really want no. 2 but in new job

[daisydee43]

hi just started new job been there 2 months and will find out when get contract. am trying to conceive now as dd is 2 and really needs a playmate and wed love another. when had dd i had only been in my previous job 3 months when fell pg and it didnt seem too bad - told them after i had been there 6mnths and did get SMP. new job seems to be slower with things ie not get uniform until few weeks ago. bit worried abt finances as use CM and would struggle on dh wage alone albiet have been trying last few months and no tax creds

anyone else in similar?

Well you either can afford a second child or you can't. It very much depends on your priorities - many people do have another baby and muddle through financially and it all works fine in the end, some struggle to the point that it affects every aspect of daily life and was not perhaps a wise decision.

I have one DC because health and finances precluded a second in our opinion. Only you and your partner can weigh everything up and come to your own decision.

I've known at least one woman at work who arrived pregnant and immediately fell pregnant again and had most of her first two years off on maternity. It happens.

hi oh no not on breadline, can muddle through. i sometimes do self employed work as a top up at £100ph but not reliable as sole income

Do you have to take maternity leave?

hi think legally you have to take some right?

If I remember rightly its two weeks compulsory mat leave.

You legally have to take two weeks (unless you work in a factory, when you'd have to take four weeks).

I wouldn't worry about it. If you're TTC now then you could have been there a year by the time you're off (2 months now + 9 months pregnancy). Then take maternity leve of however long you think they'll wait/you can afford and then go back. If you can do a great job before you go off then they'll be fine about waiting for you to come back.

Do look carefully at the finances of two in Childcare though. If you definately can't survive on one salary then you need to be damn sure the second salary more than covers the cost of Childcare + second commute + haircuts/clothes for work etc.