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Baby V.s Career?

WilmaWilma
in Trying to conceive
This might seem like a strange question, but i just wondered if any of you are worried about the impact having a baby might have on your career?

Don't get me wrong, i still want a baby more than anything, but i'm on a fixed term contract at the moment and i think going on maternity would ruin my chances of being kept on in a different role. So i'm gonna have to find something else, and the market being what it is at the moment scares me. I've worked hard to get where i am and i consider myself to be quite ambitious!

I'm not going to put off having a family because you never know what could happen, but the 'what if's' are starting to get to me!!

xx

Replies

  • _mummy2grace__mummy2grace_
    I used to worry but Broodiness seems to have overtaken everything else- my mum has an amazing career and she didnt start working again (with very few qualifications) till I was 4- she's 50 now and loaded so it can be done!!
  • .scottie..scottie.
    There are so many what ifs when you start planning a family... I know so many people in work that successfully manage both of them with part-time working. Only one or two have given up working completly, although most couldnt afford to I think. I know I'm going to do both - purely because most days I love my job and I think I would miss it. I guess it what will work best for you all as a family x
  • LimeCupcakeLimeCupcake
    I have a little boy and work full time. My hubby went part time because thats what suited us. My mum and my hubby's mum look after Lucas 3 days. It has worked well for us, plus as a teacher I get 12 weeks off a year!
  • TheOriginalMonkeynutsTheOriginalMonkeynuts
    ooooh Mrs Rodders I've thought about this loads!!

    I'm working the basis that there are lots of people at work who manage so it can be done!

    If I'm perfectly honest with you I think 'having it all' is a bit of a myth. I really want a family and won't ever stop working hard at my career but I have made my peace with the fact that having a baby will slow my progession down and my next promotion will probably be put by 12 months but hey - I can cope with that.

    Thinks its just a case of different priorities at different times in your life, happy to slow down at work now for a bit to start the Scotty brood, but even if have a few LOs (finegrs crossed) I'd assume they'd all be in school at 10 years time and I'll still have 20 years (eek!) of work ahead of me to make up for lost time.

    xxxx
  • *SparklyFairy**SparklyFairy*
    I do think about this too - at the mo i'm a clinical nurse specialist but only an associate - i was told recently that as our team is expanding again out of the hospital into the community, there are chances of promotion in the next coming year from an 'associate' to 'lead'. I would love it purely because it's more money but on the other hand, i really want to drop my hours after mat leave and to be honest, i'd rather not work if we could afford it plus it's a hell of a responsibility!! I said before i 'work to live' and not the other way round! I know that if i get pg and go off on mat. leave i'll miss out on the chance but honestly thinking, will i really care then and anyway, as you girls have said - there's plenty of time for all that when the lo's have grown up!! x
  • MrsRafMrsRaf
    Mrs Rodders I also do contract work so think I would struggle to get contracts extended once in pregnancy - plus the long hours involved to do a good job would be difficult with a young baby

    i've actually realised that starting a family is more important to me right now than my career - as long as I keep up to date with important developments then I should be able to pick up again after a couple of years
    plus i'm trying to use my skills to start self-sustaining businesses to keep a little flow of money coming in

    on the other hand - SIL has 2 daughters (4 years and nearly 2yrs) and she went back to work each time after 6 months - she's v high up in one of the country's top magazines - they dont need her income but she hated not working and she loves her career
    they have a nanny and her husband works from home during the day so they are managing ok

    it can be done if it's important to you
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