Health Library

Today, many mothers work outside the home. Are you struggling with the decision? Read on to learn more about your options.

Though some mothers work because of financial need, others choose to work for different reasons. Some want to stay on top of a fast-changing career, while others enjoy the intellectual stimulation, camaraderie, and sense of purpose and accomplishment that their work provides. The decision to work or stay at home can be a tough one for new mothers. There are no right answers, and each woman must evaluate her specific situation before she decides what is best for her.

Before making a decision, you need to evaluate the positive and negative effects that working outside the home can have on your child.

Many women are torn between providing financial support for the family and being a nurturing and supportive full-time mom. Before you make the decision to go back to your full-time job, consider other work options you may have. Here are some things to consider:

• Think about a home-based business.
• Find out about freelance opportunities.
• See if you can work from home in the job you currently do.
• Look into a career that will allow you to work from home, like medical transcription.

Maternity leave varies from woman to woman and workplace to workplace.

Getting time off can be tricky, but you can maximize your time if you are creative. Many women take advantage of benefits offered by their employers to gain time off that may include sick time, vacation days, holidays, personal days, short-term disability and unpaid family leave time. It is important to plan your maternity leave in advance so that you and your family know what to expect. Not planning ahead can result not having as much time off or create unintended financial situations.

Talk to your supervisor or refer to your company's human resource department to find out what is available to you.

The most important aspect is finding a caregiver that knows how to provide optimal physical and emotional nurturing for your baby. Different types of child care options include:

In-home Care(provided by someone who comes to your home)

• Find a family member, friend, professional day sitter or live-in nanny.
• Try advertising in the newspaper or contacting a nanny service.
• Check references carefully. Be sure the applicant has the qualities that are important to you. He or she should be responsible, warm, affectionate, compassionate, playful, and nurturing with children. Do not be afraid to ask probing questions. Some states have agencies that will do background checks on child care providers.

Care in Another Person's Home

• For this option, you provide transportation, clothing, diapers, bottles, and toys.
• Again, check references carefully, using the criteria listed above.

In-home Family Day Care (children in a home setting)

• The care is less expensive.
• Children tend not to receive as much individual attention.
• The provider may or may not be licensed by the state.
• Interview the care providers extensively, checking references and reputation.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that family day care businesses have no more than 6 children per adult (including caregiver's children), with no more than 2 of those children under the age of 2.

Day Care Center (20 or more children may be cared for in one facility)

• Infants may be exposed to more infectious diseases and have more colds early in life, but during school years, this early exposure may mean less colds.
• Day care centers must be licensed by the state.
• Ask other parents for a referral to a reputable day care center, or check the phone book.
• Interview providers. Spend at least several hours at the day care to observe and make sure it is the right place for your child.

Juggling work and parenting is often very stressful. You may feel like you will never stay on top of all your responsibilities. One of the most important things you can do is take care of yourself so that you can take care of your family. Here are some tips:

Find a supportive employer who has family-friendly policies.

You will have a much easier time juggling your responsibilities if your employer is supportive. If he or she is not supportive, look for an employer with family-friendly policies who is receptive to flextime, job sharing, or working from home.

Know your rights. Many laws are in place to protect working women with issues concerning breastfeeding or child care.

Ask for help.

Develop and utilize a support system of trusted people who can help you in times of need. Your support system may include family members, friends, neighbors, or professionals that you can hire to take care of some of your responsibilities. Magazines and books that deal with the topic of working mothers are available in your public library.

Get enough rest.

Even though you are busy, do not shortchange your rest and sleep. Eliminate time-consuming activities that are not essential. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. Consider napping when your baby does.

Schedule some time for yourself every day. For example, have your spouse take care of the baby while you enjoy a warm bath, exercise or listen to music.

Forget having a spotless house.

Your house might have been immaculate before the baby, but now you have more important priorities. Find ways to eliminate time spent on housework. Keep the house clean and safe, but do not fret over clutter.

Make large quantities of food and freeze meals ahead of time. If you can afford it, consider hiring a housekeeper. Ask your spouse, siblings, and parents for help. Assign chores to older children. A rotating schedule of chores might work best for your family.

Do not expect to be supermom.

Do not expect to be able to handle everything perfectly—no one can. You need help and should not feel guilty about asking for it. There will be times when your child is sick or is very unhappy about being away from you. Accept that you cannot afford to stay home, and always remember that you are doing the best you can.

If you are a single mom, team up with others.

Friends—especially other single moms—may be interested in sharing responsibilities with you, such as shopping, meals, and baby sitting. This can help you save both time and money. If you have no friends who are single moms, look for a group or organization for single parents.