*This post is a guest post from fellow mom blogger Laura at LaLatoMama.com, check out her bio below this post

You have planned and planned for the arrival of your little one. They are finally here! Now comes the adjusting period. As you are hopefully getting settled into some sort of routine, now it’s time to start thinking about going back to work!

Returning from maternity leave is not always an easy thing. Some moms can take off work for 6+ months but many only get 6-12 weeks. Those weeks go by VERY quickly and are barely enough time for your body to heal and you to get to know this new person in your life. To help ease your anxiety about returning from maternity leave I have compiled some steps for you to follow. The best time to read this is before you even go on maternity leave, but it will still be helpful even if you only have a few weeks left of maternity leave.

Start to Prepare Yourself

There is a lot to prepare before going back to work. Do you have clothes to wear? Your body has changed A LOT over the last year so make sure you have clothes that you feel comfortable in that you can wear to work.

I wore a lot of my maternity clothes for about 3-6 months after giving birth as my body went back to a more normal me. If you are breastfeeding, make sure you have clothes that are functional to pump at work. Dresses can be tough for pumping unless you go through the top.

I also preferred more cotton clothes because on certain materials breastmilk could stain if some dripped. For more advice and tips on All Things Breastfeeding, check out my other post. Usually about 3-4 weeks after giving birth you will want to communicate with your work about when you plan to return from maternity leave. This date can change depending on how you are doing, but make sure to communicate with them.

Check out MamaLyssa’s post on Breastfeeding Must-Haves to Survive the First Month

Preparing Baby

If you have been exclusively breastfeeding, then you will want to get your baby used to taking a bottle sooner rather than later. You will also need to start getting used to pumping. After you start pumping you will get a better idea of what your breastmilk supply looks like.  

Ideally around 5 weeks old you should introduce a bottle. If you wait too long, then they might reject it and only want the breast. If you do it too early some babies have preferred the bottle and not wanted to breastfeed anymore. It is also helpful to have other people spend time with your baby without you there. If you are going back to work, then someone else will be watching your baby. By letting others (even just Daddy, a grandparent, etc.) watch your baby for 1-3 hours, it will help your baby get used to not having you for some time.

Check out more on baby routines with MamaLyssa’s post: Establishing Routines with a New Baby

Picking Childcare

Do you know who is going to be watching your baby while you are at work? Will it be your spouse, grandparent, relative, nanny, daycare or someone else? There are a lot of options but not all will work for your situation so start planning early. Some daycares have waiting lists so you might need to get on it early.

Keep an eye out for hours and costs so you can sure they work for you and your situation. Read more here about Choosing the best Childcare. Once you have secured your childcare, I HIGHLY recommend doing a trial day. This is a great opportunity for your child to start getting used to a new surrounding and you to be able to feel more comfortable with the process without the added stress of going back to work that day.

If you are using a daycare, this is a great time to drop off all the supplies your child will need like diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream and extra clothes. Try to be gone for about 3-5 hours so they can get a good idea of how a normal day will go. This is an excellent time for some self-care to help you feel more like yourself. Maybe get your hair or nails done? Massage? All of the above? Also throw in some grocery shopping and meal prep to help with the upcoming week.

It’s Go Time

By now you have communicated with your work about when you will be returning, gotten yourself ready, gotten baby ready and found someone to watch your baby. The night before, make sure to prep as much as you can. Have bottles ready, clothes picked out, lunch made and anything else you will need. Your first day back can be very stressful so planning is key.

I hope these tips have helped relieve some of your anxiety. I have been through this process 3 times and each time is a little easier but always hard. Hormones don’t help the process either. If you are needing help with finding a job after you have stayed home for a bit with kids read more here about returning to the workforce.

About the Author

I am Laura from LalatoMama.com. My blog is all parenting related and focuses on tips and advice for moms, recommendations, family adventures and recipes. Being a parent can be very hard so I believe in helping each other out and sharing advice so we can learn from each other. You can find me here:

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