Pregnancy to Parenting: Transitioning back to work successfully (part 2 of 2)
A couple embracing their newborn during parental leave
The transition from parental leave to work life as a new parent is so much more complex than often expected. When a professional exits the office welcome new life into the world, they return with a new identity connected to all new values, interests, lifestyle changes, responsibilities and challenges.
Very rarely do new parents feel ready to jump back into their full office routines, and they often require many more steps and precautions to ensure they are able to confidently return to their working role while feeling fulfilled as a professional and caregiver.
For parent professionals, investing time to find and connect with parent-focused support, understanding, and community within workplaces can play a huge role in helping them re-enter their roles and companies as smoothly as possible.
Take all of the time you can for your parental leave transition
Be sure to maximize the amount of time you have for your parental leave through disability leave, vacation, sick days, etc. Many professionals who recently have had children are not aware of all of the various vacation and sick days provided by companies that they can add on to extend their maternity leave for as long as possible. If financially possible, it is also encouraged to take some unpaid time off where your role is held when needed or depending on your personal transition needs.
Prepare for a slow transition back to work (especially if you are expected to return to the office and in-person work events). Give yourself time and patience to readjust - pace yourself upon your return. Even small considerations like returning on a Thursday or Friday to break up the first week coming back to work can help set a good and mindful pace.
Initiate communication with your workplace manager and HR department a few weeks in advance before returning to work. Before re-entering the workplace, understand that your role may have been adjusted by a manager or workplace leader as companies are only required to hold a spot for you during your leave. This change may add to your return-to-work transition load, so try to learn about and be open-minded to the expectations of this new role before or when you come back.
Important questions to consider include: Will this role include or require travel? Does the role have the flexibility you need as a parent? Will it be a lot of work? Will the adjusted role truly fit in and serve you and your family’s needs well with your new life as a mom or parent?
How to practice ‘working’ as a new parent
Practice being away from your baby. Take time to practice rebuilding your personal routine and reevaluate and set workplace boundaries (such as travel availability, schedule adjustments, or exploring remote or hybrid work opportunities) compatible with your personal needs as a working parent. On the other hand, if you are using childcare, consider having your child start at the care facility a week before you return to work to ease the transition, for both you and your child(ren).
For those breastfeeding, find out where the pump room is in the workplace, plan a pump schedule ahead of time, and make sure to mark it on your calendar for easy workplace communication (make sure to stick to it). Also, ensure that you are wearing clothing that is easy to pump in when going back to the office or even working from home.
What to pack for the return to office
Fore parents going back to the office that are breastfeeding, here is a list of items that you are going to need in your pump bag. Note the amount of milk you supply may drop once you return to work. It’s the stress, being away from your baby, they may be getting older etc. So, don’t be surprised or discouraged by this. Stay calm, adjust your life as needed to meet what’s best for you personally (not unrealistic goals/stigmas that may be set).
Set clear expectations and workplace boundaries with your manager if you need to travel, agree on your hours if they need to change, and understand your responsibilities.
As mentioned in Part One, finding community can make all the difference when adjusting to life as a parent. Workplace employee resource groups (ERGs) are a great way to find the support and self-acceptance of your new identity as an active professional and parent, you need! Work with the parent and caregiver ERG at your company to help connect you with other parent professionals who were also recently pregnant or expanded their families. Do the research at your company - there may also be programming at your company (e.g. baby sleep consultants, behavior specialists, therapists, etc.) to help set you up for success.
Make time to sleep and rest
I never suggest parents go back to work unless their baby is sleeping through the night. You need at least 8 hours of sleep to function as a human being. If you are getting up every 3 hours as a baby and then expected to perform your best at work that’s a guaranteed set up for failure.
Be sure to sleep train your child before you head back to work OR have someone else waking up throughout the night with them (partner, nanny, grandparent, etc.).
If you are up all night with babies and then at work you will feel super foggy. If you don’t feel your best, you don’t perform your best. If you aren’t getting sleep at night, you may want to ask your manager for a more flexible schedule (coming in a little later or leaving earlier to get some rest) or working from home so you can sneak in some rest. Sleep training can be hard to master so visit here for some more tips.
Finding self-acceptance as a working parent
Remember:
“ ...being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.”
Your experience as a working parent only adds to your skillset and perspective and should only be valued by workplaces.
The transition from worker to working parent or guardian is a rolling process and nowhere near a quick switch - In this time, be sure to set realistic goals and celebrate ALL of the victories (Even if it is as simple as managing to make a coffee at home that morning).
You are deserving of privacy as a worker, especially at this milestone. Organize, research, and set workplace boundaries to give yourself space for flexibility, routine, and time with your loved one’s during your transition back to work.
Make check-ins with yourself a priority. This is an emotionally complicated time - take time to reflect and evaluate how you are doing. How is your mental, emotional, and physical health?
This blog was written by Working Parents Speaker Brooke Sharpiro. Learn more about Brooke’s experiences launching parenting communities within her own workplaces and explore her parenting-focused Lunch & Learn sessions here. To bring one of these educational experiences to your workplace, or to discuss your organization’s needs with a Rise team member, reach out.
In case you missed it, read Pregnancy to Parenting in the Workplace Part 1: Navigating Parental Leave
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