returning to work

[kitten_uk2]

Hi there, me and my husband are planning another baby, we both work, and i was wondering when i could return to work after the birth by law? i know it's 9 month maternity leave but can you go back earlier? i think we would struggle on a maternity benifit.

[natalie_1982]

I think the minimum you can take is 2weeks by law; but it might depend on where you want to send your child. The nursery I will be using (my daughter starts when she is 6months) takes babies from 5weeks but most places I looked at took them from 3months. Obviously if you're leaving them with family or a childminder then that's different and I wouldn't have a clue re regs for childminders! Good luck though x

[kitten_uk2]

my husband works nights so he will look after the child during the day while im at work. is it really 2 weeks? that doesnt seem very long, i was expecting at least a couple of months.

[natalie_1982]

Got this from a .gov website:
The law requires that an employee takes a minimum of two weeks� (four weeks for those who work in factories) maternity leave immediately following the birth

[naflharrison]

i would suggest you think very hard about your husband having to work a night shift and then cope with the baby all day aswell, im not trying to sound rude its just that my children are 5 and 2 n half, i now work 3 nights per week from 10pm until 8am then i come home and look after my son while my daughter is at school, the summer holidays have been tough as it has meant that i am only sleeping around 3-4 nights out of 7 and its not easy.

i know everyone is struggling at the moment financially but you would get alot of your childcare costs paid via tax credits if your new baby even went to a childdminder for the mornings so your husband could get a bit of rest.

you dont want to make yourself or you husband ill by putting too much on yourselves. i just about get through the day with no sleep and its purely for financial reasons aswell. i know that when we or if we (hopefully!) decide to have another baby in 2yrs time that i will definately not be able to cope with nights with a young child and will have to either cut down or give up all together.

look after yourselves and think through all the options

goos luck and have fun making baby :-)

[redcrx]

yep 2 weeks. I went back 2 weeks after each of mine but im lucky in that I work from home 3 days a week and my mum has them 2 days.

Its exhausting though! lol

[kitten_uk2]

thanx for all your answers, naflharrison if you had read my question, you would have noticed i said another baby, we already have a 4 and half yr old, and my hubby copes fine. i only work part time and my shifts are only 7hrs long! xx

[naflharrison]

hi yes i knew it was a second baby was just sayin i know how tough it can be.