Returning to work after maternity leave
It’s likely you’re dreading returning to work after your maternity leave but with some careful planning you can meet the challenge and successfully juggle life as a mom with life as a working mom.
But one thing you need to do is let go of any guilt you may be feeling about going back to work. Whether you’re doing it to get ahead with your career, because you simply enjoy your job or because you need to work for financial reasons, reassure yourself that you’re doing the best for your family and that you can still be there to parent your child by making the time you do spend with her quality time.
Arranging childcare
The first thing you need to do, well ahead of your return (in fact if you know you will be returning to work you should consider doing this before your baby is born), is arrange dependable childcare for your baby.
Most parents opt for a
daycare center because they like the fact that these operate year-round and that a team of qualified staff will be taking care of their child and that he’ll be learning and playing in a structured environment where he can socialize with other children of the same and different ages. Check out several centers before making your final decision, and look for accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
If you’d rather your baby be cared for one-on-one, you may want to consider a
nanny or an
in-home daycare provider who may be another mom. It means your baby will be cared for in a homely atmosphere but one thing you do need to keep in mind is that unlike a daycare center here won’t be other caregivers on hand to step in if your provider is unwell and isn’t able to care for your baby.
Fitting in with your job
Talk to your employer before you
return to your job to find out if they might consider a transition period where you work flexible hours, telecommuting or part-time work for the first couple of weeks. This can help with easing you back into a regular schedule at work and also with easing your baby into your new childcare arrangement. If this isn’t possible, then arranging to return midway through your first week back will at least ensure a short week.
It’s also important that you inform your employer if you are hoping to
continue breastfeeding your baby. Discuss with them the possibility that a room might be set aside so that you can have some privacy for using a breast pump to
express breast milk during any breaks you may get from your duties. You also might want to check that you can store expressed milk in your office refrigerator or make arrangements to bring a small refrigerator into your office for that purpose. If this isn’t possible, consider using an insulated coolbag with icepacks.
Accept that you may not be firing on all cylinders your first weeks back and don’t expect too much of yourself. Catch up with any changes in procedure you might have missed and ask your boss if there are any retraining opportunities that can bring you back up to speed with office technology.
Staying connected with your baby
Inn the couple of weeks leading up to your return, leave your baby at the daycare center or with her new caregiver for an hour or so each day to prepare you both for the time you will be spending apart. This also can be a good dry run for your first weeks back, giving you an idea of just how long it will take you to get yourself and your baby ready and drop her into her caregiver. If your baby cries when you leave, try not to worry too much – this is natural and experienced caregivers know all the tricks for distracting babies!
If you have been breastfeeding your baby, but will be providing expressed breast milk to her caregiver or switching her over to formula when you return to work, introduce her to
bottlefeeding a couple of weeks before you start back so she can get the hang of it.
Once you’re back at work, plan in a daily phone call to your baby’s caregiver or your daycare provider to check in and find out how your baby is doing. Brig a photograph of her to work that you can display on your work area or have in your desk drawer.
When you pick your baby up from daycare or her caregiver, spend 20 minutes with her when you get home, just to reconnect with her – latching her on for a quick feed can give you both the emotional closeness you need. If you are bottlefeeding her, just spend that time playing with her, talking to her and having a good time.
Parenting teamwork
Work out what you need to get done at home to ensure life runs smoothly and draw up a to-do list that divides tasks and chores between you and your partner.
Teamwork and
sharing responsibilities is vital, but you may and to remind your partner to do their share, especially if they have fallen into the habit of leaving things to you while you have been at home, but don’t get caught in the trap of trying to do it all yourself as this will inevitably cut into time spent with your baby.
Do accept that some of your standards may have to drop and cross through any tasks that don’t need to be prioritized or can be skipped.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 31/05/2009
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