As a first-time mom, I thought I’d take a minimum maternity leave and keep an open line of communication with my company. Really, I didn’t think I’d ever stop working. I was worried not upholding my responsibilities would negatively impact my career… especially as the youngest senior leader on a male-dominated team. I was worried about how my absence would affect my internal perspective of me. My plan was essentially to get back to work as quickly as possible.
However, when Caden was born, I was dealing with daily newborn struggles, adjusting to having someone dependent on me, healing from postpartum medical issues, and working through the emotional toll of isolation during COVID-19 times. My plan for a 12-week maternity leave quickly changed to 16 weeks (luckily my company provided paid leave.) Thankfully, even when I did have to go back, COVID allowed me to work from home for a while which made the transition easier. The point is, returning from maternity leave did not go like I thought it would!
For my second parental leave with Willow, my company's benefits were significantly less generous. I only got compensation for 8 weeks, but I went ahead and took the full 16 anyway—learning from my mistakes with Caden. I started back part-time, in a limited role, and remote at first, and my transition was much easier on me and my baby. With such different postpartum experiences, I'm grateful to have learned a lot about returning to work from maternity.
If your maternity leave is wrapping up or you’re thinking ahead, I’ve been there, and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. Trust me, planning your return to work thoughtfully and at a pace that works for you can make a big difference for you and your family. To help you out, here are my tips for easing back into work after maternity leave:
Tips for returning from maternity leave
Find reliable, trustworthy childcare and start them before you go back.
Before you go back to work, you need to find someone to watch your child. Do lots of research, visit plenty of facilities, and get your baby enrolled as soon as possible. I also recommend that you start them a week before your return to work. This will help you do a few dry runs of your new routine and get used to the idea of not being around your baby 24/7. You’ll be able to work through a lot of feelings in the comfort of your own home without the pressures of your career.
Figure out all the logistics of pumping while at work.
If you’re breastfeeding and will need to pump at work, consider how that will work when you return to the office. First, you’ll need to figure out where you’ll pump at work and how you’ll transport your equipment and milk back and forth from work. Get a pump bag, figure out a cooling system, and purchase extra pump accessories. Here are my favorite pump bags for working moms.
Time block your schedule to accommodate pumping.
At work, you’ll now be doing double duty: managing your work tasks and your pumping schedule. To ensure you don’t miss a pumping session because of a scheduled meeting or training, time block your calendar. Pencil in pumping like you would anything else and stick to your routine.
Request work-from-home time before returning to the office.
Transitioning from maternity leave to working in the office full-time is a big leap. It’s a lot to manage emotionally and logistically. To make it all easier, ask your employer if you can work from home to start. Then, slowly work up to being back in the office, back to your full-time schedule, and back to your original duties.
Return midweek and maybe part-time.
Along those same lines, try going back in the middle of the week instead of on a Monday. It’s less overwhelming for everyone and lets you ease back into things. Starting out part-time can also be a helpful way of adjusting to your new routine.
Reevaluate your work wardrobe needs.
Postpartum bodies often look and feel different than they did before pregnancy, and that’s totally okay! To avoid any last-minute stress before heading back to work, try on your work clothes ahead of time to see if they still fit. If they don’t, no worries—it’s the perfect excuse for a little shopping spree!😊
Set boundaries with work hours and stick with it.
Before becoming a mom, bringing work home now and then might not have felt like a big deal. But once your little one arrives, it’s so important to be intentional with your time at home. Focus on being present and soaking up those moments with your baby—they’re priceless!
Being a working mom is tough, but setting boundaries can make all the difference. Try to put your phone down, stick to your planned work hours, and avoid scheduling early morning or late-night meetings. One tip that really helps: mute work notifications on your devices until you’re back at your desk. It’s all about protecting your time and energy!
Make space for all of your feelings.
Leaving your baby to go to work is never easy, no matter who you are. Even when you know deep down that pursuing your career is the best choice for you and your family, mom guilt has a way of creeping in. It’s okay to wish you could have it both ways and to grieve the moments you’re missing. Let yourself feel those emotions, but don’t forget to focus on the positives—like the incredible example you’re setting for your child by chasing your dreams!
Meal prep to eliminate dinner time stress.
When you return from maternity leave, meal times can be some of the most stressful times of the day . . . especially if you have other children. To eliminate the dinner time chaos, use the weekends to prep meals for the week. Here’s my meal prep grocery list to help you get started!
Expect adjustments in those first few weeks or months.
During the first few months or weeks back at work, expect adjustments. The way you plan out your routine might work . . . and it might not. It’s normal for changes to be made while you’re developing a new schedule. Don’t fight it, just be flexible and adapt when it feels like something isn’t working.
Plan for intentional time with baby when you’re home.
When you’re not home with your baby all day, one of the best ways to create a good work-life balance is to be intentional with your time. Plan how you’ll spend time with your child on the evenings and weekends to ensure you don’t miss opportunities to connect with your baby and make lasting memories. It could be as simple as prioritizing bedtime stories or as complex as planning family weekend trips. Whatever you choose, just make it all about you and your child.
I definitely struggled with mom guilt, and you can read about it in this post about my postpartum experience.
Returning from maternity leave can be much easier with these tips.
We plan so much for various things we’ll encounter in the 3 trimesters we’re pregnant. However, that 4th trimester can have just as many challenges. Take time to think through your return to work entirely and don’t forget that you deserve enough time to relax, heal, and connect with your newborn.
You can find more pregnancy tips and motherhood advice on the New Modern Mom blog. I also have an Instagram and Amazon Shop with more recommendations. My goal is to help you simplify the chaos of your life and find ways to live in the present. This will be huge as you return to work and the time you have with your baby becomes even more valuable.
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