Heading Back to Work After Maternity Leave

Posted by joy

3 Sep

returning-to-work-after-maternity-leave It’s here. The dreaded transition from lazy mornings in bed with baby to the daily grind of working, pumping, and getting dressed before noon.

I knew it was coming and savored the summer full of baby and toddler time, but it doesn’t make this shift back to work any easier. My baby won’t take her bottle and has spent hours screaming in other people’s arms only to be instantly calmed when I arrive home. While that sounds nice for my ego, it’s hard to see that the adjustment seems just as hard for her as it is for me. I’ve taken her to work this week since our students won’t arrive until next Tuesday so I get a few more opportunities to nurse her and avoid pumping for a bit longer, but soon we’ll be hitting the reality of a work week without my baby.

The good news is that I’ve had the summer off as a teacher and managed to work out a plan to take one day of each week off during the school year instead of using up my maternity leave all in one chunk. It should help with my milk supply and my stress level. Also, I have a wonderful student teacher who will be taking on several of my classes for the next few months. Still, there’s no denying the fact that leaving my baby, even in the very capable hands of my stay at home husband, is just plain hard.

If you’ve transitioned back into the career world, how did you handle it? Do you have tips for overcoming that longing to hold your baby in your arms while you’re in the middle of your professional life?

Filed under: Baby Care, Family Life, Living Simply

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4 Responses for "Heading Back to Work After Maternity Leave"

Christina September 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 am 1
I’m transitioning back to work, too, and starting full-time next week! A 4-day schedule the past few months really has helped make it easier and I hope it works for you!
Here’s what has helped me: The first few days of working, my husband brought our son to my work for me to breastfeed at lunch. My coworkers LOVED seeing and holding him! And now, pictures of my son, a lamp with soft, cozy lighting in the office where I pump, calling home on lunch break to talk to my baby, and using my weekends to cook and freeze meals so I can maximize my evening time with Baby.
Good luck!
'Becca September 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am 2
I’ve got no magic tips for coping with the longing, but I do have one for pumping: Get an insulated lunch bag that is big enough to hold your milk storage bottles and the funnel+valve+bottle assemblies from the pump. After a pumping session, pour the milk into the storage bottles, put them and the pumping equipment into the bag, and put the whole bag in the refrigerator. When it’s time to pump again, your funnels will warm up to room temperature very quickly. Washing them only after the last session of the day saves a lot of time! Somebody in La Leche League told me this tip, and I was so grateful!
Don't Pat the Belly September 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm 3
I’m jealous that you get to leave your baby with your husband. I had a baby in May and went back to work 3 weeks ago. I also went with a part-time schedule. I teach MWF, have T as a writing day, and stay home with the baby on R. The biggest thing that has helped in the transition back to work is that when I leave to pick up DS at 3:30 I leave work at work. I don’t work at home in the evenings. If it means that I work through my lunch hour (while also pumping) then that’s what I do. I don’t check my work email, I don’t grade papers, I am just mom. It’s really hard for me to stick to that because there is an expectation that teachers are always teachers, but honestly the days that I’m a better parent, I’m also a better teacher.
Christina September 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm 4
I love Becca’s comment! I have been washing pump parts 3 times a day in the break room, and it takes up all my break time and more. This will make my life so much easier. Thanks for sharing!