Flexible working hours - how and when to ask?

Hi...

I was 2 months pregnant when I was offered my current role and told my current employers of my situation prior to accepting their offer (my conscience made me own up!!).
I worked in the company for just over 6 months before I went on leave - finished my probationary period etc. During my time working there, the company treated me excellently - allowed me to start earlier and leave earlier as required, because I had a commute of approx. 1 hour 20 each way....and this suited me perfectly! They also have paid me while on leave...

Now my predictament is, I am due to return to work in approx 2.5 months....but because of my commute, and the fact that my husband works day/night 12 hour shifts....I need to try and negotiate a flexible working day agenda with them! Problem is a) my boss has left while I am on leave....made redundant and b) I dont think there is anyone else in there with any flexible working arrangement.

Does anyone offer any advice on how I approach this with them? Ideally I would love to work from home for 2 days (baby would be in creche), but would this appear a cheeky request given they have been more than good to me since I started......

Advice/Experience appreciated!!
Mauraf

Simple thing is if you don't ask you won't get. Best way is to make them think and believe that it will be a benefit to the company. How you do that will depend on your role and what you do. Is it something that can be done from home? Best of luck and congrats on the baby.

Is there any way you can go back to work on standard working hours and try to negotiate flexibility from inside, rather than outside?

I work very much on my own and off my own initiative in this role and before I left I didnt have any direct reports....so at least from a supervision pov - I dont think there really should be an issue....
I was sick for 1 week while I was pregnant and logged in from home during that week....they saw that I was online, attended conf calls etc....so I am hoping that that could be done for 2 days at least.....
I plan to go into them in the coming weeks to discuss my return to work...so I think I will discuss it with them then....or at least see if its something they may consider....Ideally, would love to know my schedule before I go back so I can work around creche/hubby from the beginning...

Has anyone else ever been in a similar predicament?

Thanks for the replies!