Is it best to sleep or after a night shift?

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I'm returning to work next week after being on maternity leave. My baby is ten weeks and we want to minimize childcare at all costs. My MIL offered to help out one to days a week for four hour increments. She is elderly and it s hard for her to keep up with a baby.

I will be working part-time day/night rotation that is self scheduled. For the next six weeks I put myself on nights during the week and day shift on weekends. My nights are spread out. I'm trying to decide if I should utilize my MIL before work or after . any advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel so overwhelmed.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I meant to say "before or after " in my title.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I have to sleep after my night shift. I'm okay all night and the drive home but the minute I get in the door my eyes feel like lead and I'm exhausted.

[westieluv]

I work nights and I would definitely plan on getting sleep in the morning after your shift. It would be ideal to get both, but if you have to choose between the two, in the morning after staying up all night is when you would be more likely to fall asleep out of sheer fatigue, no matter how much you think you won't, and you need someone there with the baby in case that happens.

[NightNurseRN13]

I don't know how you are going to do this with only 4 hours of help. Even with shifts spread out, I would burn out fast!

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone. We are considering day care as well. Maybe I just should have stuck with day shift. I didn't realize that night shift would require more child care.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

What time does your husband get home from work? Can he watch the baby while you sleep?

I'm usually revved up when I get home, so I'd have MIL come in the four hours before your husband comes home. He can take over the baby and let you sleep as long as you can. But you're going to have to figure out what works best for you.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

If it were me, I'd have her come after the night shift. I could easily wake up at 7-8AM on my first night, stay awake/do normal things all day, go to work and work 12 hrs but when I got home, I was lucky if I didn't fall asleep on the toilet. I've never been able to stay awake after a night shift but could easily go in to work and stay up all night if I slept from 8A-2P. I know people who don't go straight to bed after a night shift, though, and are fine as long as they get to sleep by 1-2P. But they then sleep until 6P. I was always up by 4 or 5 when I worked nights. God, I don't miss those days. You just need to figure out what works for you. I know so many people who worked nights after they became mommies because it was easiest for childcare.

[MA Nurse]

You will need more than 4 hours of sleep...especially if you work two nights in a row. You could have her watch baby when you get home, wake up then nap again when your husband gets home? I remember working nights after I had my kids. I lasted 7 years. It wasn't easy.