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8 Tips for Returning to Work after Maternity Leave
Going back to work is a huge transition for both you and your baby. It can be quite emotional, often with many mixed feelings. You may feel sad and worried about leaving your baby too soon, but at the same time, happy and excited about going back to the work you love. But then you may feel guilt for wanting to go back to work. That is all a normal part of the transition and being a mother. The emotional rollercoaster can be overwhelming, but the more you are prepared for the change, the smoother the transition will be.
Here are some tips for a successful back to work transition:
- Get your baby used to bottle-feeding, whether your baby is breastfed or bottle-fed. Feeding time is usually a bonding time with the mother. But if you are the only one feeding him, separation could be much harder. A few weeks before your return to work, introduce a bottle or a cup to your baby and make sure someone else besides you can feed your baby.
- Return to work gradually if you can. If you have a flexible working environment, you may want to consider going back part-time or working from home for the first few months before going back full time. It will allow you and your baby more time to adjust to the new routine.
- Pick a return day that is in the middle of the week if possible. Jumping into a full work week can be extremely exhausting for a new mom. By breaking up the first working days with a weekend in the middle, you and your baby have more time to adjust.
- Plan your new routine. Make sure you know how your new schedule will look. Who will be in charge of drop-off and pick-up, and what responsibilities can you split with someone else? Schedule your work meetings accordingly. Make sure you give yourself time for commuting and unexpected changes.
- Test-run your new routine. Regardless of your childcare solution, make sure you test it for a couple of days before the actual return day so you can see how the baby feels in the new environment, how long it takes you to get ready in the morning, how long is your commute. Make adjustments to your plan as needed.
- Get your village ready. You cannot do it all on your own, and you need your support team by your side to help in case you are running late, stuck in traffic, or have a late meeting. Make sure you have someone you can rely on in these emergencies.
- Set expectations and boundaries at work. The work-life balance can be hard to maintain, especially when you have a new baby at home. You must set clear boundaries about after-hours work. Will you be checking emails after your workday? If not, make sure that your team knows this. By setting clear boundaries and expectations, you can avoid unnecessary frustration and miscommunication.
- Schedule some "me-time". Scheduling more time away from your baby may sound counterintuitive, especially when you will be spending most of the day at work. But you need to remember that you can't pour from an empty cup, which means that you need to set time to recharge yourself so you can be a better mom. Find something that you enjoy and schedule it once in a while.
Additional Tips for Nursing Moms:
- Prepare your breastmilk stock. To better prepare your body for pumping and to build up an emergency supply, start pumping and freezing your milk as early as one month before your return.
- Prepare for lactation at work. Check with your employer about where you can go to pump milk during the work day. Does your workplace have a designated lactation room? Can they let you use a spare room? Schedule a time for pumping that is convenient for you and will not interfere with your work.