It's Working Project

"I worked for an employer who was unwilling to discuss alternative schedules or working from home as a possibility . . . I actually ended up leaving this employer because their policies were so unfriendly towards new moms."

What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?

Don’t try to balance it – let some things go. I picture my life often as juggling a lot of different balls in the air – kiddos, marriage, friendships, work, volunteering – and they can’t all be in the air at once. You have to learn which ones you can let drop that won’t break. Which ones you can pick up later and dust off. And know that some will break.

FOR MOMS: If you breastfed, was there a place for you to pump that met your needs and was conducive to your success? If you breastfed, how did you decide to continue? FOR DADS: What, if any, adjustments did you (or your workplace) make to your schedule after having a baby? Was it specific to your manager or larger, whole work culture?

Peer pressure! I felt a lot of pressure to breastfeed from everything I’d ready to everyone I talked to. I was “lucky” in that after two months of breastfeeding (and the initial issues that go with it) it became pretty easy. Our son took a bottle easily and my supply was more than enough to keep up with his demand.

I pumped three times a day when I was working.

How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?

I had six months maternity leave and my husband had a month. After realizing that my employer wouldn’t be flexible with scheduling upon my return I began to seek alternate employment and eventually left my first employer rather than return.

How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?

Don’t wait to think through/talk through/plan through childcare – both your expectations and the realities out there.

What was your biggest challenge going back to work?

Our biggest concern was childcare and scheduling. The daycare/nanny/alternate arrangement questions were overwhelming and we waited longer than we should have to figure out a plan with our first child. I had six months maternity leave, so we thought we had time to figure it out once our baby was born. We should have started the process before I gave birth. I also worked for an employer who was unwilling to discuss alternative schedules or working from home as a possibility as I transitioned back to work. I actually ended up leaving this employer because their policies were so unfriendly towards new moms.

OTHER STORIES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN