How to manage returning to work after maternity leave

Are you returning to work after maternity leave? It’s quite a transition. You might feel nervous as it feels similar to starting a new job again.

Returning to work after maternity leave is a significant milestone in the life of a new mother. It marks the transition from the nurturing cocoon of motherhood back to the professional realm. And the journey is not without its challenges, both emotional and practical.

We come back to work with very different priorities after having a baby. It’s essential to find ways to balance work and motherhood in a way that doesn’t impact negatively on the other.

Read on for things to consider as you prepare to return to work after maternity leave…

1. Mindset and preparation

You may feel an array of emotions about returning to work after maternity leave. Maybe you don’t even want to go back to work, but have to.

Or perhaps you feel strange about leaving your baby in childcare after all this time just the two of you. Both of you may experience separation anxiety, and there will likely be some tears until things settle down.

Build in time for these adjustments. Trial the daycare a week or two before you actually go back to work, so you can settle the little one in gently. Both of you need to get used to this change.

Consider a phased return to work. You could start with two days a week or half days and build up.

Ensure you are aware of your rights in your respective country and company, check company policies and have a chat with your employer before you return. You may be pleasantly surprised with benefits such as dependent leave days, flexible working, job shares and so on…

Try to take a day or two off alone too, once the little one is settled into daycare arrangements, so you can enjoy a hard earned rest before you go back to work. Treat yourself to a day at home alone as a new mama.

Bookmark ‘returning to work after maternity leave’ for later!

2. Working from home benefits

Maternity leave has been a very different experience for new mums since the pandemic, since the way of working had changed with more flexibility and working from home options.

You might find your company is more open to you working from home, or they might be the opposite and insist you come back to the office full-time.

Perhaps you only want a job that allows you to work from home so you can allow for daycare drop off and pick up, breast-feeding/pumping etc.

If you are lucky enough to have a job where you can work from home, you gain so much precious time back and can more easily balance all responsibilities. If you haven’t discussed it with your employer yet, use these tips on how best to ask to work from home (more or all the time).

You may want to consider condensed hours, if you can’t afford to go part-time e.g. work 4 longer days or condense 4 days into 4 1/2. Then you’ll have some time to yourself, or pay less for childcare and have your baby with you more.

Working from home really helps with the transition of going from mat leave to work as let’s face it, you’ll still be dealing with night wakes. Remote working means not having to face anyone in real life after yet another sleep-deprived night. This benefit can’t be understated!

Read more about surviving the day as a working sleep-deprived mum for essential tips on juggling this and also how you can better practice self-care while working from home.

3. Changing priorities

There is a major shift change when you go from being home, to suddenly being propelled back into the workforce after maternity leave. New mums experience so many transitions in those early years.

If you used to work a lot of overtime, you probably won’t be able to do that now as you need to be there for your baby, feeding, bedtime etc. You simply can’t work round the clock anymore, your priority now is preserving non working hours either for your baby or your own rest.

It’s really important to tell your employer what’s possible now that your life has changed. You need to manage expectations because overtime just isn’t going to be as feasible.

This isn’t too say those without kids should be working all hours either! You might have to be the one to start advocating if no-one else speaks up. Employers need to respect their employers right to time off, if they don’t want the repercussions of burn out and employers on sick leave.

4. Unexpected sickness

If your little one is going into daycare, prepare for frequent sickness as they pick up bugs constantly.

If you work in a family friendly or flexible environment, you may be used to seeing other employers kids in the background of the calls but it’s not easy, especially with babies or toddlers.

Read more about how to work from home with babies or toddlers around if you really have to get things done. Alternatively, you may have to use your own leave to take care of your baby/toddler.

You may need to explain these challenges to your boss so they know what’s happening e.g. my little one is building up their immunity and is likely to keep getting bugs in the early days. And of course you are likely to catch these bugs too, causing more absence!

5. Enjoy the headspace & adult conversation

There’s a lot to enjoy about returning to work too. You can feel like yourself again and enjoy some quiet headspace.

Take your time to enjoy your coffee and breakfast in peace! You may have forgotten how blissful that can be, since you’ve probably been doing a balancing act while bobbing a baby around on your hip.

And you may have missed adult conversation that doesn’t revolve around baby talk. Make sure you arrange lunch with friends or colleagues, just as you would have pre-baby! If you are working from home, it’s important to find ways to connect with your colleagues.

Final thoughts on returning to work after maternity leave

The above should give you plenty to consider and prepare for before returning to work after maternity leave.

Make sure you have an open conversation with your boss, explaining your changing priorities, and what you can and can’t do, as well as the predicaments you might find yourself in.

The last thing you need on top of a new baby or toddler is extra stress at work. Hopefully you’re able to use this post, prepare and enjoy being back at work after maternity leave.

If you don’t have such a smooth return to work after maternity leave, dig around for more advice. A great source is the brilliant, Pregnant Then Screwed if you experience a lack of support at your workplace.

Read more helpful posts on working from home such as staying productive while working from home and how to sneak in exercise while working from home.

How was your experience after returning to work after maternity leave, what helped you ease back into work life? Returning to work after maternity leave tends to bring about changing priorities for most of us, share yours below.

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