Returning to work after maternity leave can be a time of mixed emotions. Women often feel overwhelmed as they start to think through their new reality; will they be able to juggle it all, will they still have the skills and the knowledge to perform in their role? Navigating this time of transition and successfully achieve a smooth return to work can be tricky.In this article, two Maternity coaches Sarah Turner and Laura Duggal have collaborated to share with you some of their experiences when working with women returning to work after maternity leave.

If you take one message away from reading this blog post it is this: manage your expectations of yourself as a mum, partner, work colleague and employee. Your identity and your life have gone through a period of transformation, and the version of you that is returning to work is not the same as the one who went off on maternity leave.

Of course, the professional you is still there, but becoming a parent brings in a whole new dimension and purpose to your life and your identity. Finding your way as you adjust to being a working parent is an ongoing journey and lowering your expectations of what you are capable of in those first few weeks back is the kindest thing you can do for yourself.

What does we mean when we say lower your expectations?

Consider a phased return so that you gradually build up to working full-time (if that is what you wish to do).

Manage expectations with your line manager and colleagues about your working hours (e.g., when you will need to leave to pick up your child from childcare).

Ask for help from your partner, family, friends, and colleagues. This might include sharing the drop-off/pick-up with your partner, employing a cleaner, asking your family to help with batch booking meals or seeking support from a colleague on the background to a project you’re working on.

Create space and time for you to adapt to the change. Try and get sleep where you can.  Get outside into nature for a walk or other form of exercise or ask your partner to do bath and bedtime so that you can catch up with a friend one evening.

Don’t compare yourself to others. No-one has this completely handled. Take it one day at a time and make changes where you need to. Everyone will approach their return to work differently.

Manage the work you take on as you return.  Let people know you are back but be wary of taking on too much.  One, or perhaps two tangible pieces of work that you can deliver in the first few months will boost your confidence and ease you back into work.

Maternity coaching is a form of coaching specifically designed for women returning to work after maternity leave.  If you are interested in finding out more about how we support working parents and the organisations they work for, please get in touch.

My colleague Laura Duggal and I have been busy creating content highlighting the importance of organisations providing support for working parents. As part of this, we created this video series exploring the entire journey of maternity leave, from before the leave starts, through to preparing to return and then the first few months back at work. If you are interested in learning more about maternity coaching and how your organisation could benefit, have a look. If you’d like more information about how we can support you with return to work coaching, please get in touch.

This blog post is a collaboration between Maternity Coaches Laura Duggal and Sarah Turner. They are working together, sharing their experiences and bringing the best of their joint advice and knowledge to you.