My third child’s debut will happen in a few months and we are considering the implications of taking an extended maternity leave. I’m hoping to be able to take five months off from my job. My maternity leave with the first two was approximately 3 months long. Previously, I rushed back to work because of a belief that it was important to my career. I don’t feel the same urgency to return now that my priorities have shifted and the long-term plans are gone. I want to be able to spend time enjoying this new baby, without the burden of stressful work assignments cluttering my thoughts. In addition, my first born will start kindergarten this fall. The months before he gets on that yellow bus represent what I see as a final opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with him.
All of these desires seem at odds with our financial goals to escape from debt and invest towards freedom. However, I am fortunate to receive eight weeks of full pay from my employer. There is also the significant cost of daycare to consider. I bring home about $3,500 per month and we spend $1400 on daycare. Taking home about $2,100 per month, over five months, totals $10,500. Now, over maternity leave, I will receive $7,000 and not have to pay daycare. There are other variables of course: less spent on gas for commuting versus buying more food for lunches and snacks. Generally, I am looking at a deficit of around $3,500. Mr. Smith is still deciding how much time he will take off from work, but he earns much less than me and his employer is extremely flexible. I expect to earn a significant amount for tutoring over the summer and will likely be able to earn more from side hustling gigs. Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that if I return to work before Goofball starts school, we will have to pay for three kids in daycare. But we still want need to get ahead on our debt.
I read posts from a lot of different blogs as part of my continuing quest to build a better life (the flexible and enriching kaleidoscope). The other night, an intriguinging post about selling breast milk caught my attention. It looks like you can make $1 to $2.50 per ounce for selling this “liquid gold” to mothers who can’t breastfeed. I have tried to recall from the previous two whether there was enough to share. The freezer usually did contain a decent number of bags of milk. I checked out the milk bank listed in the article and the process seems easy enough: take a blood test, save up 300 ounces, send it off in a cooler they provide, and get paid $200 (they don’t pay for the first 100 ounces as your “processing fee”). But (always a but) there is a 90-day waiting period on payment. This may be feasible as another side hustle. By the time I save up enough milk and wait for payment, however, I doubt the money would come in during my maternity leave.
I’m still on the fence about this idea and need to reseach the numerous other selling options out there. My other concern is that the pressure to save up milk for money could interfere with my relationship with the little guy. We’re working so hard and planning ahead in order to allow us to devote more attention to our family as we welcome this new life into the fold. The last thing we want is to impede on the special time together with a money-making scheme. Perhaps I should focus on other side hustles, but selling milk remains a unique and tempting idea.
I would love to hear from someone who has sold their milk. Do you think it had any effect on the relationship with your child? Was it worth it?
I think it’s a possibility, Harmony, but have you looked into some other options? Can you look into doing some work from home, or selling some stuff on Craigslist that you no longer need?
Thanks for stopping by, Laurie – I am a big fan of your blog!
At this point, I’m trying to consider all of our options and this was something new (albeit somewhat extreme). I will likely focus on the typical side-hustles for now and reassess after the baby is here.
As a currently nursing mom, I would have to think that pumping milk to sell would become a burden. If baby you are not pumping otherwise, I personally would have a hard time making the time to do it. Especially with kiddos at home!!! Maybe I don’t want it bad enough. However, if you are already pumping for baby and start to build up excess supply, then it might be worth consideration. Mini Maroon #2 started to school (sounds better than day care to me!) this week. So I have started back to the love-hate relationship with the pump. Definitely one of the more glamourous parts of mommy-hood 😉
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LOL – we usually refer to it as school too, but thought that it might be confusing to readers somehow. I really do hate pumping at work – super self-conscious about the noise and always worried that someone will come in my office (even though I have a lock on the door).