What Next After Birth: Going Back to Work or Staying Home?

Almost every mother pictures herself going back to work a few weeks or months after delivering their baby, but the idea quickly changes when the time to actually return comes. You can’t bear even the thought of being separated with your bundle of joy even for half a day. On the other hand, you may miss your work life and yearn to go back to it. It all becomes a dilemma that can’t be solved quickly. Here are the pros and some cons you may want to consider while making your decision on whether to go back to work after birth or become a stay-at-home mum:

GOING BACK TO WORK

The Pros

Going back to work means that you are reconnecting with your career and moving on with your intellectual and passionate business journey. This is probably how you will feel once you understand that your life does not have to come to a standstill because you gave birth. It is good, even for your mental healing, to go back to your job and get on with that part of your life.

Needless to say, going back to work means that you get to cash in that extra paycheck instead of letting all the weight of your bills lean on your partner. It also helps in building your relationship with your partner; they will appreciate seeing that you are also putting in an effort to take care of your family.

It's also about having that routine and normality back in your life. Some mums crave that adult conversation and a reason to get out of your pyjamas every day. 

The Cons

Your heart will break every time you walk out of that door and leave your baby behind even if they are not watching you. You may also have a hard time focus on work as you worry yourself sick on whether your baby has been fed well, is feeling all right, etc.

Your baby will also have to experience separation anxiety a little earlier than those kids in pre-school do. Once they figure out that once you are out of the door you are gone, they will make sure it is not easy for you to leave.

STAYING AT HOME

The Pros

You get to watch your baby grow! You get to spend as much time with them as you want and know them at a deeper level. Your baby will be thrilled to have you around, and they will grow up better knowing that the person they can trust most is always around. 

The Cons

If you were a busy career woman before getting pregnant, then you may have a hard time adjusting to the boredom that will come with staying at home. Your baby may get used to you and become a little too clingy. Your husband may also miss the talks you used to have about your busy workdays.

Conclusively, neither option is perfect. You have to weigh your priorities and your family’s needs in order to find the ideal arrangement for you and your little one. Things to look into is childcare costs vs income, check on how family friendly your work environment is, as some may offer the option to either breastfeed at work or give you breaks to go feed your baby. It's also a good excuse to convince your partner to invest in a dishwasher, dryer and other handy appliances to make household chores at home that little bit easier. 

At the end of the day, remember what works for one family may not work for yours. As long as you do what's best for yours as you are raising the next generation.