Hi everyone i'm new to the site but have gained lots of info already so thanks with that.

Has anyone any idea when is best to go back to work?

I only get Statutory Maternity Pay so don't want to leave it too long [although DH is happy for me not to go back but i like my holidays too much!] i was thinking January i'm due 24th August but then i start thinking is it too early should i wait till baby is on solids or does it matter if i'm only doing a couple of days a week then i start thinking maybe i should just do half days but go back for 5 days too many decisions in the equation i think!

I think this is a personally choice, my baby is due august and i have decided to go back to work mid jan - taking 6 months off for me i think this is enough and i can then get into some routine. But lucky for me i only work 3 days a week and my mum is looking after the children.

Hi Fifi, thanks for geting back to me i have a creche at work which is pretty reasonable so that does make it easier and it will only be the choice of how much to do which I'm sure i'll be better equipped to make the decision when baby is here and we've got to know each other.

Just seem to have a million questions at the moment and it is always whilst trying to get some work done!

Sorry meant to ask why you feeling Sad?

someone pissed me off at work

Not feeling too bad now tho, thanks for asking.

I no thousand of question, i remember with my first it was harder to make the choice of when to go back to work, but has ive done it before i feel like it easier this time

Me personally think owt over 6 months it must be so hard to go back to work then and get back into the swing of things, altho others prob disagree.

dont make any decisions until baby is here. Thats what I say.
I get 4 months so i'll take all that then i'm taking an extra year out without pay. And then I'll see....I wont want to be working unless I HAVE to. And I cant see me wanting to leave baby and missing out on all the fun and spend my days at work when i could be feeding the ducks or learning to finger paint!!
Also I dotn trust anyone to look after baby like I would.
I'll see how I cope mentally and financially.

No probs i work with all older guys so we have just been discussing labour and when there kids where born and all that stuff so i'm quite spoilt as they wouldn't dare piss me off as their wives would have them!

Six months seems good to me as i don't want too much to change before i get back

i've told work i'm taking my full entitlement of standard & additional mat leave (a year in total) right now i'm not planning on going back at all (as i cant do my job part time) but i have told them right now that I intend to come back after a year. But like someone else said i'll see what happens once the wee one actually arrives. You can change you date of returning to work as long as you give your employer notice. But i'd rather tell them i'm taking longer than i intend to have and cut it short than tell them i'm coming back early and wish i'd made my leave longer.

Where about's do you live? I'm from Renfrew originally but now live in Kent normally i'd say near Glasgow when describing where i lived so you got me curious