Going Back to Work
Going back to work after baby is born is a big issue for many women today. Before you jump back into the work force, ask yourself these questions:
Do you really need to go back to work so soon?
Babies grow up fast and the time for them as "infants: is so short. Do you really need to go back to work right now? Can you take a year or two off to enjoy your baby? They will never be babies again whereas your work will always be there. You may not have the same job, but the likelihood is that you will get another job.
Let's put it in perspective: If you work from the time you are 20 to 65, then you would have worked 45 years. If you stayed home until your child goes to kindergarten, that would take 5 years: you would still have 40 years to work. Forty years of work... maybe you can take some time off after all!
How Much Money do you Really Earn?
A lot of moms don't know this, but your net take-home pay is not very high after you factor in the cost of day care.
As well, if you work, you will likely need to buy work clothes, and spend money on lunches & coffee breaks with co-workers. Don't forget the cost of transportation to get you to & back from work.
Another hidden cost of working is that you will likely bring your household income high enough to enter a higher tax bracket. So, all things considered, going to work may not earn you as much money as you thought it would. Plus it takes you away from your baby.
| Anne is a typical working mom. She has an average education and works in Accounts Receiveable of a medium sized company. Being good with numbers, she sat down and calculated her net pay after day care, taxes, the second car, and work-related expenditures. Her monthly net income was $6. |
Are You Determined to Go Back to Work?
If you are determined to go back to work then you should consider asking your supervisor if you can use your lunch hour to breastfeed your baby. Some supervisors (especially those who have a young famly of their own) may be agreeable to this. After all, you won't be breastfeeding forever. A small amount of flexibility on his/her part may ultimately lead to a better work-relationship and a better employee.
If you cannot breastfeed your baby while working, then consider expressing your milk and giving it to your care provider to feed to your baby. Breast milk has antibodies, enzymes, and other elements which are not reproduced in any commercial baby formula. So, if you can't be there to actually hold and cuddle your baby, you can still give him the gift of breast milk.
Lastly, if you can't or don't want to express breast milk, then don't worry. Thousands (millions?) of babies have been raised on formula and they all grow up healthy and smart too.
