcullensotherwoman]

I took 5 years (mat leave plus 4 unpaid) to look after DS for medical reasons (couldn't put him in creche), we worked out that there wasn't much financial difference between doing that and us both working and using creche anyway. I had DD during the time off and decided to hand in my notice, as I was going to retrain after (hopefully) having a third.
BUT, I ended up taking a part time job at 11 weeks pg, because it's something I'd wanted to do for a long time. I'm currently 18 weeks, the job is only 2 days a week but I love doing it. My mum now works less so she volunteered childcare one day, and DH only works 4 days now so he takes the other day.
All in all it's worked well for us, and I plan to go back after this baby as I really love the job. I know that I have been very lucky