Maternity Leave Return to Work

How to Plan for Your Maternity Leave Return to Work

When it comes to returning to work after your maternity leave is over, the best advice is to start planning your return early. If you’re going to be a working mother outside of the home, it pays to be prepared. The more prepared you are, the more in control you’ll be and the better you’ll feel.

Following are the issues you’ll need to consider and plan for upon your return to work.

Plan Your Schedule

Before you had a baby, when you arrived at and left work was likely not such an issue. Now you’ll have childcare to think about, your baby’s sleep and meal schedule to plan around, and your own lack of sleep to contend with. Only your stellar ability to plan and handle a schedule will get you through your first few weeks back to work.

Tips for maternity leave return to work schedule planning:

Ease back to work if possible: If you can, it may help to readjust your work schedule. Use some of your maternity leave as flex time. Go back to work, but for the first month or two, cut your workweek by one day. Or adjust your schedule per day. For example, if you usually work 9am to 5pm, see if you can set up a 10am to 4pm or a 9am to 4pm schedule. Shaving one to two hours off your day for the first couple of months can be a lifesaver as you adjust to being a working parent.

Be clear about your schedule at work: Some of us tend to stay at work until the job is done. We put in overtime, often without a second thought. You can’t always do this with a baby. Daycare does usually, eventually, end for the day, and you’ll have to pick your little one up. Make sure your work understands your new priorities as they relate to your baby. Be clear from the first day you return.

Create a schedule backup plan: What will you do when your baby gets sick and can’t be at daycare? Do you have a plan? What if your daycare provider gets sick and you’re in a meeting? Who else could pick your baby up? Try to come up with some emergency scenarios and their solutions.

Make a super organized work task list: You want your boss to know that you can still get your work done so make a task list and stick to it. This is especially crucial if you go back on a reduced schedule. If you honestly think your work plate is too full, be honest with your boss from the start.

Find Reliable Childcare

Before looking into child day care options, make a child day care wish list. Take your list with you when you visit providers. Don’t settle for childcare you truly feel uncomfortable with because it will really affect your work. You’ll spend more time worrying and less time working.

When looking for reliable, safe, and friendly childcare, the following resources can help:

• Healthy Childcare: how to choose the perfect childcare program from the AAP
• National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
• State Licensing and Regulation Information
• The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation
• National Association for Family Child Care

Breastfeeding Prep – Pump, Pump, and More Pumping

Once you establish a good breastfeeding routine, you need to start pumping breast milk. One, you’ll want to freeze some for your baby. Two, pumping is hard for some women. You can absolutely do it, but it’s not a piece of cake for everyone.

Get the best breast pump you can afford if you know you’re going to be pumping often. Spending the money on a good pump will be worth it.

Also make sure your workplace has a private area that you can pump while at work – the bathroom does not count. Be sure that your workplace has a designated area for mothers. Talk to your boss or your human resource department about a private space, because it is your right to pump on your work breaks.

Emotionally Prepare

You don’t need to feel guilty about returning to work, although it’s perfectly normal to feel angry, upset, or guilty. There are some wonderful guides and articles that discuss how to get support and deal with the emotional aspects of your maternity leave return to work. These are great for letting you know that you aren’t alone.

• Mothers, work and the guilt factor
• Coping With Working Mother's Guilt – this one really tells it like it is.
• Lose the guilt and look at the bright side of balancing kids and career