Someone needs to tell me how stupid I’m being: I have about 5 months left of maternity leave and I want to go back early, like tomorrow. There’s something wrong with me, right?

Can you space it out? If you go back now, can you take those 5 months another time? If so, I don’t see an issue - seems like a win/win. If you’d be forfeiting those 5 months by going back early, then definitely don’t do it. You have your whole life to work, but you’ll (most likely) never have time like this with your family again. Enjoy it.

I had to go back at 3.5 months and was ready. Wanting to re-engage with work doesn’t make you a bad mother or a monster, just like wanting to stay home as long as possible doesn’t mean you aren’t a committed employee. Different strokes for different folks.

5 months left?! How many weeks/months has it been? I mean honestly I understand wanting to work. Maybe you can ask if you can go back part-time for a bit.

I cried and was an anxious mess when I had to go back at 5 months. I originally asked for 4 months but 2 months in I asked for another month. I have been back full time for about 2 months and it’s too much for me (not necessarily the workload but being away from my little one). I’m going to reduced hours starting this week. Wish I could have been with my little one full-time much much longer.

You need to do what is best for you! If that makes going back to work, then that’s what you should do.

Honestly I was ready to start going back after my 4 months leave, but after a few weeks I wished I had been able to do part time. I just needed something to get me outside the house that wasn’t caregiving. But resented being back FT (especially while pumping). So feels normal to me, but if you can see if you can negotiate to start PT.

There’s nothing wrong with you. My 20 weeks of maternity is almost over, and I am ready to go back to work (but ask me again after the first week of day care).

I know plenty of parents including moms who didn't want to take their full maternity leave, didn't regret going back early, and are in every way great moms and great lawyers. If you truly want to go back to work early, and you can make that happen as far as childcare, please do.

I wasn’t “not ready” after my 6 months but I just didn’t want to work lol I wanted to get out of the house and do stuff but not work. I had a nanny though so I also felt fine leaving my baby at home with them and it made things significantly easier.

Dang, I got a week off and had to go back as we didn't have any kind of maternity leave, and I only had a weeks vacation pay.

I went back after 6 weeks with my first and 8 weeks with my second. Do what’s best for you and your family

You’re not crazy. Everyone has a different experience, different relationship with their job, and overall no one can or should tell you what is right for YOU.