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Working moms today face a great many challenges. With the many things that you’re doing, it’s not always easy to fit in the things that you want to do. You’re scheduling and planning and working non stop in ways that can make life remarkably challenging. Not the least of the challenges is your return to work after your maternity leave is over.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t last forever, but there are things you can do that will make the transition a great deal easier for you and your new baby.
Planning and Preparation
Start planning early for your return to work. Making sure that you have adequate and excellent coverage for infant care is the first order of the day. Getting what you need for your child so far as child care well prior to going back to work is imperative. It should not be a last minute decision who will care for your child when you return to work. Ideally you’re going to want to leave your baby with that person for a few sessions in order to prepare them for the changes. It may seem to you that your baby will be too small to notice the difference. The reality is far different.
Research and Recon
Start interviewing child care personnel or doing a walk through on the child care site that you choose long before it is time to use them. You need to be sure that you can place your trust in the child care provider that you are considering. Get references and check them out thoroughly, as well as spending an hour or two touring more than one facility before you make a final decision.
Spend one or two sessions watching the primary care giver interacting with your child and then take some short sessions where the baby stays with them prior to your returning to work. This will help them to get to know your baby and you, as well as to give them the opportunity to ask any questions that may come up about your child’s care.
Practice the New Stuff
If you plan to continue breast feeding after your return to work, make it a point to prepare for that now. One way to accomplish that will be to begin using as breast pump now so that you are accustomed to it. Feed your baby at least one or two bottles a day of breast milk so that they are accustomed to taking a bottle.
Over time, have someone else feed your baby bottles so that they are used to having a third party involved in the feeding and the bottle isn’t quite so alien to them.
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should adjust your feeding schedule about two weeks before you start back to work in order to be able to pump your breasts during the day and feed before you would be at work as well as once you get home. This will get you and the baby adjusted to a different schedule of bonding and feeding so that you are both prepared for the return to work.