Returning to Work after Maternity Leave

Returning to business as usual after the end of your maternity leave period is a process in itself. As joyful as it is, it can also be overwhelming, and stressful and make you feel like you can’t give your 100% to your baby and work. We’ve got you. Here are some key conversations to make the transition from maternity leave to working mom easier for you.

Ask for updates from co-workers and supervisors?

Just like you would be prepared with the latest intel and a strategy?before a client or team meeting, having the highlights of what happened at work can help you feel less overwhelmed. Often, it is not that we are not capable or bad at handling a situation, but we do not have sufficient information about the situation and thus, can’t handle it in a time and emotion-efficient manner.

To avoid the panic that might be similar to falling asleep or missing one math class and feeling like they’ve suddenly jumped to quantum mechanics, ask people that you work with closely for updates (both project and personnel ones) a few days before you go back to work. Having some information will give you a bit of confidence to walk into your office again.

Help your management and HR help you?

?From your end, it is important to communicate your needs and requirements in advance so accommodations and adjustments to your workplace and schedule can be made in a timely manner. Setting these boundaries and managing expectations right at the beginning can save you and your team a lot of stress, miscommunications, assumptions, and self-criticism.

These needs and requirements can be different for different working mothers, and it is important to take the following things into account-?

–???your unique needs and recovery process.

–???the nature of your work, time-frame in which you have to work on and submit your deliverables, the office hours in your contract.

–???things that you do not have control over and must do, for example – take breaks to use a breast pump to express milk.

??Be realistic with yourself?and take baby steps???

?Showing your dedication to your work and your team is not just about taking on additional work, helping your coworkers with their work on your own time, or working overtime on an important client project. Being realistic with yourself and your coworkers is key to ensuring you do not burn out and can continue to work consistently toward both being efficient and also improving the quality of your work.

Make sure to take into account the above-mentioned additional factors when you commit to a task and are expected to give a roadmap and a timeline.?

?Overcommitting without taking into account your new workflow and energy levels can cause delays, an increase in irritability, a sense of loss of control over your life, and also burnout. It is best to overestimate when it comes to setting time-based goals and communicating that to a teammate. This way, you will not have to put in extra time at 3 am when the baby is asleep to complete a task under high pressure. Like going back to exercise, you need to be careful and make slow but consistent progress that builds up on itself over time.??

Please remember that your needs are not unreasonable and that your dedication to doing your best as a professional and as a mom is inspiring and valuable, but so is your mental and physical well-being.?Remember to ask for help, consult with experts and doctors whenever you need to ensure your body has fully recovered and prepared for your re-integration back into the workplace. Your health is as important as that of your baby's, so don't forget to prioritise your health too!