Back to Work, Ready or Not: Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

Having a baby changes your life in every way possible. This is especially true for women who

return to work after having a baby, especially in the United States, where there is no mandated

paid leave for mothers or fathers. Returning to work can be upsetting and a source of anxiety

for many new moms who may not feel ready to go back to their careers, but may not have a

choice.

Lean on Other Working Moms:

Identify the “truth tellers” in your support system who have

been there and will share what worked for them as well as what was challenging. Not only will

these moms have pro tips, but knowing that you are not alone is an amazing resource. Talk to

other moms at work to see how they navigated going back to work and how they feel about the

workplace culture and working parents. Knowing what to expect can be empowering and it

allows you to anticipate potential bumps in the road.

Allow yourself, and your baby, time to adjust to the change. Many mothers feel

sadness, guilt, and anxiety when it is time to return to work and many women are ready to get

back to their careers; there is no right or wrong way to feel. This will be a new situation to

adapt to, like pregnancy and motherhood, and just like those experiences, it is normal to feel a

wide range of emotions.

Be Prepared: Organization can be really helpful when you are preparing to return to work after

having a baby. Knowing that you have your bases covered can help to lighten your mental load

during the workday. The first thing that you can do to prep is to have the baby bag packed with

essentials, especially if your baby will be cared for outside of your home. Consider having a list

of resources available for your baby’s caregiver (pediatrician, a family member who can field

basic questions, or any tips that you would like to be readily available throughout the day). Talk

to your baby’s caregiver; be open about any concerns or fears that you are working through. If

someone is coming into your home to care for baby, have the caregiver spend time at home

with you and baby before you go back to work. This can help you to connect with your baby’s

caregiver and allow for open communication.

Try a dry run- Set the alarm (if you need to) and go through your new morning routine. This will

help you to get a feel for how long it will take to get out the door, without feeling like your hair

is on fire! The dry run might include bring baby to your workplace. Not only will driving to work

help you to get a feel for timing, but co-workers meeting baby might help solidify your new role

as Mom in their minds. If the dry run was bumpy, it will give you a chance to tweak and

readjust.

When the time has come to return to work after having a baby, it is normal to feel stressed and

even deeply upset about this new change to your seemingly ever-changing world. Be kind to

yourself, communicate with your partner or support system, and most importantly, reach out

for help if you need to. Therapy can be a safe place to process these feelings and to discover

new ways to cope with these challenges.