After baby--how much time off work?

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Specializes in M/S, home health, LTC, rehab/orth.

How much time did everyone take off after having a baby? I thought everyone took off 6 weeks, but I've been hearing from other people that some only take off 3 or 4 weeks and when I asked one of the agency staffers she'd had a nurse that came back to work after a week. After my second baby I know I felt back to normal after a week (I've had lady partsl births, no complications). I was thinking about asking my doctor how soon I can go back, of course I have to get a doctor's note anyway to come back to work. Since I'm agency I could go back to work once a week for a few weeks, then two days a week, and so on. My agency also has so much work to choose from that I know I could work at the facilities with a lot of down time to make sure I have plenty of time to pump (night shift at assisted living facilities in particular have a lot of down time). I was just wondering how long everyone took off. Thanks for any shared experiences.

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i would definitely wait at least 6 weeks...

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Just for the record you should wait 6 weeks before going back to work . Now I am a professional mother lol and my 4th baby i went back after 1 week. But my last baby I had her on Friday and went back to work Monday and made up the time missed that week. I'm a work- a- holic . But you know your body and just feel it out after you have your baby . Truthfully I didnt have any choice but to go back to work I had kids to feed and rent to pay. But it is so much easier on your body if you can take some time off.

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I waited 4 months and then went back part time and am still hoping to be a stay-at-home mom someday. :monkeydance:

steph

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Specializes in med/surg.

I went back a year after leaving work (at 29 weeks) for each of my 1st 2 kids - took advantage of the great UK maternity laws that allow 3 months paid leave then up to another 9 months unpaid.

When number 3 came along I took a career break so it was 5 years before I went back to nursing. there was NO WAY I would have been ready even 6 weeks after the birth, I was breast feeding & still walking around looking like a zombie. You would not have wanted me on the ward!!!

Having a long time with my kids was great I fed them all up to 12 months, never had to even buy a steriliser, the dishwasher was fine by the time they were weaning.

I think you should be able to enjoy your babies & allow your body time to repair. Women's lib is fine but I'm sure glad my childbearing years were in the UK. I kinda worry about my daughter in the USA when the time comes, I hope she has the choice, if she wants it, to leave & stay at home for a while because your maternity leave sucks!:D

Oh & please Im not knocking those who want to go back to work quickly but all the same I think it's a shame not to have the choice of a decent amount of time to recover & be with your baby.

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i took 5 years :)

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Specializes in med/surg.
i took 5 years :)

& I bet you enjoyed almost every minute of it!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, Long Term,Ortho.

I had my son in Aug. 2006. Still off work don't want to go back, but I have to bills are piling up.

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