Going back to work after maternity leave? Keep these 5 things in mind…

Mums, motherhood is an ongoing journey that continues long after your baby has grown up. Before you find yourself balancing parenting responsibilities with professional life, it helps to prepare for this grand transition.

As soon as a woman conceives, she embarks upon an amazing life-long journey that is marked with many cherish-able, as well as challenging times. Pregnancy and motherhood change a woman’s life completely, at times testing her to the utmost.

One such challenge comes when a working mother has to leave the dream-like phase of maternity leave and return to professional life, sometimes while her baby is still very young. The very  thought of leaving your little one in someone else’s care can understandably feel overwhelming

Hold on, and take a deep breath! When you think about it calmly, you will agree that with advance planning, preparations and arrangements, you can easily succeed at this humongous task. This transition can take place with reasonable ease and comfort for you, your baby, as well as your loved ones.

Here’s how you can make this work for you and everyone around you:

(1) Have a plan and then also a backup plan!

 As one newspaper article notes, planning is key. Your return-to-work date may already be decided, although there may be some flexibility. Start back-planning around two to three weeks before your maternity leave ends..

If possible, consider returning in the middle of the week. Reaching your first rest day sooner may make the initial separation easier for both you and your baby. Speak to your boss or manager about a month before returning. Ask about your expected workload and working hours so you can plan accordingly.

Also keep in mind the age of your baby and how well he or she can adjust to new routines. A crucial decision that you may want to take is, whether you want to leave your baby at daycare or with any of your family members.

Besides that, prepare for temporary disruptions, such as your baby falling sick or a caregiver becoming unavailable. Have a backup plan and discuss emergencies with your partner, including when you may need them to step in.

Once these arrangements are clear, create a routine that works for your family.

(2) Start falling into a routine beforehand

As soon as you have your schedule planned, it’s time to follow it. This will help everyone get used to the routine and you will be able to identify its flaws, if any.

So, for example, if you are planning to leave your little one at the daycare, start leaving him or her there. You could begin with lesser duration and then increase it to the actual time required.

Adjust your baby’s naptime, feeding as per the decided schedule. Get your baby used to either formula milk or feed, or if you are feeding breast milk, use bottles. Express milk as per your schedule and store it.

In case you expect your partner to pick up the baby or drop off the baby, set that timing as well. While doing all this, check if your decided routine suits the baby and you.

Mums, if you find that some of the things you decided aren’t going according to your plan, you can amend the routine. Remember to be creative and not have hard and fast expectations from yourself.

(3) Make a checklist

You could have been a superwoman before the birth of your baby and it’s highly probable that you still are one, but don’t leave important things to memory. 

A checklist can be a valuable anchor as life gets busier. It can cover everything from your baby’s bag to your personal and household responsibilities. The checklist can be a great anchor for you, as life will continue to get crazier.

Here are a few things that you may want to add to your checklist…

• Clothes and matching accessories for you and your baby.
• If you are breastfeeding, a reminder to express milk and check that you have enough stored.
• Your baby’s bag: clothes, a blanket, toys, diapers or nappies, wet wipes, food, formula or milk for the day, bibs and any necessary medicines.
• Your bag: food, medicines, important work files, a breast pump if you are expressing milk, and nursing pads if you intend to wear them at work.
• Household tasks, such as paying bills.

You can edit the list to suit your needs. However, these are a few basic things that you must keep track of.

(4) Allow others to take up their roles and responsibilities

One of the most important keys to an easy transition from being on maternity leave to being back at work is the help and support of your family. Divide responsibilities and let others take them up.

If family members will care for your baby, let them do so while you are still at home. You may want to spend every remaining moment with your little one, but your baby also needs time to become comfortable with other caregivers.

If your baby will attend daycare, avoid visiting in the middle of the day. Seeing you leave again could upset your baby and make it more difficult for them to adjust.

Allowing others to help will reduce your burden and give you more time for yourself.

(5) Take some time off to reconnect with your ‘working self’

Gradually start getting back into the professional groove. Contact your colleagues, boss or manager to understand what has changed. Check previous emails and familiarise yourself with ongoing conversations.

Remember mums, even with careful planning, unexpected situations will happen. Your nanny may call in sick, or your little one may make it difficult for you to leave home. The most important thing is not to panic or cause further distress to yourself and others.

Here is how you can handle these common situations in a new mum’s life:

• First and foremost, do not panic. Remember that when calm, you can think better.
• If you are with your baby, don’t forcibly separate him or her from you. According to experts,¹ understanding and attending to the cries of your baby is crucial for their development. Calm your baby down and then, hand him or her over to the caretaker, making sure that the baby is at peace before you two separate, even though for a few hours.
• Inform the concerned people about your situation. If you are at home, call your boss or manager and talk to them. Give them a clear picture. Vice versa, if you are at work, handling a professional crisis let your partner or family know about it.
• If you are feeding breast milk to your baby, make sure you have supplies enough to last a day.
• Have cordial relations with people at work, as well as the others who are caretakers for your baby. People are mostly willing to help new mums if any crisis arises. Feel free to ask for assistance.

Motherhood is a roller-coaster ride and you may have unexplainable mood swings, emotional ups and downs.² Here are a few things that might help you regulate your emotions:

• Postpartum depression or sadness is quite common and hence, it is important to be well-informed about it. Talk to your doctor if you observe that your moods are dipping too often.
• Avoid getting engulfed in a feeling of inadequacy or get into self-blame. Instead try to experience the complete range of emotions as it will only help in dealing with the emotionally challenging situations.
• Make sure that you are making decisions based on what you want from your life and not because you are competing with a certain colleague or you feel a pressure from the family to raise your baby in a particular way.
• Spend time with people who lift your mood. Even a short amount of time can support emotional recovery.
• Support your sense of peace through exercise, meditation, a balanced diet and other activities that promote wellbeing.

Mums, keep these tips in mind as you prepare to get back to work and you are ready to soar, both as a doting mum, as well as a successful professional.

Getting the right nutrients throughout pregnancy is essential. Wyeth’s nutrient supplement, S-26 MAMA, helps pregnant mums achieve their nutrient requirements and supports appropriate weight gain.