I have been a single Mum since my daughter was 2 months old - she is now 12. I have been attending Homebirths for 6 yrs now and holding down a part time nursing job. I certainly coulkn't have done it without my Mum being close by and numerous friends but I still have a life. As someone else said you fit life around work and not the other way round. We certainly are our own worse enemies sometimes. Leigh ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrea Bilcliff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ozmidwifery Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 1:47 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Obstetric Perception - Your thoughts?
> 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 > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
