Mommies, when to stop working? How long to go back to work, etc?

[Shared Acres]

I JUST found out I'm pregnant. We are excited and happy but I am completely nervous about the job aspect as I am self employed! The majority of my work is photography and wedding photography, so that is very hands on and tiring.

It looks like I'm due about Sept. 19th. I'm trying to figure out when I should start laying off work, etc...

1-When did you feel like walking and moving around were to much work to do and you wish you could just be at home?
2-How long after baby were you just out of it and couldn't do much?
3-What is the standard maternity leave?

Any advice?

I'm thinking of farming out any work I have or can't do to other good photogs I know as needed, but need to know what to be prepared for!

 

[Prettiest Frog]

I went into labor at my place of work, and switched to work from home freelance stuff after.

 

[LarryPQ]

Up to you. Since you work on "scheduled events" you could probably get away with a very minimal break; assuming you have a good support system. In some ways, sitting in a cubie is harder since you CANT leave to pump and everytime you think of the baby, you NEED to pump.

Physically speaking: I worked up until I went into labor. I had WAAAAYYY too much energy with the first one, and did not sleep for months before he was born. NEsting overdrive. My recovery took 2 weeks +2 more to stop the annoying post-birth bleeding. Energy sucked, but that has more to do with breast feeding every 1.5-2 hours and general lack of sleep. I took the maximum time off (12 weeks) but did come in a few times to help with the year-end audit.

The second kid took no time to recover, and the lack of sleep thing didn't bother me until week 6. I was able to telecommute, so I was working 7 days after he was born. BUT I was able to feed him while running reports and never had to look nice. Took the 12 weeks again, but worked from home to supplement income whenever I could.

Also- I did both with no drugs, and I hear the "up and at 'em" recovery is a little slower with an epidural.

Also: CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[Dar]

congrats!!!!!

1-When did you feel like walking and moving around were to much work to do and you wish you could just be at home?

I carried all my children back I was as wide as a house but not to much belly, so I did not feel like this till about my 8th month

2-How long after baby were you just out of it and couldn't do much?
each child was different.. with my first i was out for the count for the first 7 days, second child I was up and walking 3 hours later ready to go I actually went back to work part time when he was 3 weeks old, child #3 I was out for the count for about 3 days, but i was able to function within the household but nothing more.

3-What is the standard maternity leave?
From what I understand this will vary from state to state. Here in Ontario Canada, parents are allowed 1 year mat leave. I go stir crazy before that though and i usually go back part time at about 6 months.. just to get a break from baby. It sounds bad but I needed a change in environment.

 

[LarryPQ]

Standard maternity leave in the US is 12 weeks, per the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act- I believe). Employers are REQUIRED to let you stay home up to 12 weeks, but are not required to pay you for your time. Since you are self-employed, this probably means nothing to you.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I worked up until my first son was born (I was getting up for my morning shower before heading off to work when my water broke).

Since you free-lance, you need to find someone who can and will fill in and take over any scheduled jobs during the last month of your pregnancy if needed, and you need to okay it with the clients with whom you are contracted. Also, I suggest that you work up until the baby is born if at all possible--your income will take a nose-dive the moment you stop working, and there is no guarantee how long you will be off. Unless there are medical reasons, there is no reason to stop working early. Much better to apply that time to time with baby after he/she is born.

1) If you are healthy you shouldn't feel that walking and moving around are too much, even up to the last day; especially with a first baby. There are circumstances where this may be inaccurate (health conditions, pregnancy issues, carrying multiple babies, also have young children, etc.) but it is the norm.

2) It will depend drastically on your individual situation. I had c-sections that kept me from getting up and moving around as early as if I had had vaginal births. In general, with a vaginal birth they want you up and moving within a few hours. If you have a c-section, they may put you on a morphine drip--which requires a catheter for at least 24 hours after the morphine is stopped. This severely limits your ability to get up and move. With my 2nd birth I specifically said "NO MORPHINE" and was up and moving much sooner.

3) Standard maternity leave was 6 weeks, usually 8 weeks after a c-section. I would assume it is similar, now. However, specific conditions could extend the timing--it really depends on what your doctor prescribes.


You need to find some good books about maternity and read them thoroughly; write down as many questions as you can think of before your first OB appointment, and ask them all. Enroll in a childbirth program that starts early in pregnancy--many don;t start until the last trimester. It's really sort of silly to have a room full of 7 or 8 month pregnant ladies and be telling them about the foods they need to eat and the exercise they should be getting during their first trimester

I recommend Bradley classes as they start early in pregnancy and are strong advocates of being well-informed about all aspects of pregnancy and delivery. They do push/emphasize a prepared/natural childbirth, but more importantly they push you making informed choices, whatever those choices may be.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Congrats on your pregnancy! Now you can join us over here https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=244625

 

[claud]

1. I worked up to and including the day I went into labor. Had plenty of energy.

2. A month. Basically worthless first 2 weeks. Didn't actually feel GOOD until about 3 months.

3. Standard maternity is 12 weeks. I went back to work full-time with a 2 1/2 hour commute when he was 3 months old(would NOT recommend that). Recommend part-time until baby is at least 6 months.

 

[Bettacreek]

It will all depend. My first son, I worked up until the last week of pregnancy. At that point, I could not get up and go to work, but I could stay at home and scrub every last cobweb from the house, it was weird... I went back to work two or three months later. My second son, I didn't work for several weeks before giving birth, but called the boss the day after giving birth and told her to slate me in later that week. Granted, my second son was three weeks early and I didn't use drugs the second time around. So, if you can, keep trucking until you just don't feel like it any longer.

 

[HEChicken]

Congrats!

1-When did you feel like walking and moving around were to much work to do and you wish you could just be at home?
This will be really individual, and will depend on whether you have any pregnancy complications. I tried to eat very healthy and stay fit by exercising every day with my pregnancies. With the first, my exercise consisted of walking briskly for an hour every day after work. With the next, since I had a toddler, my exercise was walking her to and from the local shops in her stroller, plus running around after her all the time. I do believe that staying healthy and fit goes a long way to feeling well in pregnancy and will lead to fewer complications and less need to curtail your normal activities. I was able to work right up to having the first but was still home when the second came. When you are home you DO work right up until the baby is born because you don't have a choice when your boss is a toddler!

I was lucky that I had none of the usual pregnancy problems. No morning sickness or heartburn or anything like that. I slept on my stomach until delivery and never had a problem doing up shoelaces.

2-How long after baby were you just out of it and couldn't do much?
Not at all. I didn't find labor to be nearly as bad as they always show it in movies (where of course they are going for drama). I was up and about almost immediately. Yes there was a little pain with stitches but nothing I couldn't handle.

3-What is the standard maternity leave?
Where I lived when I had my babies, the standard maternity leave was one year, with the first 12 weeks being at full pay. We could also optionally extend to two years after the first year was up, if we wished. I highly recommend you take as much time as you can. They are only little once. Everyone says how fast they grow up and its really true. You'll always be able to go back to work once baby doesn't need you at home any more. There is so much peace of mind not having to worry about daycare (finding a good one, paying for it, worrying about how the child is actually treated when you're not around). And although they might run you ragged during the day, at least you are there for the first tooth, the first smile, the first time they sit up, the first steps - not hearing about it from the babysitter. Also, I can't imagine being more tired than getting up at the crack of dawn to get myself and baby ready for work/daycare, dropping off at daycare, working a full day, rushing home to pick up baby, get groceries, prepare a meal, clean house, bath baby, put to bed and so on. At least when you're home all day, you can get housework/laundry done while baby is napping, or rest yourself when you need to.