Advice Please!

[SonrisaSola]

I am pregnant, due on February 11 with my first child. I had hoped to establish my writing career before giving birth so I would be in a better position to be a work-at-home mom, but between lack of time and lack of energy, things didn't work out as planned. I still have hope that it'll happen eventually, but definitely not before February 11! So I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll probably have to get some other work if I hope to stay home with my baby boy. I definitely don't want to return to my "day" job after maternity leave ends.

My question is this: I've looked on the job boards and such, and there are some positions I've considered applying for. However, with my due date so close, does it make sense to apply to them now? Or should I wait until after he's born and I have a better idea of what kind of time I'll have? Since I don't know when I'll actually go into labor, I don't want the whirlwind that follows to affect a new position. At the same time, however, I know it can take a while to hear back from places or get work once you're hired.

Any thoughts on this? Money-wise I should be ok until the end of March or so, but I won't be able to last financially much past that, so I need something relatively quickly. Any advice is appreciated!

[anng]

It's really hard to judge sometimes. I've had companies email me back within minutes of my applying and be offered the job the same day. I've had others take a week to respond. To date, the longest span was a company who emailed me back 8 months after applying. By that point, I no longer had enough time to work for them, so I was honest, but it opened my eyes to how long some companies will keep writers in mind.

As for the baby, every baby is different with different needs. My son was the type who wanted to nurse every two - three hours. He'd fuss if I'd put him down in his crib or the portable playpen, but if I put him in the baby swing, he'd be set for hours. My daughter hated the swing, hated her crib, hated the playpen. This is back before the slings become the rage and the tummy packs were horrible with your baby leaning way back when they were in it. I had to hold her if I wanted to get anything done. On top of that, she wanted to eat every hour on the hour. 20 minutes of nursing and she'd fall asleep until the hour changed and then she'd be shrieking again. If I'd been freelancing when she was a baby, I never would have gotten work done.

[AG1976]

I would wait until you have your baby to apply for long-term positions. Since your due date is so close, it might be difficult to start a job now and then have to take time off to recover from childbirth and adjusting to life with a newborn.

In the meantime, you can sign up with companies such as Textbroker and earn some money without the obligation of a regular job . Best of luck with your new baby!

[megank]

I had a baby 6 weeks ago, and anng is right - every one is different. Mine is nursing a lot, but in addition to that, I am having a really hard time staying focused since she was born, so it's a struggle to get my writing work finished. I have been wishing I didn't have so many projects, but I have to because mine is the main income.

Maybe you could get some apps in to content mills and at least have that out of the way before the baby is born. Then, when you start to have time to work, you will have those set up already. If you plan to have private clients, you could set up your website/portfolio now so it's ready too.

The one thing I am able to do, even when I'm nursing, is Google rating. I'm really thankful I have that to work on, because I can do it one-handed while I hold the baby, so I can still feel productive even during the hours and hours of nursing all day.

[funmom91]

I agree you should definitely stick to content mills until after the baby. I made the mistake of taking on big assignments two weeks before my due date and I went into labor a week early. However, I had alerted the clients - they were regulars - about me being close to term but they still expected me back to work - some of them - the same day after I delivered the baby. So, it really depends on the person but some clients can be very rude.

[SonrisaSola]

Thanks for the feedback, ladies. I know it's different with every baby, and that's part of what worried me. I had hoped to set up a bunch of passive income streams prior to, but nothing has really gotten me very far. I had hoped I could think of something that could bring in some money over the next couple of weeks, so I could build up a reserve, but I can't think of anything, and I know it's iffy anyway. I guess I'll just have to do what I can do and hope for the best!

[wahmt]

I'd probably recommend applying now since sometimes it can take a while to hear back. Obviously, phone jobs/customer service type positions wouldn't work with a baby (unless you had someone watch him during your shift).

Due dates- I was LATE with both kids, 4 days, and then 1-1/2 weeks over due.
Nursing, dd nursed ALL day, round the clock for months and months. DS "only" nurses every 2-3 hours, and maybe only twice at night. You just never know.

Try to adapt as much as possible. If you're writing, and busy nursing, maybe verbally dictate articles to transcribe later? I wish I had better advice. I didn't start working at home until my oldest was over 2-1/2. (Completed Med transcription cert. during that time beginning around 9 mths old) And it was a struggle to squeeze in 4 hours of work a day when she was 3 (unless I had dh home to watch her). Now, I can accomplish a bit more with my new baby because he will sit and play with toys and explore sitting nearby, and not constantly need to be held.

PS- People do it- sell breastmilk. Just a thought if you're strapped for cash. Of course, it takes time, and you probably wouldn't want to do it in the early weeks, but there are websites where you can sell it, I'm pretty sure.

[Kiernansmom]

While you can't count on it since every baby is different, you might be surprised how productive you are when the baby is born. I could barely work my last month of pregnancy since I was so uncomfortable, but I went back to writing a few days after he was born. He did like to nurse often, so I put him on my lap on the boppy. My "free time" to browse facebook and this site was while he nursed, and when he fell asleep 20 minutes later, I would work. I was more productive after having a baby because I knew he could wake up at any moment, so I didn't procrastinate as much as before, lol. I didn't know how I would make it with a baby at home, but I was so determined to do so that I made more money than ever after he was born. My friend said "oh, you won't be able to work with a baby. you're in for a huge surprise." I said, "well, I have to. I have no choice, so I'll figure it out." And I did.

I actually wish my son was still a newborn because I definitely get a lot less done now that he is a toddler and into everything. He will have to start going to my mom's for a few hours a day now because I am a lot less productive lately. Anyway, good luck! I will wish that you get an easy, happy baby who lets you work, lol.

[SonrisaSola]

Kiernansmom, you shall be my inspiration! LOL. I'm hoping for an easy baby as well, and since I reaalllly don't want to go back to work after (I've never been fond of my job, and going is hard enough as it is -- I can't imagine dragging myself to work when I want to be home with my little one), I guess I'll tell myself I have no choice. Fortunately my husband is supportive, so I really hope we can make it work. Thanks!

[luvcamerasnic]

When I was in the hospital after my c-section with baby #2, I had a client demanding rewrites. So I was literally in the wi-fi equipped hospital recovering from major surgery working! Content mills, as difficult as they are to come by right now, were my saviour the first few months. I am in a delicate position right now of expecting a baby in May and actively taking on new clients. Still not sure the best way to proceed should I have to have her early.

You are right, if you have to, you will make it work. You may not go to playdates or hold the baby constantly, and you may have to learn to accept help when you have to work, but it can be done! The biggest hurdle for me is the lack of sleep those first few months. . .