Pregnant moms: Will you go back to work after baby?

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Pregnant moms: Will you go back to work after baby?

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  • 78264
    Yes. I love my job, we need the money and we have our plan in place for child care.
    55%
  • 78265
    No. I do love my job, but I can't bear to be away from my baby for those long hours.
    21%
  • 78266
    I'm not sure yet. We're still trying to figure out what will work best for our family.
    23%

VoteTotal Votes: 282

It's a question every mom faces at some point or other. Whether you're having your first baby or you have multiple kids, will you go back to work after the baby is born? Share your answer and post your tips for other moms who are mapping out their family and work plans.

Results with 4 short comments
Total of 282 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

55.3%
Yes. I love my job, we need the money and we have our plan in place for child care.
156 votes
21.3%
No. I do love my job, but I can't bear to be away from my baby for those long hours.
60 votes
23.4%
I'm not sure yet. We're still trying to figure out what will work best for our family.
66 votes
Display Comments:
No. I do love my job, but I can't bear to be away from my baby for those long hours.

I stay at home with my kids. I do not trust anyone to watch them and couldn't make enough working to afford a sitter anyway.

     - jamib
     - 7:17 pm EST on Tue Jan 12, 2010
    Yes. I love my job, we need the money and we have our plan in place for child care.

    Don't have a choice. Do not neccessarily love my job but need the money!

       - 9:20 am EST on Wed Jan 13, 2010
      Yes. I love my job, we need the money and we have our plan in place for child care.

      Not the stay-at-home-mom type. Love being socially/professionally engaged. Baby loves her daycare and the benefits are numerous !

         - 1:54 pm EST on Wed Jan 13, 2010
        Yes. I love my job, we need the money and we have our plan in place for child care.

        I'm lucky being a programmer we can work from anywhere, and while my employer prefers you in the office we worked it out.

        • 1 vote
         - 12:22 pm EST on Tue Jan 26, 2010

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        I was on maternity leave for 5 months, went back to work for 7 but could not bear to be away. I was not expecting that! Now I'm a SAHM and could not be happier.

          Reply#1 - Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:35 PM EST

          I've done both. Went back to work after 3 weeks when I didn't have a choice financially, and stayed at home for a lot longer when I could. While I liked having them at home, I enjoyed their socialization and contact with illness they received at the day care.

            Reply#2 - Thu Jan 14, 2010 4:32 PM EST

            I'm absolutely crazy about my kids, but I both need and love my job. We have excellent childcare that they enjoy, and I compromise by not going out socially without them, but instead spending our evenings and weekends in fun family activities and trips. My husband and I are both in "helping" professions, so I think that watching us in our careers will hopefully teach our girls to be compassionate to others and passionate in their life's work.

              Reply#3 - Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:39 PM EST

              As a side note I would rather be a sahm until my children reach school age, but that's not realistic given my field(technology-good luck getting a job after 5 years of not having one), and finances.

                Reply#4 - Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:29 PM EST
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