Going back to work after a baby is never easy. These tips will ease the transition.
How do you make the most of this time off so you’re ready and rested when it’s time to resume a schedule?
Organize Your Life Before the Baby
Your maternity leave is not a great time to catch up on life. Taking care of yourself and your newborn will fill up your day. If possible, take time off before the baby to take care of appointments, stock your freezer and organize your house.
And if you don’t get to it? Don’t worry. Most things can wait.
Take Off As Much Time As Possible!
I’ve spoken to many women–teachers, secretaries, business owners, and business leaders. So many have regretted going back to work too early. I never met a woman who regretted taking off too much maternity leave. Each week you take off is an investment in your emotional health.
In recent years the state has extended Maternity leave and family bonding times because they recognize its importance. Many employers have also softened to the idea that women need time to recover after a baby.
Lower Your Expectations
Yes, you have time off from work. In ambitious moments you may be tempted to try those complicated recipes you’ve never gotten to or organize all the closets in your house.
Don’t pressure yourself. It’s just not worth it. Taking care of yourself and your baby is your priority. And caring for a newborn takes So. Much. Time!
Test Run Your Babysitting Arrangements
Leaving your baby is hard. Do your research carefully. If Baby is in good hands, it will make the experience much easier for you. Start researching early, even months before going back to work. Then do a test-run with the babysitter a few days before returning to work. It will make back-to-work day much smoother.
Attentively, you may decide to leave your baby home with a trustworthy housekeeper (and video cameras).
It’s Not All or Nothing
If the thought of returning to work overwhelms you, consider going back part-time initially, or doing a hybrid of work in the office and work from home. This can make the transition a lot easier.
Shortcuts are Cool
We all know how important cleaning help, take out, and homework helpers are. It’s sanity-saving after a baby. But more than that: it’s about a shift in mindset! So many things can slide! It’s not cool to be the superwoman with fresh challah on Friday morning after a sleepless night with a newborn and no cleaning help. Playing superwoman always comes with a catch. A woman I admire once told me that she doesn’t take out a mixer for the first year after a baby. I thought that was cool!
Be Your Own Cheerleader!
In today’s society so many Moms work that it’s become almost normal and almost expected. But the juggling act really is very difficult! You may have to be your own cheerleader. Keep telling yourself how amazing you are for doing it all. And go easy on yourself when some balls inevitably drop.
You Feel Better When You Look Better
Get your sheitel set. (You can have someone else pick it up for you.) Don’t stress if your old clothing doesn’t yet look right. Pick up some new pieces or even borrow from a sister or a friend. But make sure you have clothing that you feel good in.
Take Care of Mommy!
Self-care is all the buzz, but don’t let it become just another thing to check off on your to-do list (get manicure on Friday morning before the kids’ bus). You know yourself, and you know what you need–whether it’s a nap, exercise, or leaving the dishes in the sink while you read a magazine on the couch. Don’t let your own needs fall aside!
Also don’t let pumping be a stress that’s why Hashem made formula!
Adding to this- make sure to give your baby one bottle per day at least during your maternity leave- even if nursing is more convenient since you are together all the time. If baby is not getting that bottle then the window of opportunity will have passed and your cutie will refuse it at the babysitter and you won’t be around to run back for feedings.
For some women, not pumping will cause them to stain, which can end up being more stressful.
So know yourself, and your body. What works for you isn’t necessarily the same as what works for everyone else!
If possible, don’t go back on a Monday. When you start off with a shorter work week it’s much easier to get back into things.
Dont be hard on yourself!!! it takes time to get the hang and to get into the drill of getting read for work and to prep baby…
try to prep the most possible the night before. for ex— your clothes, your baby’s clothes, food for yourself and husband, prep daiper bag with pampers, empty clean bottle, change of clothing for baby…like this in the morn you have less to do
Thanks so much for this post! so insightful! I just wanted to say that I feel like it needs to normalized to take off more than 6 weeks for maternity leave. I feel like the boss’s put so much pressure on the employee to come back earlier. I think its sad that these boss’s are frum men that are having kids of their own. Don’t they see what their wives go through postpartum? By my first baby i wanted to go back mid-week and my boss didnt let. He made me come back on Monday and that was at 6 weeeks!! I honestly did not know what hit me.
Not every boss! It has become much more normal for women to take off 8-12 weeks.
Just want to say how perfect this is… I just had the most overwhelming first day back (today!) after my first baby. Some of this I knew and some I didn’t, but remember – no matter what you do it’ll be overwhelming. But it’ll also be amazing, and I’m head over heels for my little guy AND it was kinda freeing to know he was at the babysitter for a solid few hours so I could work and do things and my husband could learn.
A few weeks ago my boss chewed me out for taking 12 weeks but I soaked up every minute!
When I went back to work after my first I cried the whole day:)
Same here. Spent much of the time in the restroom trying to compose myself.
you poor americans. i’m almost 12 weeks post, have another three weeks off at full pay, and am starting the baby in daycare next week (have to pay for the full month anyway). my office (public sector, true) thinks i’m crazy for not extending my maternity leave even longer (kollel, single income, i need to get paid. plus 15 weeks is really plenty). at six weeks, my husband and i both marveled about how they go back to work in the states.
never mind all the issues i read here about insurance not covering things.