Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? Here's Your Checklist

It can be really intimidating to think about going back to work after maternity leave. Whether you've been away for a few weeks, months, or even years, maternity leave is without a doubt, the most intense rollercoaster journey of your life. Going back to work after this period is no easy feat, and there will be a lot to consider before you take this step - you will have changed emotionally, physically, AND mentally!

See, the worst thing about going back to work is this- your motherhood and home duties don't magically disappear when you start working. You're still a mother first and foremost, and work will now have to fit around this newfound role.

The sooner you can get things in order, the easier it will be to settle into your new routine, allowing you to make the most of your last few weeks of maternity leave knowing that everything is sorted.

You can read about my top 5 tips to stay organised as a busy working mum here, but to ensure you can have a smooth transition back to work, here is a checklist of things you will need to do first:

Speak to your manager and/or team

Once you've made the initial decision to go back to work, set up a call with your boss or your team to let them know that you want to return to your role, and what your plan is. Some companies allow you to work up to 10 days at your normal pay rate during your maternity leave- these are called Keeping in Touch (KIT) days, so you can even go into the office to make the most of this. This will be a good opportunity to check in and see what the team has been up to while you've been away.

Examples of points you can discuss during these conversations include:

• Reduction of hours or days
• Remote working
• Change in job responsibilities
• Team structure
• Career progression
• Salary

Make sure you use this time to lay the groundwork for any boundaries and limits, and reassure your manager that whilst you're fully committed to your role, there may be times where you'll be unable to work long hours or take calls outside of your working times.

Get in touch with HR

Now that you've confirmed your new working arrangements with your manager, you will need to contact your HR department so that they can incorporate the changes into your official contract. They'll also tell you if there is anything you need to do before you start so that you're not wasting your first few days on logistics. For example, depending on your job, you may need to renew your office pass, get some new equipment, or update software on your laptop. It's also worth asking if you need to provide any paperwork or documentation, particularly if you have any health issues that you've made the company aware of.

Most companies allow you to accrue your holiday allowance during maternity leave, so you may also have some days to use up before your return which will impact your start date. Once you've confirmed your first official day at work, you can mark it in your calendar- things are getting real!

Settle your child into your chosen childcare

Regardless of which method of childcare you have chosen for your little one (e.g. grandparents, nursery, nanny, childminder), chances are it will still be a big adjustment for them just as much as it will be for you. Start sending them in a few weeks before you start to familiarise them with the new surroundings, so that by the time you go back to work they're already happy and settled.

Here are some things you may want to think about:

• Making them feel comfortable to nap in a new environment
• Eating different meals (e.g. nursery catering or packed lunches)
• Bottle feeding
• Will a new routine be required? (e.g. you may need the mornings to be earlier to give you enough time to drop them and get to work on time)

The best way to work through these changes is to do a few practice runs in the lead up. Not only will it make your child more comfortable with being away from you, but it will also give you some time in the last few weeks of your maternity leave to focus on getting yourself ready for work.

Know your backups

Nurseries are a breeding ground for common colds and illnesses, so it's likely that your child will have a few bouts of sick days at first while they build up their immunity, particularly if they're still young and have mostly been home until now.

Once you're working, you don't want to be scrambling around at the last minute looking for someone to babysit the day before an important work deadline, so it's helpful to have an idea of your backups. Do you have parents or in-laws that can step in at the last minute if needed? Does your work offer any backup childcare services?

If you don't have any childcare backup options, then it will be more important to have some work back ups in place - are there arrangements for someone else to step in and perform your role if you can't work? Or is it possible to work remotely when your child is sick or nursery is closed?

Once you have your backups in mind, make sure you let them know that they may be needed to step in - not only is it courteous and gives them an advance warning in case anything happens, but it will also make you feel less guilty when you have to prioritise your work duties over motherhood duties, or vice versa.

Check your work wardrobe

I don't know about you, but my body definitely changed after I had my children. It wasn't just the addition of a 'mum pouch'; my bra size had gone up from breastfeeding, my hips and shoulders had widened, and things just didn't look and feel the same way they used to.

Try on your old outfits to see what still fits you, and more importantly, what feels comfortable. Make sure you have enough options to last you for the week so that you don't need to keep doing laundry, as that's the last thing you want to be doing more of as a working mum.

P.S. If you'll be pumping at work, make sure you have enough nursing friendly blouses or dresses, and pack a spare pair of clothes in case of any spills.

Stock up the freezer

When you first settle into working life, it may be difficult to stay on top of everything at home, so having the freezer stocked up with some meals will mean one less thing for you to worry about.

In the lead up, try and make double (or even triple) of what you're cooking for dinner, and freeze the extra. Here are some examples of meals that freeze really well and are easy to batch cook:

• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Lentil curries and Daal
• Bolognese sauce (can be used for spaghetti or lasagne)
• Fish Pie

If you don't fancy cooking large portions or prefer not to freeze homemade meals, then keep the freezer or pantry stocked with basic dinner items that you can quickly pull together, such as:

• Pasta and ready made sauces
• Ready marinated chicken or fish
• Frozen vegetables
• Soups

Do something for yourself

Last but definitely not least, allow some time for yourself before the next rollercoaster journey starts. Managing the work life balance will be so much easier if you're well rested, well nourished, and happy, so make sure you focus on your own wellbeing. Find some small changes that you can incorporate into your daily life to nurture yourself which will be easy to continue after you start working.

An important way to start doing this is to prioritise on your sleep. You may have survived your whole maternity leave on very few hours of sleep, but when you're working it's more important than ever to stay focused and productive, which is incredibly difficult when you're sleep deprived.

If sleep training isn't an option, try swapping one of the night feeds with your partner, go to sleep earlier, or take a power nap during your lunch break.

While your little one is settling into childcare during the last few weeks of your maternity leave, use the time to do something for yourself - meet up with some friends for coffee, do some exercise, or go for a manicure - anything that makes you feel good!

If you're going back to work soon or thinking about it, I hope this post has helped you to work your way through the last few weeks of your maternity leave without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated.

In the same way that it took some time to settle into newborn life and your newfound responsibilities as a mother, it'll also take a few weeks to settle into your new routine as a working mother, so give yourself some time and don't worry if you haven't mastered the work life balance straight away- some of us are still figuring it out months (or even years) later!

Lots of love,