A lot has been written about making the most of your maternity leave but few really talk about what it’s like to adjust to getting back in the groove of working again after months away.
Missing a newborn is not an easy thing to ignore. It can easily shift your focus when you should be concentrating your energy on reprogramming your mind and body to being productive at work.
First day back to work after maternity leave? What should you do?
What can you read in this article?
- Going back to work after maternity leave: Ways to cope with the end of your maternity leave
- Checklist for going back to work after maternity leave
- How do you cope? Preparing going back to work after maternity leave Philippines
Going back to work after maternity leave: Ways to cope with the end of your maternity leave
Ways to cope with the end of your maternity leave | Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
While you’re on maternity leave, set yourself up for a successful return to work by following these tips by the Mayo Clinic.
1. Find a caregiver that you can trust in taking care of your baby
Consult your baby’s doctor, friends, neighbors, and workplace for advice. Check out the references of the caregivers and trust your instincts.
2. Reach out to your boss
Make sure you understand your job responsibilities and schedule so you know what to expect once your maternity leave is done. You might ask about part-time work, telecommuting, or having flexible hours.
3. Plan how you can continue breastfeeding
If you plan to breastfeed after returning to work, let your boss know. Request a private, clean room with a breast pumping outlet. Consider buying or renting an electric pump that can simultaneously pump both breasts.
Two weeks before returning to work, adjust your breastfeeding routine at home so that you’re pumping at least once a day and nursing before and after your scheduled work hours.
Allow someone else to feed your kid a bottle of breast milk to help him adjust. If you’ll have on-site or nearby child care, think about how you’ll breastfeed your baby during the day.
4. Set your back-to-work date
During the week, return to work as late as possible. Your first week back to work will be slashed in half.
Checklist for going back to work after maternity leave
Ways to cope with the end of your maternity leave. | Photo by Tatiana Syrikova from Pexels
First day back to work after maternity leave?
When you return to work, expect ups and downs as you get back to work responsibilities and have mom roles left behind. However, you can make it less toxic and troublesome for you with these tips:
1. Keep a checklist and get organized
Make a day-by-day to-do list. You can divide the duties into work and home tasks, as well as tasks for you and your partner or carer. Decide what you need to get done, what can wait, and what you can skip.
2. Have a backup plan
If your baby is unwell or your baby’s caregiver is unavailable on a workday, plan ahead of time to take the day off yourself or with your spouse, or enlist the support of a backup babysitter, friend, or loved one.
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3. Don’t forget your breastfeeding essentials
Bring your breast pump, milk containers, an insulated bag, and ice packs to work with you. Keep breast pads on hand if your breasts leak.
If you’re having problems finding time to pump, try pumping over your lunch break or working from home to make up for the missing time.
Feeding your baby in short, frequent sessions just before and after work will help you succeed with breastfeeding. Pumping more on weekends may also aid in increasing your supply.
Copy this checklist!
- Buy extra breast pump parts in case one set gets soiled or is forgotten at home or at work.
- For convenience, stock up on items like breast pump wipes and steamer bags.
- Inquire about your company’s pumping rules with HR or a mother colleague.
- Pumping and freezing extra milk is a good idea.
- For the first day, make sure you have some thawed milk on hand. Place your ice pack and cooler bag in the freezer and on the counter, respectively.
4. If you’re bottle-feeding, make sure that you leave enough stock
Clean the baby’s bottles before leaving for work. Ascertain that you have enough formula and bottle equipment to leave with the baby’s caretaker.
5. Don’t forget about YOU
Emotions could be running high at this time. Taking care of your baby is just as important as caring after your own mental health. After the baby has gone to sleep, relax in the tub or with a book or music. Reduce any obligations that aren’t absolutely necessary. Make a nighttime schedule for yourself and stick to it. On your days off, sleep when your baby naps.
Preparing going back to work after maternity leave Philippines
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
How do you cope when you just can’t seem to get that momentum back? Here are five things you could try.
1. Role-play
A week or two weeks before you have to go back to work, try leaving your child with your partner or nanny for a few hours each day.
Lock yourself in a room and do an activity that requires focus such as reading.
Get yourself acclimated to being away from your baby. This may be easier said than done but at the end of your maternity leave, you’ll see that it somehow eases your separation anxiety.
2. It’s all about routine
The few weeks after birth can be chaotic at best. When once your day involved answering e-mails or rushing to meetings, your schedule suddenly revolves around a tiny person in need of your love and attention.
Make a schedule and stick to it. This helps to reorganize your brain and declutter your day to focus on activity similar to what you would be doing if you’re at work.
3. Have a good care situation in place
It goes without saying that you should only leave your child with someone you would trust with your own life. Whether it is your partner, parent, or a nanny, having a good caring system in place helps build your confidence to leave for work and actually perform well.
4. Get updates throughout the day
Having a good care system in places helps you make sure that these updates are consistent but not constant. Schedule them and try to control the amount of time you spend checking up on them.
5. Focus on the bigger picture
When thoughts of missing your baby enter your head in the middle of your workday, think of the real reason why you’re working. Remind yourself who you are doing it for. Going back to work is not selfish.
Having a good job allows you to care for them, too. It’s securing their future and making sure that they have a parent who finds fulfillment, whether it is in pursuit of a career or staying at home with them.
First day back to work after maternity leave? No worries!
Returning to work after maternity leave can cause mothers to have mental health issues. It’s important to remember that no mother is flawless. Working outside the home does not make you a bad mother. Most of all, as you take care of your baby, don’t forget that you too need the self-care that you’re giving to your baby and family.
Additional information from Margaux