Going back to work after maternity leave

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Specializes in NICU.

Hello everyone, I recently gave birth and I am already dreading going back to work! I work 3 12's/week which isn't so bad but my little one will only be 2 months old when I return and probably not sleeping through the night yet. I go back next month. Any mommy nurses with any tips on how to avoid extreme exhaustion or how to prepare to go back to work? I work on a busy critical care unit! Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Make sure to use your breaks to pump if you are BFing and drink drink drink. Feed baby right before you leave and as soon as you get home. The old adage sleep when baby sleeps applies here. Have baby in a bassinet in your room so you don't have to get up and roam the house. If you have a fabulous supply now, pump and store milk to give when you aren't home. Also start having dad give a bottle a few times a day so baby gets used to it. I found it easier when mine were babies than the toddler stage!

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The previous poster gave excellent advice, that I would give as I am a post partum nurse. I'll add to rely on your family and friends to help you out as much as possible with cooking, watching the baby and running errands. Don't worry if the house isn't super clean, it is okay. Is it possible for you to work part time as well ? That one day off can mean a world of difference.

Now, if I can only take my own advice I'd be okay. I'm 5 months pregnant and the thought of managing a newborn and working Full time scares the living daylights out of me!

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Specializes in ICU.

I tried to do everything right after I gave birth to my son. I tried to be super mom and super wife. I felt like I needed to embrace my role as a SAHM and tried to do it all. Relax as much as you can, get some sleep!! After six weeks of no sleep I literally fell asleep at a table at a restaurant one night!!! The house does not need to be perfect and take a few moments for you in the day. Whether it is a hot bath or reading a book. You will treasure those 15 minutes of sanity. If you have people who can help use them!! That was another mistake I made was refusing help, thinking I could do it all. I thought I was going to have a breakdown about 8 weeks in, lol. I finally talked to my doc because I physically wanted to hurt my husband. She asked me if I ever thought of harming my baby and I said no way!!! I just want to harm my husband!!! She had a good laugh at that. So just take your time and don't overwhelm yourself. I'm sure you feel that way right now but it does get better, I promise. I thought the first 3 mos. were the hardest for me.

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Also start having dad give a bottle a few times a day so baby gets used to it.

This!!!

Make sure your baby will take a bottle before you go back to work!

I made that mistake of not giving enough bottles to my first baby, and let me just say the first few weeks back to work were misery for him, for his dad, and for me!

Thankfully, he started sleeping through the night around 8 weeks (I worked 8 hour nights, started back to work when he was 6 weeks old), so things got better after that.

With my other babies, I introduced a bottle right away after nursing was firmly established, and I never had that problem again.

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Specializes in NICU.

Wow you gals gave some great advice! I will be taking everything into consideration starting.....now! Lol thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

My first one was a nightmare with bottles!!! My husband had to bring him up to the hospital in the middle of the night because he wouldn't quit screaming! The other 2 got bottles from the get go!

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