How did you manage to return to work 6 weeks after baby is born?

Question

I am expecting my first child in February and I will have to return to work if current financial situations stay the same. I was wondering how women out there were able to manage leaving a 6 week old with someone else? Did you breastfeed or were you forced to switch to bottle fed? How did you get any sleep at night?

I'm really worried that I'll be so tired I wont be able to concentrate. The exhaustion I feel just from being pregnant has been enough at times where I call in because I can't drive. I work for a family business and they are pretty understanding and even told me that on occasion I would be able to bring the baby into the office with me.

So how did you do it? Was it really difficult?

Answer 1

well i went back to college full time about a week after the baby was born, bc he was born in the middle of the semester. it was really hard to do at first, Each day some one else watched him, my mom, grandma, and husbaned, all took turns. i would call between all my breaks to check in an the baby, i would pump when i had a change and they would feed him the breast milk and suppliment formula, then id breast feed him when i was home, i didnt go bk to work will he was 4 monthes old and my faimly all helped out watching him while i was in school and work. i did take the summer off from school to be w/ him and worked part time,nights which my job has, so worked out good.

he is now 10 monthes old and is doing great but he is a mama's boy lol

Answer 2

I didnt return to work until she was 7 months. We sucked it up, scrimped and saved and managed to live off of one salary for as long as possible. We didnt get to do much or go out much, but we had a brand new baby and didnt want to leave her with anyone anyway.

Now that I am working (part time) I pump and her dad feeds her that while Im gone, and I only work when either he or my mom can watch the baby

EDIT WOW thumbs down me for being able to stay at home with my baby.

Answer 3

I did it, and it was very hard in the beginning, but it got easier quickly.  It gave me the opportunity to be something besides a mom all the time.  It helps if both you, and your child are happy with the childcare arrangement.  You won't sleep much for about the first 6 months, but you wouldn't sleep much even if you weren't working.  You'll get into a routine and make it work.  Good luck.

Answer 4

I went back to work and school at 6 weeks. I pumped milk during my lunch and my mom babysat my daughter and she drank formula and breastmilk.

My second child I did the same thing. I was actualy back in college classes the day after I got home from the hospital. My hubby watched her. Then when she was 6 weeks old she started daycare. I pumped breastmilk during my lunches then too. Eventually I stopped pumping and she drank formula during the day and breastfed at night.

I was tired going to schoool full time and working, but I just did what I had to do. I had a really good daycare center that I trusted which helped some with the transition. I always talked with them at drop off and pickup and knew every think my baby did during the day.  

Answer 5

I know how difficult this is for you sweetheart. I went back to work when my daughter was 4 weeks old. Basically as soon as my Dr. cleared me, back to work I went.

I was lucky enough to be able to leave my daughter with my mom while my husband and I worked, and it broke my heart to not be with her as much as I wanted to but I tried to make the amount of time I had with her as quality as possible. This unfortunately carried on until she was almost 2 years old. When I fell pregnant with our second child, my husband and I re-assessed the situation and found that we could *possibly* make it work with me staying home. It's been difficult, but worth it. I do know though, had my husband not gotten this job that he currently has, and we were in the same position as we were when our daughter was born, there would be no way on Earth I would be able to stay home.

I admire you for your concern.. It shows that you already care about baby more than yourself. That's a quality lots of moms lack. (not all). Maybe it'll only have to be a temporary situation. You never know what the future has in store for you. Maybe your spouse will get a new fantastic job, or a raise/promotion and you'll be able to stay home.

You'll be tired, but you'll be tired if you stay home as well. I bottle fed, but that was simply because I didn't have the availability to pump with the job that I had. Utilize the help and care that your company is offering you- you're super lucky you can occasionally bring baby in :)

I wish you lots of luck and love sweetheart. It's going to be hard, but it'll be very, very worth it.