working after baby has arrived?

Hi Ladies, just wondering what everyone is up do after bubs arrives? I have a small business that I run from home parttime and also am employed part-time. I am planning on giving up the employed work and concentrating fully on my business after bubs arrives. My only worry is in reality how hard will be to continue the business from home with a baby? I'm trying to work out what childcare I will need if any and how much? I given myself three months off from the business after the birth but when I start up again it will be summer and my busy time. Does anyone else have any experience/advice with this sort of thing?! And what are other people up to? Its good to get other opinions!!

I am taking 12 months maternity leave also and within that time I will decide on whether or not to go back to work. Possibly not as we are wanting to have two children quite close in age.

Like you Paws I would also like to find something to do from home and earn my own money as I am going to feel guilty spending my husband's money as I am so used to getting my own pay packet

I am going to take 4 months maternity leave - one before and three after, I am just about to start a new venture taht I can do from home, and by the time my maternity leave finishes I will have been doing it for about 6 - 7 months. If it is working by the time I sais I would go back then I will stay at home, but if it looks like it is miles away from working I will have to go back to work for a while just to get cash flow going again...I am going to try my hardest to make this home business work so taht I can stay at home, but at the end of the day it's all down to cash flow unfortunatley!

Do you think its feasable to work from home and still not need any extra daycare/nanny? I'm the same, its does all seem a bit pointless if you end up spending most of your earnings on childcare, although I know my work will require about 20 hours a week of my time. I just don't want it all be at night so I don't see the hubby anymore :( I suppose it all depends on what your baby is like aye? Saturdays are sussed as I have a very enthusiastic nanna round the corner, and hubby sometime sget Saturdays off.

oh and good luck with it!!

umm.... that was my worry too?! What other options are you looking at?

my work is pretty good and my boss has suggested me working from home some of the week. Cant imagine Ill be doing much work :). Also my husbands sister is a sahm and my Aunty is keen to look after him one day a week - so really Im just looking at ways that my husband can continue with his business, but also avoiding daycare, for as long as we can.

That sounds like a good plan, getting the sleeps to work in with you as well?! I'm lucky in that I could just drop what I'm doing if need be except whan I'm out on a job, whoch is mostly weekends anyway, in which case nana has already offered her services. Toni, does your boy still sleep for those two two hour stints when you need him to at 19 months?

Yeah Syd it sounds like we are in similar situations! The reality is I need to earn a set amount of money, we have financial commitments so I figure if I can manage it at home taht will be great, but if not I dont see that I will have much choice but to go back to work...but I am pretty confident I can make it work - if I get too busy and I can afford it I will probably get someone in to do the housework a couple of times a week - that way if I am runnign around doing work and looking after baby at least I will know that the cleaning is done, thats one strategy to make it work at home...but like I said only if we can afford it. Ideally my grand master plan is to grow my business to the point where I can afford someone to come in in teh mornings to watch bubs so I can get out and meet clients, do stuff etc, and then I can be home in teh afternoons. MOst of my actual "work" is on a computor so I can do that at whatever hour suits really, if baby is awake through the night I can sit up and work, and it wont matter too much if I sleep later the next day...
but it will be tough...and good luck to you too ofcourse...you shoudl keep me updated on how you are going and I will do teh same, we can share strategies for coping with work and baby at home

Edited by mrs frantic

Sounds like a good plan will defiantly have to share strategies!! I've just noticed our bubs are due around the same time - and this is also your first. It will be a big learning curve for us then!! And for you Erin and your hubby!

I like the idea of a someone to do the housework!!! Like you most of my work is computer based during the week, then I meet clients and have my 'definatly no baby interuptions' jobs at the weekend. (I'm a wedding portrait photographer in case you were wondering!) I have an assiatnt who works with me on jobs who keen for more work, so If I find I get more than I can manage alone that should work for her also. She is also a mum so need flexibility as well.