Postpartum & Recovery
Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: How to Make It Easier
By Raised Editorial ยท
Going back to work after having a baby is a massive emotional and logistical hurdle. Here are practical strategies to handle the transition, manage pumping, and survive the first week.
The end of maternity leave is often a time of intense, conflicting emotions. You might be dreading leaving your baby and feeling immense guilt. At the same time, you might be secretly looking forward to drinking a hot cup of coffee and talking to other adults about something other than sleep schedules.
Both of these feelings are valid. Returning to work is a massive logistical and emotional hurdle. It requires shifting your identity yet again, from a full-time parent back to a working professional (who is also a parent).
Here is a practical guide to making the transition back to work as smooth as possible.
1. The "Dry Run"
Do not let your first day back at work be the first day you test your new routine. It will end in tears (yours and the baby's).
A few days before you return to work, do a "dry run." Wake up at the time you will need to wake up. Get yourself dressed, get the baby dressed, pack the bags, and do the commute to the childcare provider. This will highlight exactly how long everything actually takes, allowing you to adjust your alarms before the pressure of a real workday.
2. Start Mid-Week
If your employer allows it, do not return to work on a Monday. Returning on a Wednesday or Thursday means your first week is only two or three days long.
This "soft launch" gives you and your baby a chance to adjust to the new separation and the exhaustion of the new routine, with the safety net of the weekend just a few days away.
3. Master the Pumping Logistics (If Applicable)
If you are pumping breast milk at work, logistics are everything.
- Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with your company's policies and local laws regarding pumping breaks and spaces. You are legally entitled to a clean, private space that is not a bathroom.
- Block your calendar: Treat your pumping sessions like non-negotiable meetings. Block them out on your shared calendar (e.g., "Busy - Do Not Book").
- Buy spares: If you can afford it, buy a spare set of pump parts and leave them at the office. The day you forget a critical valve at home is the day you will be glad you did this.
4. Lower Your Expectations for the First Month
The first month back is about survival. You are going to be exhausted. Your baby might experience a sleep regression due to the new routine, or catch their first daycare cold.
Do not expect to be the most productive employee of the month, and do not expect to maintain a spotless house. Lean heavily on shortcuts: use paper plates, order takeout, or let the laundry pile up.
5. The "Good Enough" Goodbye
When dropping your baby off at childcare, the separation anxiety can be brutal. The golden rule of drop-offs is: keep it brief and positive.
Say a cheerful goodbye, tell them when you will be back, and leave. Do not linger, and do not sneak out when they aren't looking (this breaks trust). They might cry when you leave, but most babies settle within minutes of their parent walking out the door.
You are returning to work, but you are not leaving your child behind. You are simply expanding their village while you provide for your family. Be kind to yourself as you navigate this new chapter.