Mama, you’ve done amazing work creating and caring for a new human—high-five yourself! And now, the time to think about going back to work has arrived.
Deep breaths—we know it’s a huge transition, perhaps one of the biggest you’ll face.
Going back after being deep in the baby bubble is exciting, but equally emotional and nerve-wracking. Your brain feels different, your priorities are different, and your body might still feel different.
But guess what? You are not alone in this. Millions of moms navigate this return every year. While it’s rarely seamless, it’s totally doable.
Here, we’ll share a few practical tips that can help you transition back into work life smoothly.
#1 Phase In, If You Can
If there is any way to ease back into work instead of jumping into the deep end, do it.
Going from 24/7 baby duty straight back to 40+ hours, five days a week, can feel like hitting a brick wall made of deadlines and sleep deprivation.
A phased return provides valuable time to recalibrate mentally and emotionally, as well as to establish new routines for a smoother morning departure. Not only will you feel less frazzled, but you’ll also rebuild your work confidence and find that new rhythm as a working parent.
So, what does phasing in actually look like? It can take a bunch of forms. It can be shorter hours initially or working in the office just two or three days a week to start. It can also be a hybrid schedule, or going fully remote if your job allows.
Some companies are getting hip to this and have formal phase-in programs.
Noodles & Company is a case in point. The American fast-casual restaurant chain has a “phase-out, phase-in” maternity program in place. This allows postpartum mothers, besides expectant moms, to work a reduced, 80% schedule in the four weeks before and after their maternity leave.
Use this phase-in period to figure out the logistics, like pumping at work, syncing childcare drop-offs, and managing your workload.
#2 Get the Baby Used to the Bottle
This might seem like an obvious one, but so many mothers forget to practice this until it’s go-time. And then? Cue the meltdown—baby’s, yours, or both. So, figuring out the bottle situation should be high on your mental to-do list.
Start this a few weeks before your return, not a few days. Some babies take to it right away, but others need time to adjust. Be patient if your little one falls in the latter category.
When it comes to the how-to, the magic often isn’t in the bottle itself, but in the way you introduce it.
You’ll find paced bottle feeding to be an incredibly helpful technique. This method allows babies to control their feeding pace just like breastfeeding.
Also, use a slow-flow nipple. This helps prevent gagging or choking and reduces the likelihood of the baby preferring the bottle’s faster flow.
What if your baby is staging a full-on bottle boycott? Pass the bottle to someone else if your little one refuses to take it from you.
WebMD explains that some babies develop a strong preference for being nursed by the mother. So, they might not take it from you. Have someone else give the bottle—your partner, grandma, a friend, or your future caregiver.
Know that some babies are just champions at reverse cycling. That is, they will take just the bare minimum from the bottle while you’re gone and make up for it by nursing like crazy when you’re home. It can be exhausting for you, but it’s a valid coping mechanism for them.
#3 Take Refresher Courses
For months, you have been immersed in the beautiful, exhausting, all-consuming world of a newborn.
Your brain feels like it’s been replaced by mashed bananas and nursery rhymes. No wonder, stepping back into your professional field can feel like landing on another planet.
You might find that technology has advanced, industry jargon has evolved, and you could feel a bit out of touch. That’s totally normal. Don’t let it freak you out or dent that amazing confidence you should have.
Taking a few online refresher courses might help you feel more confident and current.
Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, edX, and Skillshare are lifesavers for busy parents. They offer thousands of courses, many free or low-cost, that you can tackle during naptime, after bedtime, or whenever you can steal a few minutes.
Don’t underestimate the power of reconnecting. Jump back onto LinkedIn and see what former colleagues are up to. Check out what your professional associations or industry organizations are offering. They often have webinars, online forums, or resource libraries.
Some companies even partner with organizations like Career Returners to offer specific returnship programs designed to help people transition back after a break.
Taking a little time to do a refresher course or attend a webinar isn’t just about filling potential skill gaps. It’s a power move. It signals to your employer and your colleagues that you are still engaged, still learning, and still serious about your career.
#4 Consider Advanced Degrees
If you’ve been contemplating a career shift or aiming for a promotion down the line, an advanced degree could open doors.
An advanced degree, like an MBA or another Master’s, can seriously boost your career trajectory. Pursuing a master’s degree can significantly boost your earning capacity and better qualify you for leadership and management positions.
For moms returning after a break, it can be a strategic way to re-enter the workforce at a higher level or pivot to a new field. It can also make that career break look like a period of intense personal and professional growth.
A Doctorate degree can also level you up big time. It’s a commitment, sure. But it can position you as an expert in your field and give you the credibility to consult or lead major projects.
Take a Doctor of Education, for example. Fortune notes that this degree can impart leadership skills. It includes leadership theories and their practical application, understanding diverse viewpoints, and making equitable decisions that foster lasting positive change.
According to Marymount University, school principals, leadership coaches, policy makers, and instructional coaches are some leadership positions that students pursue after the Doctor of Education program.
Many universities offer online Doctor of Education programs designed with busy professionals in mind. They offer the flexibility to study around your schedule—nap times, school drop-offs, you name it.
#5 Have a Trial Run for Childcare
Visualize this: It’s your first morning at work. You’re already emotional, maybe a little sleep-deprived, and now you’re dropping your precious bundle off with a relative stranger. Of course, your stress level is maxed out.
But what if you’d already done this drop-off routine before your first day? You’ve seen your baby handle it okay, so you won’t be stressed.
So, don’t try to wing it on day one. Do a trial run—or even a few—with your chosen child care situation, whether it’s daycare, a nanny, or a family member.
Let your baby adjust to the new routine and let the caregiver learn your baby’s cues. You’ll give yourself the gift of not discovering last-minute hiccups on day one.
Seeing the system work and knowing your baby is safe and cared for, allows you to actually focus when you get to work. That way, you won’t spend the day riddled with anxiety.
If you’re using daycare, do the full routine. Pack the bag, do the drive, and drop off the baby. Then, maybe go grab a coffee or run an errand for a few hours to mimic a workday.
And if you’re hiring a nanny, take an interview. Take a trial—it doesn’t have to be a full week right away. Start with a few hours a day for several days.
Be super clear about your family’s routine, your parenting philosophy, house rules, and specific duties. Put key information such as schedules, emergency contacts, and allergies in writing. That will be incredibly helpful.
#6 Set Boundaries Around Your Work Hours
Returning to work as a mom means your time is suddenly even more precious and fiercely guarded. That 5:30 pm daycare pickup isn’t a suggestion, it’s a deadline with potential late fees.
Learn to set and maintain boundaries. That isn’t just nice to have but essential for survival, for protecting your sanity, and for avoiding burnout. A Gallup study finds that 81% of working mothers face burnout while juggling it all.
So, how do you set boundaries without feeling like jeopardizing your job? The secret sauce usually lies less in constant, awkward confrontations and more in setting up clear systems and using proactive, professional communication.
Define and declare your working hours. If your working hours need to change—say, you need to leave at 5 pm sharp daily—be explicit about this with your manager.
Use your work calendar religiously to block off time for drop-offs, pickups, pumping sessions, or other non-negotiable personal commitments. Make these blocks visible to colleagues if possible. Then, politely decline meeting invites that fall smack-dab in the middle of your blocked-off time.
Having these conversations with your boss and team doesn’t have to be adversarial. Reassure them that you’re still dedicated, just operating within a different time structure.
That’s a lot, right? Returning to work after maternity leave is a massive shift, emotionally, mentally, and logistically.
You’ll get through it just like you got through the month with a newborn when everything felt impossible and you weren’t sure you’d ever sleep again. This is another of those phases.
It will take time, but you’ll soon find your new groove, your new routine, and your new normal. So, give yourself grace, lean on your support system, and take it one day at a time.
