Feeling depressed about going back to work after maternity leave is all too common. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You may experience separation anxiety from being away from your baby after so much time together, and, of course, working mom guilt — feeling inadequate and unable to measure up, at home or at work. ... That first week back is going to be exhausting. As a new mother you can never completely eliminate the guilt. Hi, I'm Nina! Let’s not forget that you’re able to hang out with other people and have real adult conversation and that work is (usually) easier than raising kids. Your pay and conditions must be the same as or better than if you hadn’t gone on maternity leave. Or you wonder whether your baby isn’t getting enough one-on-one attention at daycare, or you feel like you can’t be honest or direct with your mother-in-law. 9 Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave. How to cope: You were a woman before you became a mother, and being back at work allows you to — well, maybe at least some of the time — take some pleasure in that. I don’t know how I’m going to leave her all day tomorrow. I had survived the newborn stage, managed to fit into my old clothes (more or less), and was finally getting a hang of this parenting thing after months of adjusting to motherhood. It’s absolutely normal and natural to feel a whirlwind of worries when it comes to returning to work after maternity leave. If you’re struggling with putting your baby to sleep, you can teach him to self soothe and sleep on his own! Learn how your comment data is processed. Required fields are marked *. You wish had been with your baby instead, and dread doing it all over again the next day, and the next. Join my newsletter and download this amazing resource below—at no cost to you: fcInited=!1; Make decisions based on what you think is best for your baby and yourself. TheBump.com makes the transition back to work after maternity leave easier with these tips. It’s hard to focus on work when you feel like the nanny, daycare staff, or your mother-in-law aren’t doing a good job. When to Go Back to Work After Having a Baby. Resented having to work. A mom’s responsibility for the baby, the household and her work duties upon returning from maternity leave could affect her risk of developing postpartum depression. Returning to work after maternity leave can pose emotional conflicts for mothers. Remember, practice makes perfect! It’s one thing to re-enter the working world when he’s a few years older, but another thing to handle the emotional and physical challenges of raising a baby and going to work. Remember that everything is an adjustment and that the grass is always greener, not to mention the many benefits of being a working mom. For instance, change your routine a few weeks before starting work, mimicking the schedule he’ll follow moving forward. The most obvious reason: You don’t want to be away from your brand new baby. Don’t be surprised if a small (or big!) Part of the unhappiness with going back to work might stem from assuming that all is rosy on the other side. The only problem was, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. This will make the transition easier for both of you! Here’s your pep talk and action plan to get through these challenging days. Shortly I will be heading back to the daily grind of full time office life as my second, and likely last, stint of maternity leave comes to an end. While I welcomed time alone, I wasn’t exactly excited about working, either. Not whether you cut their sandwich into a dinosaur shape, but that you did little things to delight them. favorite Maya Angelou quotes goes like this: How to Work from Home with a Baby (And Actually Get Things Done), What You Need to Do when You’re Stressed about Money. Caroline Morvan, Internal Communications Manager, explains that new parents should look into childcare that works for them before starting work as it can be difficult to organise. The adjustment can be rough for everyone, but thankfully, not permanent. So depressed about returning to work after being on maternity leave for 6 months. That means I’ve been back at work exactly 5 months. But preparing for the transition emotionally is just as important as coordinating your childcare schedule. The flood of emotions — often conflicting ones — can be downright staggering. After 12 weeks of maternity leave, I cried the day before I returned to work. Whatever you are feeling, be patient and kind to yourself during this difficult transition. Even in the very best of circumstances — perhaps you were lucky enough to take as much time off as you wanted, or you can't wait to return to your job — going back to work can be challenging for most women. It just means you have something that makes you feel good about yourself — what a great example for your little one! Every situation has its pros and cons, and going back to work is no different. Back To Work Anxiety: After Maternity Leave This might come as a surprise to you, but separation anxiety is not just for the babies! You have a right to return to work after your maternity leave. work is (usually) easier than raising kids. about what you’re returning to: Your role could have shifted or changed completely in your absence. After all, you may be wondering (and worrying!) function loadFc(){if(fcInited||!isInViewCK(document.querySelector('#_ck_347973')))return;fcInited=!0;console.log('load forms.convertkit 347973'); When you feel confident with your caretaker, handing the baby off for several hours and going in to work won’t feel too terrible. The first week back at work can be hugely overwhelming and stressful. How Parents Can Develop Healthy Attachment With Their Baby Returning to work is a major transition filled with many emotions. Which means that many working mothers are faced with very little choice when it comes to going back to work; they simply can’t afford to be a stay-at-home mom.However, there are plenty of mothers who choose to go back to work for other reasons: they love their jobs, they love their coworkers, and they love contributing to their family finances. I felt like not returning to work after maternity leave. If you’re still getting up with your baby in the night by the time you’re returning (and many moms are), you may notice symptoms during the day like low energy and lack of motivation and concentration that can make your dual roles at home and work even tougher. isInViewCK=function(t){if(!t)return;var n=t.getBoundingClientRect();return 2222>n.top||-2222>n.top}; You’ll find gentle reminders to keep you going, as well as encouragement to look at the hard truth about your circumstances if you truly want things to change: Like many working moms, you’re likely going back to work when your baby is still an infant. Transitioning back to work after maternity leave can be difficult, but not when you come prepared, both mentally and physically. If the work itself is the biggest reason you’re depressed about ending maternity leave, perhaps it’s time find or even create a work environment that suits you. Being tired just makes everything seem worse. © 2020 Everyday Health, Inc. Hereâs what to expect those first weeks back, and how to cope with the roller coaster of emotions you may experience along the way. It’s a good idea to agree with your employer before you go on maternity leave how you’re going to take your holiday. Chin up, mama. Just when my baby had fallen into a manageable routine and life became easier and more fun, maternity leave was over. Free download: Whether you’ve tried to teach him to self soothe in the past or are just now considering it, take a look at the 5 key mistakes to avoid. Little do you know that some of those same moms are looking at you with envy as well. There was a part of me excited to get back to work to be outside the 'nest,' but when I was there, I felt I should be and wanted to be at home with my babies. One of the best ways to stop feeling depressed about going back to work after maternity leave is to remind yourself of its many benefits. Do they listen? Whatever it is, you deserve it, and it will help refresh you for the second week back at work. Let’s say you came home from your first day at work miserable. Our daughter, whom we lovingly refer to as Peachy, turned 8 months old this week. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It is ok to be both sad to leave your baby but also happy to get back to your desk. With your baby so used to being with you all day, you can’t imagine what a big change going back to work will be for the both of you. Any new change is a transition. 3.) Doubts about whether you can handle both your job and your family may begin to creep in. If you find yourself wishing you were back with your baby instead of at work, take a look at these insights that will cheer you up. Returning to work after maternity leave can be emotionally conflicting for most women. And doing both while suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) can feel like a nightmare. Your email address will not be published. And that, in turn, might make you feel guilty. Working outside the home doesn't make you a bad mother — in fact, studies have not found that children experience any harm when their mothers work outside the home. You’re entitled to return to the same job after maternity leave if you’ve been away 26 weeks or less. With so much unknown, I wanted to put together the steps that would help me get to the office, make it through the day, and transition back home without missing or forgetting anything. Make sure you have a positive work environment to return to, as well as reliable and trustworthy childcare you can count on. Uncertainty is also a common emotion at this point, especially about how often is appropriate to check in with your caregiver or how much you should be pumping. You don’t want to leave the baby with strangers, worried that he’ll be scared in his new environment. DS loves his nursery but still loves me most. This is important for helping your family get back to a normal rhythm. Wanting to make money and a contribution to something else besides kids. Having a baby is in itself a challenge. Returning to work after giving birth, or — if you're one of the lucky ones — after maternity leave, can be an emotionally jarring experience. That was hours and hours away from him, missing the time spent sprawled on a blanket at the park or strolling around the neighborhood. Going back to work after maternity leave can be a positive change in your life—more than just finally fitting into your old clothes or getting a hang of this parenting thing. That’s freaking me out.” Tips for Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave Ease Back into Work If you can, try going to work for a day or two the first week before slowly transitioning to full time. Can you be open and frank without feeling like you’ve offended them? The relief of knowing baby is okay when you’re apart, and that your relationship stays the same. During the last few weeks of your maternity leave you may experience anticipatory anxiety about going back to work — which is completely understandable. Now that it's over, you may have depression and anxiety about returning to work. Assuming you’ve already got childcare squared away and started pumping, here are some less obvious details to consider for your back-to-work checklist.The list is a mix of things that worked well for me when returning to work after maternity leave AND things I wish I’d done the first go-round.. 1. Don’t forget: Join my newsletter and take a look at the 5 key mistakes to avoid: Your email address will not be published. While going back to work after maternity leave feels like the most monumental leap you can think of as a new mum, the good news is there are certain things you … Over, you may be wondering ( and not feel guilty should know that of. 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