There are so many but I thought of this one today and wanted to pass it on. If you plan on pumping/breastfeeding: While you are on maternity leave, pump as much as you can to get a good freezer stash going. There are some days when you just can't get away to pump 3x/day. Having a freezer stash makes those days less stressful because you know you have milk to give in your freezer.
What advice would you give to a first time mom who plans on going back to work?
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
Same...I hated pumping so much during my maternity leave but it helped when I went back to work!
Also, just know it will be hard to go back and you might want to quit the first few days or weeks. Don't make any rash decisions!
persimmon / 1341 posts
Go back on a Thursday so you only have 2 days the first week then get the weekend again. It's less stressful than doing 5 days right off the bat.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Never quit pumping on a bad day. By Thursday I was always fed up with it, but I would push through and enjoy a nice quiet weekend of nursing my baby. Usually by Monday I was ok again.
eggplant / 11824 posts
Take your baby to daycare for trial-runs in the days leading up to your return to work.
Go in with an open mind; don’t assume that your LO won’t like daycare or that you won’t like returning to work.
Make sure your husband is ready to give 100% in the evenings and on weekends. There is absolutely no reason why you have to work all day, come home and clean the house, make dinner, do bathtime, etc. by yourself. He should be doing a part of all those things. Any man/woman can cook a simple dinner. Any man/woman can load a dishwasher or a washer/dryer. If he claims he doesn't know how to do those things; teach him.
Plan to run errands on your lunch hour if you can. It helps a lot to not have to run errands after work.
pomegranate / 3414 posts
Same as what PP have said, plus:
- Expect to cry the first day (or several).
- Expect the unexpected.
- Keep an extra set of pump parts at the office (especially the little valve things that can easily get forgotten).
- Take it one day at a time.
- If pumping, try not to stress as it can affect output.
- Enjoy the "adult" conversation/interaction.
- Do as much prep work as possible at night so mornings won't feel rushed; pack lunches, prepare coffeemaker, lay out your and LOs clothes, pack daycare bag, pack pump bag, etc.
pomegranate / 3204 posts
I definitely agree with starting in the middle of the week. I went back on a Wednesday and it was so nice knowing the weekend was right around the corner.
honeydew / 7504 posts
Starting in the middle of the week was what several people told me. Because my boss is really strict about maternity leave being EXACTLY 12 weeks, I'm starting my maternity leave on a Thursday so that I can come back on a Thursday and not work a full week my first week back.
grapefruit / 4110 posts
Nurse the baby as much as possible before going back. Nurse as much as possible when you aren't at work.
Remember that you are human and you can't do it all all the time. Sometimes things will go down the drain. One day it will be work (cause you forgot pump parts and had to go home and get them) and the next it will be your baby. That's okay.
grapefruit / 4717 posts
Same as above, and I'd add:
- I went back part-time for 2 weeks before going full-time just so I could start getting used to it.
- I second trying to build up as much of a freezer stash as possible while on leave. I wish mine were bigger. I had to dip into it almost completely to make up the difference in pumping vs. what he ate given in daycare bottles.
- Don't feel badly about waking your husband in the middle of the night so you can get a little extra rest. (That is, if you're currently the only one who gets up for middle-of-the-night feedings.)
- Put a check-list of items on the inside of your front door so you don't forget them when leaving in the morning. I've sadly forgotten pieces of my pump more times than I'd like to admit!
- Be sure you have lots of photos of LO on your phone so you can flip through them during the day and especially while pumping. Not only do you get to see his/her cute face, but it will also help with milk supply while pumping.
- Sometimes the only way to get through a day is to measure it in how many pump sessions are left!
- One day at a time.
pear / 1548 posts
Great advice! We're aren't TTC yet but I know I'll want to read these tips when the time comes!
bananas / 9118 posts
Go back part time for a couple weeks if possible.
Have someone text you a photo of what baby it's doing each day- this always cheers me up and reminds me what I am working for.
grapefruit / 4110 posts
Don't count out co sleeping. It's the only way I got any sleep and was able to function. That doesn't mean you have to but don't say never.
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