Returning to Work After Having a Baby

3rd April 2024 0 Comments

Stepping back into the professional world after welcoming a new addition to your family can be both exhilarating and daunting. In our series, “Thriving Back: Navigating Work After Baby,” we explore the intricacies of returning to work postpartum.

From what you need to plan, to managing the juggle of responsibilities, to nurturing your career growth amidst newfound parenthood, to coping when the baby isn’t sleeping well and how to guide your baby towards better sleep. Each post offers insights, tips, and support to help you thrive in this transition.

Join us as we embark on this journey together, empowering you to navigate the world of work with confidence and resilience, all while embracing the joys of parenthood.

“Top 10 Tips for Returning to Work after Having a Baby: A Comprehensive Guide”

returning to work after maternity leave

Having a baby is one of the most amazing and biggest life-changing things we can do. But, along with the happiness and surprises of being a parent, comes the change of going back to work. For lots of parents, this move back can be both thrilling and scary, filled with emotions and hours of practical planning.

In our busy world today, where work goals often mix with the job of caring for a young family, it’s key to find a good mix of work and home life. This can be a tricky balance that needs good planning, help, and an active way to make going back to work go well.

In our first blog of the series, we’re going to look at the main steps and ways parents can get ready to go back to work after the wild times of a new baby. Our goal is to give advice that works to help parents move forward with sureness and ease.

Whether you’re a new parent worried at the prospect of leaving your baby with someone else, or you know the ropes but have to handle more than one child and a busy job, this blog is here to give you the what-to-dos and ideas you need to do well both at home and at work.

Going back to work after baby isn’t just about starting your job again; it’s about starting a fresh part of growing strong, bouncing back, and finding out new things about yourself.

So, if you’re worried about your return to work after having your little bundle of joy, we’ve got you covered! Check out our comprehensive guide on our top 10 tips for returning to work after having a baby.

Plan well your return to work well ahead:

If you’re approaching the end of your maternity leave and planning your return to work, it’s a good idea to start thinking about it as early as you can. This will give you ample time to consider important factors such as childcare options and your work schedule. It’s essential to schedule meetings with your employer and HR to discuss any necessary adjustments that may need to be made. Taking these steps can help ensure a smooth transition back to work.

Communicate with your employer:

It may be worth discussing your working hours with your employer or HR department. They may be able to offer more flexible options, such as working from home or starting work at different times to accommodate nursery drop-offs or avoid busy traffic times. This can not only help you achieve a better work-life balance, but it can also improve your overall job satisfaction and productivity.

Ease yourself back slowly:

When returning to work after having a baby, it’s important to consider a phased approach. Starting with part-time or remote work a few days a week can help ease the transition for both you and your baby. If your company offers Keep in Touch Days, take advantage of them before your official return to work. This can help you stay connected with your colleagues and make the transition smoother.

Plan your baby’s daycare:

As a working parent, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who is going to look after your baby. That’s why it’s crucial to take the time to research your options and find a provider you trust that aligns with your values, needs and preferences. You could explore daycare centres, and in-home childcare providers, or you may prefer to rely on a trusted family member. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident with your choice. Remember, choosing quality childcare can provide peace of mind and ensure your baby’s well-being while you’re at work.

returning to work

Create your support system:

Creating a support system can be extremely helpful during this time. Consider building a network of friends, family, and fellow parents who can offer guidance, advice, and assistance as you transition back to work. Having a strong support system in place can be invaluable, helping you out when needed and offering guidance as you navigate this new chapter of your life. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone

Check workplace policies:

Balancing work and family life can be a challenge, but reviewing your workplace policies can help make it easier. Take some time to familiarise yourself with your employer’s policies on parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and benefits like healthcare cover and childcare assistance. Knowing your rights as a working parent is crucial, and can help you achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Your career after maternity leave:

You may decide to use your maternity to think about your career goals or even reassess your future. You could try joining useful webinars, or online classes to update your skills and build your confidence before your return to work.

Plan ways to take care of yourself:

As a parent life is busier than ever! But returning to work after a break can be an excellent opportunity to focus on your self-care. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the demands of work, you can use your time to nourish your mind, body and soul. For example, you could read during your commute or join a gym near your office to work out during your lunch hour. Exercise is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress and boost energy levels. By making self-care a priority, you’ll benefit your well-being, and be more present for your loved ones and your work.

Organising meals and breastfeeding when you’re back at work:

Prepare meals:

Try planning your week’s meals. Choose what you’ll eat for breakfast, lunch, and snacks and then you can cook and portion meals on the weekend or the night before to save time during busy mornings. You may wish to get easy meal options like meal-prep delivery, ready salads, or healthy frozen meals. Pack lunches and snacks the night before for an easy grab-and-go in the morning.

Breastfeeding and expressing at work:

Talk to your boss or HR to ensure you have a set area for expressing. Ask where there’s a private, comfy space with a power outlet and ensure you have a good breast pump and needed accessories. Try creating an expressing schedule that works with your work hours. Then consider how you will store your expressed milk, such as a small fridge or insulated cooler with ice packs.

expressing breastmilk

Be flexible and kind to yourself:

Be ready for changes when going back to work; even when you’ve planned everything you can think of, your plan might not always go as expected. It’s best to try to stay as open as you can and adjust your schedule and routines if you need to. Try to find a balance that works for you and your family. And don’t be too hard on yourself, returning to work after maternity or paternity leave can be challenging. Being apart from your baby while trying to get back into the rhythm of working life can be overwhelming. Some days may feel easier than others, and it’s okay to say “no” sometimes and decline social invitations, rely on frozen meals, and go to bed early if that’s what you need to do.

Remember that it’s vitally important to take care of yourself during this transition period!

If you would like to speak to one of our sleep consultants about how you can guide your baby towards better sleep, please reach out today. We can chat with you about how we can help offer practical and gentle sleep strategies.

You find my blog on Balancing work and your baby’s nighttime waking a helpful guide.

Feel free to give us a call if you’d like to chat about your little one’s sleep! We’re here to help.

Written by Mandy Gurney RGN.RM.Dip HV.

Founder Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic

0 Comments

See what parents' say about us

When feeling overwhelmed by tiredness and in need of real sleep help, Millpond’s ‘Teach Your Child to Sleep’ is a much welcomed, well researched resource. This is an easy read with a practical nurturing approach that walks you and your child through to a good night sleep.
Rozanne Hay, UK Representative and Director for Continuing Education IACSC International Association Of Child Sleep consultants
The Millpond approach is non-prescriptive and [their] book offers lots of choices for parents to match their own goals and parenting styles. I would heartily recommend it for anyone already experiencing problems with sleep or to set up good sleep habits proactively.
Melissa Hood, founder of The Parent Practice
This baby and child sleep guide is the perfect combination of accessible science, Mandy’s years of experience and a mother’s warmth. I love the way things fall into place with Mandy’s clear and thorough explanations!
Diana Hill, co founder of Essential Parent
Millpond’s brilliant blend of commonsense, encouragement and understanding – plus a highly logical strategy that is easy to implement – changed hell into heaven literally overnight. My entire family is thus indebted to Mandy and her team.
Freya North, Author
I am a GP and would recommend Millpond to any sleep deprived parents; you cannot put a price on sleep. Thank you so much. I only wish I hadn’t waited 19 months.
Vanessa, GP
We are so happy that we put our trust in you to help us with what has been a huge problem for our family for almost 2 years. We are finding time to relax and time for each other and I did not realise how much we missed this time.
Ben
As a family, we were sleep deprived. The tailored plan for our son made it personal. I am really pleased with what we’ve achieved during the programme and I am thankful to Juliet and Millpond.
Evrim.
We were at rock bottom. Our son has a neurological condition, so I was nervous and and wanted a sleep clinic who had experience of this and would adapt to the needs of our son. Our lives literally changed overnight!
Shurron
Within weeks our son was waking only once a night. The investment we made into Millpond was one of the best we’ve ever made. It gave my son a solid night sleep and consistency. It gave me and my husband our sanity back.
Shurron
I am delighted. I was aiming to go from 6+ wakes at night and feeding to sleep 100% of the time to 1-2 wake ups and some ability to self-settle. After doing the plan for less than 6 weeks my daughter started sleeping through the night.
Katie
My daughter is now having quite a bit more than the average sleep for her age and it’s lovely to see her waking up naturally. I’m also waking up naturally and feeling much more refreshed for having a regular sleep routine myself!
Louise
We are so happy we could jump for joy, we wish we had spoken to you ages ago. Using Millpond has built our confidence and made us feel on top of it at last. You really gave us some life back!
Sarah
I live in Switzerland so it is really quite remarkable that Millpond was able to help me over the phone and by email. When you have slept you can deal with anything!!
Melanie
We still can’t believe that such small changes have made such a difference to us and Alice. She has even slept through while on holiday in a travel cot.
Louise
We are just so sorry we did not get in touch sooner as we went through 18 months of no sleep.
Ann Marie
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We never thought life could be improved so greatly. You showed us the light. Luka is much happier and loving his sleep now.!
Diane
Alex is sleeping beautifully again and is now quite happy to lay in his cot singing until 7.30/745 am ( Godsend!) and sleeps very happily through the night again. Thank you so much!
Sandy
Very happy to say that Joshua, who you helped us with, is now sleeping a regular 11 hours a night uninterrupted. In fact, getting him up some mornings is a real challenge!
John
Mandy has been an absolute saviour at a time which was starting to feel quite bleak in terms of our little one’s sleep. The personalised advice and guidance has been invaluable.
Mary
“My husband and I reached out to the Millpond Sleep Clinic when our son was 10 months old. We had spent months in vain trying a variety of sleep training tips that we had picked up online, in a desperate attempt to get our son to sleep for more than 2 hour stretches! Nothing seemed to work. I remember crying whilst breastfeeding for the 5th time one evening, desperately begging my little one to sleep. We felt like we had been failing for a long time, as my circle of mum friends had all got their babies sleeping through so much earlier. I needed to get more sleep, with the return to work looming ever closer.

When we called Millpond, we were quickly introduced to Juliet who immediately took the pressure off us by providing a detailed “plan of action” based on what she had heard about our son’s sleep routine. After just a few nights, we already started to see big sleep improvements, and we worked confidently towards reducing our son’s night wakings and the duration of his night feeds. After a couple of weeks we had gone from 4-5 night wakings to just 1… and a few weeks later, our son started to sleep through! The biggest relief ever.

Throughout the whole process Juliet had been knowledgeable, kind, reassuring and made herself available to answer our questions over email between our sessions. Her experience as a mother herself, and highly trained sleep professional shone through. We can’t thank you enough for helping us through a rough time – and seeing us through to better days (and importantly, nights!!)
Cheryl