Postpartum has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, mentally and physically but omg it feels sooo good to be back!!! I am so so grateful for being able to recover at this pace
My son is 3 months old and I'm a FTM working in big tech in Europe. I have 8 months of maternity leave, and he might start daycare in January/February if he gets a spot and I'll be back to work sometimes in March.
My husband (self employed) took two months off and is now back at work. After a month of night shifts and all the babycare alone in September, I hit a wall and said we needed help. We're now looking for a nanny twice a week (my husband is very much supportive he was for hiring a night nurse which I declined and probably shouldn't have but I wasn't thinking straight after a traumatic birth)
I feel so much guilty about it. I'm on maternity leave, my only job is supposed to be taking care of my son so going to the gym, running errands, having lunch with friends or doing nothing feels very superficial... We do have family around ready to help but we also like our space and and all parents are divorced so it means more help but also more people to entertain and who comment on everything and anything and 3 months in we definitely need less visits and to settle in our routine
I love my son to death, but I think I'd be a better mum with some time for myself. Still, it's only been 3 months. Am I weak if all the mums in the world do it without help?
Especially curious what women in HENRY actually do? Where I live hiring help isn't really part of the culture and of course there's the financial aspect
Edit: first time mum