You took your maternal leave from office and spent several weeks at home, preparing for your baby birth. You spent more weeks afterward at home taking care of your new baby, until the time of returning back to work arrived. Since there were huge differences before and after you took the leave, those experiences were dreadful for you. What do you have to do first? What priorities you should pick?
Going back to work after maternity leave is sure difficult, but there are some points that you can pay attention to for making it easier.
1. Sign up for the daycare immediately, even if you do not anticipate needing daycare service. You do not know when you have to go back to office early, or when your mother or nanny will suddenly back out of caring children.
2. Once you have gotten your daycare and picked the suitable nanny, do not leave your maternity tasks. Make sure to check in with your top choice daycare centers or the babysitter you have lined up. Call after the baby is born, and periodically during your maternity leave.
3. If possible, return mid-week. You get a short first week at work, and your baby an easy introduction to child care. You might also want to explore coming back on a part-time schedule for the first few weeks or months. Some find it easier to stay in touch during maternity leave to help delegate work and keep projects moving along.
4. Accept support from friends or relatives, whether it is a few hours of babysitting or a casserole that saves you preparing dinner one night. And if you are raising your child with a partner, make sure it is a true partnership. Once you return to your job, seek out other moms at your workplace. They can give you vital information.
5. Do not always imagine that your child is miserable. Ask your child’s caregiver to take pictures during the day so you can see him engaged in activities or enjoying a laughing hug. Hang them over your desk as a reality check for when your fantasies turn sour. With older kids, schedule weekly phone check-ins.
6. Prepare for any possible bumps that you will experience. You might want to put an emergency bag in your car with clean clothes for baby and mom, snacks, or even a new toy. You may get stuck in bad traffic with a screaming child, or have to run an errand before you return home.
