Returning to Work After a New Baby
The thing about being a new mom is just when you get into a good rhythm, something changes! Returning to work after having your baby is no exception. Leaving your baby as you return to the office can be daunting between finding childcare, being able to perform at work on less sleep, etc. Having just gone through this exact transition myself I knew I had to share what helped me overcome common challenges working mom’s face going back. Below are my top tips for finding that new rhythm and creating a little balance in this season of your life.
Practice & Prepare for Pumping
Start practicing pumping. The general recommendation for pumping is 4-6 weeks after your baby is born. (Of course, if you have special circumstances, you exclusively pump, etc. you may be starting sooner!) I sought advice from a lactation consultant to determine what was best for me which was a huge help so I highly recommend doing the same and/or joining a support group! Starting a little before I really “needed” to allowed me to get the hang of my pump settings, make sure I was using the right flange size, figuring out how I wanted to store my milk, etc. That way, once I went back a had a little bit of a routine down.
On that same note, I wish I would’ve gotten a bag dedicated exclusively for my pump and the parts I needed. I have forgotten pump parts, extra milk bags, my ice pack, etc. which made for some stressful days in the office! Having everything plus a few spares in one bag versus packing and unpacking into different bags would’ve made things easier. Some people choose to create a little pump station in their office if they are only pumping at work so that’s an option as well. Lastly, schedule pump breaks into your day! I forgot to add breaks into my schedule to pump which also made things hectic. Block out your calendar or plan your breaks around those times you’d normally be feeding your baby.
Simplify at Home & In Your Personal Life
Getting back into a work schedule in addition to the never-ending task of caring for a baby was way more tiring than I expected. I should have off-loaded any non-priority items like social gatherings, projects around the house, etc. that were going to take extra energy I didn’t have. I felt spread super thin and anxious for a few weeks. At home, I handle most of our meals so it also would’ve been wise to stock the fridge with instant pot ready meals or pre-made items like Rotisserie Chicken. I’m embarrassed to admit how much Chick-fil-A we ate those couple weeks because I didn’t think to plan ahead, but it was delicious and we were in survival mode! (Keeping it real: curbside pickup is a lifesaver when you have a baby)
Whatever it is you usually handle on the home front, take the time to consider: how you and your spouse share household tasks, out-sourcing (hire a housekeeper to drop in that month, buy some premade meals, ask a loved one to babysit one evening or weekend day, etc). Simply choosing not to sweat the small stuff and accept that things may be a little chaotic until you get your bearings and it’ll all settle goes a long way as well.
Ease Into Work as Much as Possible
This is along the same lines as my previous point. Not everyone has the luxury of easing into work, but if you do definitely take advantage! Give yourself grace and don't place any pressure on yourself to be as productive as your “pre-baby” self in the very beginning stages of this new season. Those first couple weeks you'll be starting a new routine involving potentially time-consuming factors like pick up and drop off, pumping, etc. Not to mention you’ll likely be operating on less sleep! Try to avoid scheduling important meetings, starting projects, taking on new clients, etc. the first week or so until your daily routine is established. If your job isn’t very flexible at all, focusing more on keeping your personal life simple may be where it’s at!
Trial Run Your Childcare
I underestimated the time I would need to wrap up at the office and get back home to relieve our nanny, so that first week I was running like crazy to make it home in time. In retrospect doing a trial run would’ve been ideal, so if you have that option give it a try! I was concerned about paying for childcare on days when I wasn’t seeing clients and making money (because let’s be real, daycare/nannies aren’t cheap!) which is why I didn’t do one but it would've been helpful for sure. Getting baby settled in the morning whether you are packing them up for daycare or simply getting yourself ready for work while also juggling them is also something to consider when it comes to scheduling and getting out of the house on time.
Above all - BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF.
This is a new season you’re in mama! Don’t forget, when your baby was born a mama was born too. (I believe this applies even if this isn’t your first baby as you integrate a new family member into your household). Your productivity will get there and your routine will smooth out over time so give yourself grace focus on making a little progress everyday.