Female Firefighters: How do you do it as a mom?
I am a 27F who did one season in '23 as an Engine FF, and then my husband and I accidentally got pregnant. Completely unexpected, and we were happy with the news, but I realized that it was going to greatly effect my budding career as a Cal Fire FF. I was able to do the '24 season on modified duty while I was pregnant, but then CDF got rid of that completely. I am now 6 months postpartum, with my unit asking me if I am going to come back, but I just don't know what to do. My husband is also a FF in the same unit, so how do I find childcare for multiple nights if I (or even both of us) get sent out unexpectedly on a strike team? I don't have any support close by otherwise for more than a day. Also, we are looking to have more kids at some point, does that mean I have to entirely stop my career again because I am pregnant, since there is no longer modified duty? How do I keep my strength up while I am pregnant so my body isn't completely incapacitated and unable to do the job by the end of it? I have tried looking up resources on this, but have found very few. Just looking for some advice. It's looking more and more like I might have to give up on this career path completely :(