Am I dreaming, or is this doable?

[nougatness]

I live and work in the Middle East. Our first baby is due at the end of June. I get 6 weeks maternity leave and have added my 4 weeks annual leave onto this, so was planning on having 10 weeks off.
My work is not hard at all - either mentally or physically, it is the easiest job I have ever had by a long shot and on the whole I enjoy it.
We will have a full time, live in Nanny, who is starting before the baby is due.
Now, there has been a problem with the person who was covering for me. Am I totally dreaming to say that I will come back to work 4 or 5 weeks after delivery for 4 or 5 hours a day?
And to put in context, the weather during this time will be stinking hot - think 50 celsius, Ramadan will be a month of everything closed, no eating or drinking in public etc, so it isn't like I will be out and about with the baby having a good old time, I will be bunkered down at home, which is a big cement box in the middle of the sand.
It would also mean that I have leave stored for later in the year when family are coming etcetec, whereas at the moment I wouldn't get leave until August next year.
Do I need a reality check or is this doable? Thanks for your replies.

I don't see why not, unless you have some complications or C section? My friend went back to work full time as child minder 2 weeks after having c section.

I think 4-5 hours per day from 4-5 weeks after delivery is a bit much to commit yourself to, even with a nanny.

You dopn't knwo how well you're going to be after the birth. If you have a section you're not supposed to drive for 6 weeks - it's major abdominal surgery. Even if you were up adn about, 5 hours work a day is a lot to put yourself through.

You don't know what sort of baby you're going to have. Some babies would be fine with this, others less so.

Is it possible to work from home? can it be flexible so you fit it in when you want in the day, or does it have to be set hours? does it have to be so many hours?

I can see working 2 or 3 hours from home as and when it fits with your schedule, would be possible. 5 hours at a set time working outside the home would be MUCH harder.

sorry for all the typos, hope you can understand me

You could do it I think, unless you wish to breastfeed? (without expressing of course).

Well, I was physically capable of doing anything within 4 weeks of both pregnancies. But I had straight forward deliveries, with no complications. And when I think about it, I didn't go back to work, I was relaxing and napping a lot during the day, so I don't know how well I would have coped acting normally at work!

On the other hand, you will know that you're baby is safe at home with someone you trust and you will be working shortish days.

Do you have to commit now? It might be worth waiting 'till after the baby is born. As becky says, working from home might be easier.

Thanks all, yeah, I don't have to commit and they haven't even asked for that commitment, but was seeking advice before I even put it to them. The labour law here also gives an hour off to breastfeed, so I could do that as well.
Thanks again, just needed to know if I was totally insane!

For me, its was 6wks before I could start thinking straight, and it was prolonged by the fact that both mine had colic as well, which lasted until 12wks the first time and 9wks the second. This means they cry from late afternoon until midnight-2am and theres absolutely nothing you can do about it except hold them and rock them and carry them around. You can imagine how shattering this is.

You're lucky to have a live in Nanny but even she will need some time off...

I'd say 12wks is the minimum i could think about anything else, not without a LOT of additional help, which may be possible for you.

Do you mind telling me where you are btw... my DH is looking at a possible job offer in Doha...