Maternity leave......

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Please help!!! Personal and professional opinions extremely needed. I am a FNP in the field of Interventional Radiology. I have been working in this area over 3 years and recently had my second child. I am due to return the second week in November. My dilemma is that I have a husband who travels weekly for work. He is typically gone 3-4 days a week and mostly out of state. What I feel now is that I am torn as all mothers are in this situation. I would love to stay home longer with her. My mind says I have a professional obligation to return and my heart says to stay home longer to provide care and nurture my relationship with my spouse and other child. I have been given the blessing to stay home from my husband. Also complicating the situation is that a new NP was hired to cover for me and partner once I return, however, she informed us shortly after hire that she is pregnant. She will be on leave in Jan. Advice I need.....do I professionally withdraw in the next week? Return full time and see how it goes and then negotiate part time or place notice depending on how it goes? Or try negotiating part time now? I am in desperate need of any opinions and advise from fellow peers. Thank you in advance!!!

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I know my situation doesn't compare because you're a NP and I'm an RN but last October I had my 3rd baby...about 4 months after I got my 1st RN job. I was a stay at home mom for our first 2 kids, so leaving an 8 week old was a HUGE challenge for me. And I really didn't have to leave him with anyone except for my husband because I work nights, so hubby was there to take care of him. But still it was hard and I had him stay with me during the day because he was a good sleeper. Anyway....I was hired for full time but a couple weeks before going back I called my boss and asked if there's any way I could come back part time. She said no, there were no part time positions available. I cried constantly! Finally after much talking with hubby I called my boss a few days before I was due back and again asked if I could come back part time, I got the same response. So I told her if I couldn't come back part time, I couldn't come back right now. I think that kind of threw her for a loop, lol. Oops! She said she'd discuss it with another supervisor. She called me back shortly after and said ok, I had to switch floors, but whatever, I got part time! 3 nights/week is much better then 5 nights! I'm sorry, this is long and drawn out but I just want you to know I know how you feel! It's tough leaving a baby and I really hope you can go back part time. Babies are only babies for so long, it goes by so fast! I cherish the fact that I was able to stay home with my other 2 and had I of known we were going to be surprised with a 3rd, I maybe would've waited to go back to school. I would put your family first! Good luck....I really hope it works out for you.

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I left my first child when he was two months to deploy to Iraq. I was gone until he was 17 months old. I had my husband stop working to care for my son full time.

I hated it at the time, but it was the right thing to do for many reasons. Having said that, I am due with our second child in 2 weeks and I will NOT miss the baby-ness of this one- but I will be in nursing school full time for his first couple of years.

Hmmm this post was all about me and gave you no advice. Sorry. But it can be done and it could be worse. Decide if you are willing to "miss" 8ish hours a day with your babe. Good luck.

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Specializes in Transplant, step down, MS, ER.

I think u have to decide what is most important to u. Is it your dream career or just a job? Once u decide what u really want talk to your employer about it and see what u can work out. Maybe u could extend your time off, go to part time or whatever else is mutually beneficial. Good luck. My second is 3 months old and 12 weeks was not enough time off:( My hubby is a stay at home dad so that helps but it sucks to leave them.

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Thank you all for your personal experiences and advice. I do not check these posts as often as I should. I am back at work...negotiated part time for a month and then ft after. I let them know forthright that I may request parttime down the road after my coworker is back from maternity leave and they are ok with that. It is great to work in an environment that supports work-family balance. Thanks again and good luck to u all in your endeavors,

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