Scared Sh**less

I have a feeling you'll do just fine. I only have one child (but 3 dogs, 2 cats too). Somehow you always find enough time. The fact that you are having anxiety just shows how much you care. You will work it out!

Focus on one thing at a time. Since you're about due with number 2, don't worry about jumping back into the work force just yet. Concentrate on bringing the new baby into the family, and try to be flexible. It sounds like you've accomplished a lot during your stay at home time, so just relax for now. Focus on family, baby..work later. You are strong and you can do it! Good luck!

I agree with Luna. You need to focus on the baby first, then once things settle down, then you can figure out what is best for your family with either work or staying home. Right now you only have the absent minded pregnancy mind, once things will settle down it will be easier to clear your head and concentrate.

relax you just have hormonal pregnancy jitters. it will all work out. you wont be able to go back to work till the baby is 6 weeks anyway so you have time to think about this thouroughly. you will be more rational after you have the baby and will be able to make a better decision then. get on the waiting list for daycares now.

First things first... you are going to have a baby at the end of the month and a little one to entertain and care for in the meantime. Then you will have some time to bond with your new baby and heal from the birth of the baby. Now is not the time to be looking for a job, but if your plan is to go back to work and you have gotton your degree, here are some suggestions for now.1) Get a certified copy(ies) of your degree. 2) Find out what types of placement services the school offers and who your contact would be. 3) Work on a resume to capture your school and work credentials. 4) Take any tests or certification (or apply to take them) that you need for your degree or job placement. 5) Find out what jobs in your field pay and what benefits they have. Find out what it costs for daycare for two babies. Do the math, it is feasible for you to financially go back to work and contribute to your family or will you just be trading dollars? 6) Research companies that hire people with your degree/experience level--are they hiring? I think if you are calmly going through this process and making a plan, you will be less inclined to panic. Good luck!

Hey! I have a newly turned 15 month old (mid-June 2010) and am due in two weeks (arrival will be by Oct 1). I also have three other kids.

I think to keep you the most sane, you might want to wait on going back to work until your baby is older. Otherwise, I think it might be too overwhelming. They are only this age for so long too, so you might feel like you'll miss the baby stage if you're not there. You'll have your hands full no matter what, though.

Anyway, so that's my opinion...wait a little while longer before going back! Good luck to whatever you decide to do!

Stick to the present. Have your baby, recover, then figure out what plan will work for you. Mom's with 5 kids go back to work all the time, so IT IS possible to do both. I had 2 kids 11 mos apart and went back to work when the youngest started kindergarten. We had some lean years for awhile but it was worth it to me to stay home with my boys until school aged. Then, I just went to work, had a friend in the neighborhood keep an eye on my kids.... it will all be easier than you are imagining ;)

Your anxiety is completely understanding! I'm currently juggling a 5 year old, a 2 year old, working full-time, and going to grad school 3 nights a week... Plus trying to find time to write papers for school, study, play with the kids, spend time with my husband, and the ever important me-time. Take it slow... Ease into returning to work (if at all possible). Everything will work itself out and you'll figure out how to balance it all. :) Best of luck!

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You are overwhelming yourself by adding all of this and the possibilities of that all at once.
You can only take one thing at a time and the first thing should be having a healthy baby and then going from there.
Don't let the "what if's" make you crazy before the baby even comes.
You need to be concentrating on one thing. Delivery.
Then recovery.
Then scheduling and working the rest out.

That's just my opinion.
I know it's wonderful to have things planned out, but if you try to plan to early you may be frustrated and disappointed if things don't go according to plan and the truth is, they often don't.
You will find a way to get into the swing of things after the baby arrives and it will all work out.. Maybe not perfectly at first. These things can take time.
Don't psyche yourself out just yet.

Moms have been juggling and figuring things out for eons and sometimes you just have to do it day to day. There's nothing wrong with that.
You will get it figured out in the end.

Best wishes.

First, have your baby. See how that goes and after a few months you can
think about what you want to do. Right now you are thinking about too
many things. Concentrate on babies and try to relax. Congratulations.

1st of all, Congratulations!!!!!

Next, take a deep breath- you WILL get through this, I promise :) I've been there. I have 4, and I TOTALLY understand that you feel overwhelmed- I did too- all 4 times.

It's never easy in the beginning when a new baby comes along, especially when you have a toddler. Keep reminding yourself that it won't be like this for long, and you'll be ok. Try not to expect too much of yourself once the baby comes- don't worry about the housework, just get as much rest as you can because, in the long run, the more tired you feel, the more overwhelming everything will be. And don't be afraid to ask for help!!

As far as the job goes, just wait and see. You need to give yourself a little time to recoup. You will know when you are ready =o)

Congrats!

Try not to think about going to work and having a new baby all in the same day! you CAN relax and get used to your baby for a few weeks/months, keep the budget very tight (been there for 3 kids close in age) and get things under control a bit before returning to work. Your oldest is at a very crucial discipline stage and if you give that attention now, you will save MAJOR headaches going forward (prevent terrible twos) with two kids so close in age. Running back to work immediately may put some extra dollars in your pocket, but you may have bigger issues with daycare and stuff if the 15 month old is too wily.
I would shoot for going back to work 3 months, 6 months, or one year after your baby is born, depending what you can manage financially. If you stay home, work hard at cutting the budget EVEN MORE (there is always more to cut), giving the kids a good foundation, you'll be EVEN better off when you return to work.
So try not to stress about everything all at once. Good luck!

It is scary, but so many of us do it time and time again :) we live for this type of stress! Life is going to be grand with a sweet baby around to stir things up. It is so short lived, so remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel. When you get overwhelmed, remember the old saying "this too, shall pass", it always does. Your family will be just fine, don't drive yourself nutty, LOL! Congrats to you!

I went back full-time when my youngest was about 16 months. I had a nanny initially until our oldest (who was about to turn 4 when I went back) started full-time pre-k about 6 months later. I am glad on one hand I waited as long as I did, but I kind of wish I had gone back sooner! I was pulling my hair out at home with the kids all day. I love them with all my heart, and I LOVE doing things with them, but SAHM-hood isn't for me -unless it came with a large enough salary on my husband's end for us to do everything we want including having a "helper" or nanny around several days a week. Ultimately I have been happier and more fulfulled working and that's been good for my boys. When the youngest started preschool a few months before turning 2, he really "came out" personality-wise. He had always been really shy and quiet, and he still is to a certain extent, but it really helped him blossom a bit. Sure, there are plenty of days I wish I just didn't have to go in and could be home, but very few people have the option of part-time work that actually pays something after you pay for child care!

My suggestion would be to start with a nanny if possible. It made the transition easier for me -and for my husband- because we weren't having to get the kids dressed and out the door (as well as ourselves) and delivered to preschools/daycare/school and they were still in their own environment. When I did transition away from a nanny, it was much easier because I had gotten used to a huge chunk of the schedule and going out to work.

You will have to judge when you go back. You may be ready to go back when your newest is 2 months old, or you may decide to wait until the 1 year mark. I would wait at least 6 months and enroll the toddler in a half-day preschool program somewhere so you don't go completely mad! You WILL get stressed over getting it "all" done -so don't try to do it all! Hire a cleaning service -at least sometimes -and get very familiar with the crock pot. Decide that YOU are worth some "me" time and work out and still meet up with friends. Make sure your husband is pulling his weight too! He does not get a free ride in the childcare and housework departments. Good luck and congratulations! It is SO nice to not only have money, but be able to save a lot more, travel more and give our kids experiences that wouldn't happen if I wasn't working. I've also landed in a fantastic position, so it has really wound up being very positive!

I have my career outside of the home, and my mom career. My advice is you are only one person...do what you can. In my house, if the dishes are done daily and I am happy camper.

You've been home working...you probably have a schedule...you are going to have to make a new schedule and it's going to take some tweaking and flexibility...You will make it work the best you can. You can only do so much. Your husband will have to help out more than he did when you were SAHM.

Another thing I think about is, are the kids and my husband happy? if so then I try not to stress too much about the house, the yard, the laundry...

If you go back to work, Daycare costs a lot.

You are a Mom so you are worrying about all of this.
It is real.
You are trying to figure things out.
Good.
But you are worrying about it, because you are about to have a baby.... so your nesting instinct is there and you are rushing to find solutions for everyone.

Maybe a night job or day job ... I know many couples that do that. Hubby may work during the day or night, then the Wife works the opposite. Thus, there is someone home to care for the kids. But then you as a couple, do not see each other much... due to work schedules.

And well the golden idea, like most Moms, is finding some income stream that you can do, from home.