Not only is it possible..

Posted By: wouldn't have it any other way. on 2006-03-20
In Reply to: Has anyone breast fed while trying to work at home, can you do this and still work full time? - memt

I have three children - 8, 5, and 2. I nursed all three until the age of 2 - the older two are in school now, and the baby stays home with me. And yes, because they are mine I am probably slightly prejudiced, but they are all well-behaved and brilliant :)

What I have found works best for me is to work the night shift. I start work at 7 PM and work until 3 AM. Homework/supper/baths for the most part are done before I get started. I work until 3 AM, sleep until 7 AM, get the older two off to school and then nap when the baby naps. It's more than a bit exhausting, yes, but it allows me to work full time and be available all day to my children. In the summer and over school breaks, this schedule *really* works well...they get to stay up a bit later and play/read/watch cartoons, (which translates into more sleep in the AM for all of us!) and then we have the whole day "off" together.

My point is, it certainly CAN be done. Lots of us are doing both - and frankly, doing *both* jobs well. You will become an expert at multitasking when you become a mother. If you are the type of person who cannot perform parenting tasks without assistance, (for example, I did know a mom once who couldn't bathe her children unless her husband was around to help) then you will find it very hard to juggle motherhood and working simultaneously. If you can envision yourself folding laundry one-handed, typing with a child on your lap, and at times jumping in and out of your chair because of a minor mini-crisis, then you will be okay :)

For the person who said you cannot concentrate 100% while working at home with children - well, I personally don't feel I'd ever concentrate 100% anywhere else. I'm certainly less stressed out - and more able to concentrate on my work -knowing that I'm the one caring for them.

Complete Discussion Below:

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Has anyone breast fed while trying to work at home, can you do this and still work full time? - memt
- That's the glory of working at home! - Lee
- It depends on the baby - said it before - will say it again
- Thanks for the words of encouragement! I will have to see if this works out for me. I am sorry - memt
- Not only is it possible.. - wouldn't have it any other way.
  - work from home - Michelle
  - That was the best answer... - That is awesome!
  - Off hour work shift - Happenings5
    - Off hour work shift - Happenings5
- hehe I was able to nurse and type at the same time. It's all a matter of the chair and keyboard - you can do it :-)
  - Oh boy! - Now I've heard it all. LOL nm
- Sure! I was back transcribing 2 days (sm) - Purple-Hair MT
- The baby has to eat, whether breast or bottle - me
- Absolutely you can work FT and - take care of your baby. You just
- I had a doctor using her breast pump while dictating. sm - nm
- You can't take care of an infant all day and work full time. - Unbelievable.
  - Unbelievable....maybe you can't but some of us can.....nm - Just passing by
    - Not effectively if you're not concentrating 100% on either. - nm
      - Look ...accept the fact that you are not in any other MT/mom household! - You have no idea!
        Very well put! 蔴%" agree - nm
        wouldn't let me put it on lol - oops
  - I cannot stand the attitude some people have toward raising children! - Women do have jobs and children!
  - Oh really? I did it twice AND got employee of the month out of hundreds of MTs. nm - Lyn
    - And what did your children get? - Barney videos? nm
      - Why don't you come on over and see for yourself. I have a 2 and 4 year old - Lyn
        MT and Homeschooling - Shelley
        Well said! - sm
        Yes, and let's not get into the fact that most sm - Lyn
      - Love and kisses from their MOTHER - not a stranger at daycare! Ouch!
        This isn't about daycare. - sm
        working full time with kids - and loving it
        Are you actually trying to say you work - QAer
        re:QAer - and loving it
        My QA has 3 kids and works ALL day long! - So there!
        Oh, the quality! Well now we know. - nm
        As if you know, hateful hag! - nm
        Whatever..... : ) - nm
        Yep, I do it every day! - nm
        Should clarify, I was an IC for a company working a split shift. nm - Lyn
  - Sure you can. I did it with 2. I have a flexible - me
  - Yes, you can! Babies sleep over 16 hours a day on average! - It can be done! Maybe YOU can't do it!
- It is easy enough - hlr
- I have! You can do anything you set your mind to! - TNMT

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