Index
Readers and friends tell how they went back to work after their babies were born. Can a mother resume activities without feeling bad about it? Luciana Freire, mother of 3 children, Eduardo, Ligia and Antonella talks about how it was to return to active duty after maternity leave and look at it 3 times!
Changing Diapers: How long were you on maternity leave? Who did the baby stay with right after returning to work?
Luciana: It was a very complicated phase the first time, I cried just thinking about going back to work and leaving the little one at home or at the school. I had to do it in 3 after I got back to work because the house, child and work affected me too much in my return to routine. The second time, it was complicated just to leave Li at the school, when Edu was born we chose to leave him with my mother who took turns with my mother-in-law with his daily care, but with Li we put him in the nursery of company where I was working, I confess it was much better to have Li around. She was close to me and could breastfeed and continue with the mother-daughter bond that was in a way broken with Edu after 4 months. With the newer it was even better, I already had my current project, working at home and then I could dedicate myself totally to it and in my spare time (when there was time) I took care of the work. It was a little difficult to reconcile but with the bigger ones the routine fit.
Changing Diapers: Did you breastfeed? how was this change in terms of breastfeeding?
Luciana: I did breastfeed, with Edu it was very confusing and difficult. Although I prepared myself for 6 months psychologically and made a reserve of breast milk, I missed having it breastfeeding on demand. With the girls, I’ve had it easier in that part.
Changing Diapers: How did it feel to know that you would have to go back to work after birth?
Luciana: I just cried… the first time I left home without Edu it was terrible! I had the feeling that I was abandoning him and it was very difficult to return to the normal routine. Gradually we were adapting but if it were today I don’t know if I would do everything again just like it was … I think there would be a way to spend more time with him.
Changing Diapers: How was the return to work, was it easier or more difficult than you expected?
Luciana: It was more complicated the first two times, the first time because I was without the baby and the second time because of the adaptation of the situation itself. It was difficult to go out every morning with 2 small children. With Edu to take the school, at that time he was 4 years old. I took Li with me and staying in traffic with her was no joke. But little by little the situation got better.
Changing Diapers: What do you think could improve when it comes to maternity leave, which one wanted the ideal term for you and the maternity leave of your dreams.
Luciana: In order to improve my father, I could accompany my mother longer in the beginning. Companies should also think carefully about placing a place where mothers could leave their children nearby, I lived this experience and it was very nice. A dream to be able to go to work with the certainty that any problem a few meters away could help your baby, I worked much better, it yielded much more. Ideal would be to be able to stay with them the first year, as I know that this is something that is very far from reality I am at least 8 months until the food introduction is complete.
Changing Diapers: Did the husband take paternity leave? Was 5 days an ideal term or in your opinion could it be different?
Luciana: It took 3 times but I think 5 days very little, almost not to enjoy … it could be at least 15 days, if 30 even better!
Paloma Fernandes mother of Bernardo and Rodrigo tells how it was to return to activities after the birth of their shoots. How will it feel to go back to your professional routine before pregnancy with Mom’s new life?
Changing Diapers: How long were you on maternity leave? Who did the baby stay with right after returning to work?
Paloma: I was on maternity leave for 6 months. As soon as the deadline for returning to work was about to expire, I started to see the possibility of putting him in the school. As Bernardo (my oldest baby) has been going to a school since 1 year and 3 months and I really trust him, I put baby 2 there too and it was calmer than I expected.
Changing Diapers: Did you breastfeed? how was this change in terms of breastfeeding?
Paloma: Yes, but breastfeeding was not exclusive. Since his 4th month we have introduced the formula as a complement and this has helped a lot in this transition back to work. He continued to breastfeed for another month and soon left. That was one of the reasons that made me wonder if I really should get back to work. My plans were to breastfeed him as long as he wanted at that moment, I didn’t have much choice so I tried to keep breastfeeding for at least another time. I was already happy to have been able to breastfeed until his 6th month at least..he suckled up to 7 and a half months and then definitely passed to the bottle.
rocando Fraldas: How did it feel to know that you would have to go back to work after birth?
Paloma: This was something that has worried me since pregnancy lol. I felt guilt, worry, fear, insecurity, everything lol. I didn’t know if I should return and I wouldn’t even return; For a while I preferred not to think about it. Right after he was born and he got his chest very well, I thought I wouldn’t work again if he was breastfeeding exclusively or if he still wasn’t eating well because I didn’t want him to learn to eat paws and fruits with school aunts. I wanted it to be with me and so it was. But as I said before, when it was time to return I saw that I had no choice. I had to go back. I had to go back.
Changing Diapers: How was the return to work, was it easier or more difficult than you expected?
Paloma: It was difficult and at the same time easier than I thought lol. Difficult because I felt a crazy urge to be at home with them and to follow ALL of their moments. I knew I needed to work but those thoughts never left me. It’s easy at the same time for him, he got used to the school very well, he didn’t cry during the adaptation period, he didn’t get sick, he didn’t have to work to eat, quite the opposite. I think the presence of the brother there was essential for his adaptation. Over time I got used to the new routine too and today I know that I do the best for him and for them. My schedules are very flexible at work and I manage to have quality time with them and follow all their moments.
Changing Diapers: What do you think could improve when it comes to maternity leave, what would be the ideal term for you and the maternity leave of your dreams.
Paloma: I think the 6 months are fair. Of course if I could choose, I think the ideal or dream time would be 1 year lol. But I think on the employer’s side too. I think there has to be an agreement between both. maybe if so, it would be less tied up and each company could decide the best, both for the mother and for itself.
Changing Diapers: Did the husband take paternity leave? Was 5 days an ideal term or in your opinion could it be different?
Paloma: Yes, it did. And I find an ABSURD 5 days. I think that at least 1 month would be a time, not very ideal, but it would help a lot. The baby’s first month in each one is undoubtedly the most difficult. It’s the month that mommy most needs daddy’s presence. I felt a lot about Lucas talking to me at home, taking care of the boys and helping me on sleepless nights. He needed to sleep to work the next day and spent all day, it was very difficult. I think that should change, yes.
Paloma Fernandes Blog: mamaedemenininhos.com.br
Canal da Paloma no YT https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqygV_hp-5PGEVzEBydqgqQ
See also: Maternal and Maternal Rights – Project With license from Bia Siqueira
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.