Taking maternity leave is a necessary and rewarding time to bond with your new bundle of joy. But as your leave comes to an end, it can feel overwhelming to think about returning to work. Since I work from home – I knew I had, somewhat, of an advantage to not having to travel but you still have to prepare for the change in your daily life.
Before I even left for maternity leave, I had a conversation with my boss on how my arrival back would look. She made sure to reassure me they support mothers who work from home. In terms of – Breastfeeding, pumping, and how you may need to step away to tend to the baby. This helped ease any anxiety I had about returning to work.
Returning to work full-time can be overwhelming, so if your employer allows, try a part time schedule until you are able to adjust. This can help ease you back into work and give you time to adjust to your new routine. I could have gone back to a part-time position but for me, personally, I did not feel I needed to alter my schedule in that way. I gave myself a week to feel it out and make sure this wasn’t an option I needed to revert back to. To go along with this, creating a routine for me and the baby helped to remove stress. Things like meal prepping, bottle prepping first thing in the morning, laying out clothes the night before, and preparing and prepping the “baby Caddy” with all his items needed throughout the day.
It’s important to find a childcare provider that you trust and feel comfortable leaving your baby with. I do NOT trust anyone with my son, but a select few, so I knew daycare was out of the cards for me. Before having my son I always had the belief of no daycare until my child can communicate with me on what is happening. Too much is going on in these daycares and I refuse to allow a stranger to hurt my child and they not be able to tell me. Take your time in selecting someone and do your research to find the best fit for your family.
Returning to work can be emotionally and physically draining, so it’s important to take care of yourself. Make sure to get enough rest, stay hydrated, and take breaks as needed. Also, talking to other working moms can be helpful and provide support. Whether it’s through online forums or local mom groups, finding a support system can make all the difference. It’s always interesting to listen to the advice from coworkers. For one it’s a different point of view and at the end of the day, we all share one thing in common and that’s being a mother.
Returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging, but with a plan in place and support from others, it can be a smooth transition. Know that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and anxious, but with time and a little bit of organization, you’ll find your footing. Always be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time.
WTF MOM 