I will be going to work after my 8 weeks paid maternity leave is up. However, I work as a school nurse so I get holidays and spring break and summers off. So, that'll be nice! After the first year, we will re-evaluate and see if I can go part time.

I will take my full year maternity leave and then I really hope to go back to work part time. I enjoy my work and I work in the public sector so the flexi time and family policies are great. I think working part time is a nice alternative - you get loads of time with baby but are able to stay in a career and still have some adult company in the week.

Of course opinions may change when pudding is here, but until then I plan to go back part time.

If I could afford to I would but we have a massive mortgage. I think part time would be perfect! Good luck.

Wow Vineyard that is really early, just curious how you feel about it? I'm planning on 8 months and I just wish I could have longer. Couldn't you go part time from the off.

Most that I know get 6 weeks paid maternity but can take off 12 weeks with knowing their job will be there when they get back. I am a self-employed daycare provider & work from home. This has its pros & cons with maternity leave. Because I am self employed I can decide when I want to stop working and when I will reopen. Problem is that none of my families no matter how loyal are going to wait around for even 6 weeks - let alone months. I do not get any paid maternity leave also. So when I decide to go back to work I will have to set up all new clients with interviews etc. I am not sure when I will decide to start up again. It is helpful to me to know that whenever I do startup again that I will still be home with my child. I normally put in long days 10-12 hrs with just kids here + time after they go home to work on curriculum, cleaning, paperwork, etc. & not sure this is something I want to start up with a 2 -3 month old. We are going to see how things go & see how we feel later on. My dh has a good job also & we would probably be ok with me not working but tend to like to have good vacations, etc., so we will see....

I'll be going back, couldn't afford not to apart from anything else.

I really don't want to put baby in child care full time so am going to work out a way that care can be shared between our parents (who have both offered to help out), hubby and me. If I need to use a nursery a bit then so be it, but I want the majority of the time to be spent with people that care about them.

I'm lucky to be able to do this as both parents live close by, but it will help me feel less guilty about leaving baby most days. This is my happy compromise....