Financial feasibility is one thing. I've raised two kids myself so working was a matter of necessity. No question about it.
Another thing in recent years that I have noticed is that sometimes the woman works for the health benefits. I know many women who work and basically bring nothing home by the time they pay their health insurance premiums, but at least their families are covered by employer sponsored health insurance. These women have health issues or have a husband or child with health issues to the extent they couldn't pass underwriting for individual health plans and they work for the benefit of insurance.
I guess it depends on what you gain by working, and that could mean many different things to different people.
I know few families that don't have two working parents.
I know one woman who makes more than her husband, but her job offers no health benefits. His job is fairly low paying, but he has retirement, 401k, medical, life, dental and vision insurance for the family. Both of them working covers their needs. She works normal office hours and he works evenings and weekends with days off during the week so their child care expenses are intermittent even with 3 kids aged 5, 4, and 3. Plus, with the benefit of two incomes, she can afford to take time off for her kids' activities and not be financially hurt by it as far as the mortgage being paid etc. She works as much as she does to pay for gymnastics and sports for her kids. Even the 3 year old takes gymnastics classes with her older sister and she just loves it. Plus...they get their energy out in a structured way which helps keep mom and dad sane. The other day she added up how much she had paid just for gymnastics alone last year and there is no way her kids could have done it without her working. She, like many moms, feel that working is a way to afford certain opportunities for their kids.
Like I said, some women work with no financial gain other than to cover their families with health insurance. They are working in exchange for a provision for their family.
I guess it all depends on how working meets your needs in some way.
I'm flying solo, so I don't have any choice. My kids have turned out to be wonderful individuals with a stong work ethic because of it.
I suppose if you're not getting any benefit by working, that's something to consider. I had a job that cost me more in gas getting back and forth than I had left over for groceries. I had to find something different.
I just know that lots of people have gotten creative because of the economy. In my business, we have many moms who work evenings and weekends while dads can watch the kids and there are no child care expenses. They make at least $10 per hour. If they work 7pm-10pm 5 nights a week, that's $150 a week. We have some moms who do that plus an overnight care for our patients 8pm to 8am and that's $120 in one night.
In that scenario, it's an extra $270 per week, or $1080 per month while their kids are sleeping and no childcare involved. Our caregivers wear scrubs, which we provide, so there is minimal clothing expenditure. 90% of our employees are moms and they appreciate the flexibility.
If your heart is in it, look in to caregiving agencies in your area. It's just a thought.
If you don't want to work or don't have a husband you can coordinate hours with, things can get difficult. But there are ways to make legitimate money without missing time with your kids as well. My daughter has an 8 month old and she works taking care of developmentally disabled adults in the evenings. Dad takes care of the baby while she's gone. She has zero child care costs and loves her clients. She began taking care of them before she ever got pregnant. She helps them do laundry, pay their bills, takes them grocery shopping, etc. She works 5 hour shifts during the week and occasional weekends. She makes a minimum of $1000 per month with no child care expenses.
I guess I'm saying it's possible to find a way to make it work if you want to and need to.
There are too many variables to know if it's feasible for you, as a mother, to work outside the home. Only you can calculate all of that out.
But, I do know plenty of moms who do it, and quite successfully, in ways that benefit their families.
Just my opinion and just my personal observations.
Best wishes.