MANAGE YOUR RETURN TO WORK AFTER A BABY Is it really possible to match your morals?

Leaving your baby with a carer and going back to your job can be challenging, but phase back gently and you’ll be fine

Knowing that you’re K going back to work after maternity leave can feel both exciting and daunting.

When your leave ends, you can often feel a sense of grief and a drop in confidence. This is entirely normal, as you’re entering another new phase as a working mum and will need time to adapt.

It’s easy to make the mistake of seeing your return to work as something in the far future, but it’s amazing how quickly time passes. Make sure you contact your workplace and ensure everything is ready for when you go back. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your partner, family or friends for help – you’ve no doubt been suffering from a degree of sleep deprivation, and will need to fix your sleeping pattern to help your work routine.

Sometimes, organising a staged return to work can prove psychologically beneficial for you and your little one, so this could be worth discussing with your employer. This also means that you will be able to get used to leaving your baby with whoever is looking after them. Often, your child will cry when you hand them over, and this can be emotionally distressing for you. Agreeing that your childcare provider will text you, or send a picture of your baby when they’re settled can help reassure you that all is fine. Babies cry when you drop them off because it’s the only language they have, and it understandably takes a little while to adapt to their new environment. Fortunately, as soon as you have left and they can no longer hear or smell you, they’ll relax and start to enjoy their new surroundings.