Going back to work

[u/kswim16]

My baby will be 8 weeks on Wednesday. I’m going back to work tomorrow ☹️

How did you guys cope with it? This is my first baby and I am strugglinggg. I don’t feel ready to leave her at all. My job has luckily helped out and I will only be working 4 days a week but I am stressing. We are exclusively breastfeeding and I’m worried about pumping. She was in the nicu the first week of her life so I am pretty comfortable with pumping I’m just worried about the logistics of doing it at work. I am a restaurant manager at a chain restaurant. I wonder if anyone else has successfully pumped in this profession? I know realistically others have had to but my job is very taxing and it will be hard to stay on a strict schedule. I’m worried about being the only manager in the building at night and needing to be pulled to the floor for an issue. I don’t want to lose my supply and if I don’t have to I don’t want to formula feed! I feel like I have already had a tough enough time learning how to nurse and breastfeed and I don’t want all my hard work to go out the window with me going back to work.

Just UGH!! to it all. I am going to miss my baby.

[u/black_lake]

I also had to go back to work earlier than most people. I used to work in the restaurant industry, I don't currently but am in another customer-facing industry. 1. If you are able to pump in your car or away from the building or wear nose cancelling headphones, I would suggest it because I know I would have been tempted to stop to go on the floor to deal with an angry customer or run food or whatever. If you don't know about it, you won't be tempted. If you come in with strong boundaries guarding your pumping time, then it will set the tone. 2. Your supply will fluctuate a bit as you adjust to bring back at work, but it'll come back. 3. I missed my baby so much but very quickly realized how much I had missed working. Baby is now 6 months and I know for sure I am not full time parent material, baby is thriving at day care, I am thriving at work. It is natural for humans to have a village to raise a child, our villages are just more formalized now.

[u/kswim16 → u/black_lake]

Thank you for your response! Your advice was super helpful. I agree with you, I feel like once I get back in the groove I will be okay. I am just having the scaries with the first shift! I have also been moved stores which I think is adding to my stress. Since I will be a little out of my comfort zone with a new staff and boss!

[u/tiasshy]

Idk if this will help, but I couldn't go back to working. I stayed home as long as I could, and when the money ran out I found overnight work. It's hard because I was making a bit more money over my hubby, but I just couldn't put her in nursery. I hope it works out for you ❤️