Q&A: Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave?

There’s enough to get used to being a new mom… add your busy job back into the mix, and it’s a recipe for utter chaos. Make your transition from new mom to working mom less stressful with these helpful hints:
 
Practice your morning routine. During the two weeks after my nanny started and before I went back to work, my husband and I did “dry runs” of what our mornings would be like getting ready for work. Who got up with the baby? What was the showering schedule? Who was on kid-sitting duty when? What things needed to be in order before we left for the day? We tried our routine and tweaked what wasn’t working without the stress of worrying that mommy would be late on her first week back. By the time I returned for real, we were old pros!
 Do some pre-work pampering. If you lived in a velour track suit and barely brushed your hair during maternity leave like me, you’ll probably want (and need) to treat yourself to some pampering before making your debut as a working mom. You’ll be surrounded on your first day with welcomes and questions from co-workers, and you’ll feel more  confident about returning to work if you look — and feel — great. Get your hair cut, a mani and pedi, or even a new outfit for your first day. This is like a coming out party — go all out and have fun!

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.