Just wanted to add my experience to the responses... I became a 'single mum' last year and just one of the many, many reasons (!) that I left the hospital system for independent practice at that time, was because I couldn't work the shifts that were required. My ex rarely sees the children and my mum works fulltime, so childcare was a big problem. While I admit my practice is very small at this stage, I have greater flexibility over my hours and I spend much more time at home. Like Sally, I am usually able to arrange antenatal & postnatal visits during school hours. If not, I only have to find childcare for a couple of hours (much easier than for a full 8 or 10 hour shift leaving home at 6am or getting back at 11pm). Ideally I would like 2 births a month until the children are older. That's only 2 nights a month (and not all births are at night). I'm lucky that I can call my mum to come and sleepover if that happens. Like Tania, I can stress a bit about the 'on call' period but it always seems to work out. As the children get older that wont be such an issue. I have to be honest...my income has dropped dramatically since last year. I just about survive on parenting payment and child support from the ex. What little I earn from private practice at the moment is negated by the cost of setting up, travelling and the usual 'professional deductions'. It's a struggle financially at the moment but the benefits far outweigh the negatives! Andrea
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