Navigating your new role as a ‘working mum’ after maternity leave

You never really get over the ‘mum guilt’ that many people talk about, so don’t be too hard on yourself when you drop the kids off at nursery for the first time. Going back to work is a big change for your whole family; the first week is particularly tough and it could be a few months before your new way of life feels normal again.

Remember that your company is likely to have changed too – and you may well have a new boss, office, colleagues, clients and/or systems in place. Again, give yourself time to adapt to the changes and don’t just expect to pick everything up where you left off.

It’s important to keep some form of communication with your line manager and/or HR department during maternity leave, either by email, phone or calling into the office.

Legally, you are entitled to 10 ‘keep-in-touch’ (KIT) days, so it is up to you if you want to use them. I would have actually liked more time in the office because I wanted to stay up-to-date with what was going on and maintain the relationships I have with colleagues.

Returning part-time is another challenge because you need to strike a balance between work and home life. I previously worked four days, then three following my maternity leave. It’s important to have a conversation with your line manager about workloads and expectations for both of you, otherwise, you may be trying to cram too more into your days.

If you’re job sharing for the first time, it can take a while to get used to handing over some work to a colleague.

I am lucky because my employer has been extremely flexible, and I was able to manage my own KIT days in the run-up to my return.

It’s important to find out about your company’s flexible working arrangements so you can plan your next steps. Let your employer know how you’d like to manage your return and if you’d like to consider part-time or flexible working hours and then find out what this will mean for your pay and holidays (including bank holidays).

Equally, you should be ready to adjust your plans in line with how you feel because your perspective and priorities change after having a baby.

I now spend three days in the office but there is no ‘right’ answer to how or when you return to work, if you do at all. Whatever you decide, invest all your energy in what you’re doing at the time, and try to compartmentalise your thoughts to keep stress levels down.

Having a flexible team at work helps, and I am in regular contact with colleagues via WhatsApp even when I’m away. Being in a senior position it’s vital that I am able to stay on top of any developments and respond to urgent matters when required.