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Regardless of the amount of paid time off, women return to work after maternity leave exhausted. They’ve just been through a battle and aren’t even sure if they’ve won.
Not to mention the whiplash of going from baby and diapers to boardroom and spreadsheets. You’re supposed to just “bounce back” into the way things were, when in reality, you’ve gone through a major life change.
The transition back to work after maternity leave can feel overwhelming, but having a clear plan helps. There are lots of things you can do ahead of time to set yourself up for success. Here are 7 of my favorite tips for a smooth transition back to work after maternity leave.
Skip Ahead: Back To Work After Maternity Leave
Quick Checklist: Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave
Return To Work After Baby Checklist
- Finalize childcare and confirm the start date
- Schedule a return-to-work conversation with your manager
- Practice short “trial runs” leaving the baby
- Block your calendar for pumping, commute, and transition time
- Align schedules with your partner and establish backup care coverage
- Plan 5–7 reliable back-to-work outfits that fit your current body
- Set up support systems: family assistant, meal prep, mobile services, etc
✨ You don’t have to do it alone — set up the support that lets you thrive at work and at home.
Going back to work after maternity leave requires planning ahead: talk to your manager early, start childcare in advance, block time for pumping and recovery, coordinate schedules with your partner, build emotional support, and create a realistic routine that eases the transition into working motherhood. Above is a quick checklist you can use to get started. Keep reading for a more detailed dive into each item.
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Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Talk To Your Manager Ahead Of Time
Set up a call with your manager about 2-4 weeks before you plan to go back to work after maternity leave to talk about logistics, expectations, and any workplace changes that have happened during your leave. The key is finding the sweet spot where you're mentally ready to engage with work topics, but still have time to process and plan.
During the call, your manager can give you an overview of major company updates, the key goals for the quarter that you’re coming back to, and the projects you’ll be working on. They can also provide clarity around deliverables and expectations during those first weeks back at work after maternity leave. Talking about all of this a few weeks in advance will give you time to process the information and make your first day back feel a little less overwhelming.
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Make sure to also discuss your return to work logistics, such as your exact start date, pumping accommodations, and initial schedule. Don’t be afraid to be direct about what you’ll need to succeed at work after maternity leave, whether that’s flexible hours, remote work options, or starting midweek instead of on a Monday. Ask for what would be most helpful and let them tell you if it’s not possible. This is when you will have the most negotiating power.
If you’re a reader and you want to take more of a deep dive on this topic, I highly recommend The Fifth Trimester by Lauren Smith Brody. The book was written before remote work became more commonplace, but she truly masters the art of HOW to return to work after a baby and goes over all the important conversations you’ll want to have with yourself, your partner, and your employer. There’s a reason I consider it one of the best books for first-time moms.
Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Hire A Nanny Early
I recommend starting the process of hiring a nanny about 4 weeks before you need them to start, and having them start, at a minimum, one week before you have to go back to work after maternity leave.
Even if you don’t start with full coverage, having your nanny start early will help for several reasons:
- It gives your nanny and baby time to bond. And trust me, you want this for the sake of everyone’s joy, but mostly yours. You will feel more confident leaving the house and going back to work when you have someone who you know cares for your child.
- You can practice leaving your baby for a few hours to ease into the transition of going back to work after maternity leave. Plus, you will probably be itching to leave the house sans-baby by this point.
- You will enjoy having another adult around to spend time with! I quickly found that too much time alone is not good for a busy brain, and it was nice to have another adult to chat with. That’s why personality/relatability is one of the top qualities of a great nanny.
- You can start getting your nanny used to taking on household management tasks, like ensuring household supplies are stocked and doing easy meal prep. I hired my nanny specifically to be able to take on a dual nanny/family assistant role. See our article on 14 Unique Nanny Duties That Have Nothing To Do With Childcare for more ideas on the types of household management tasks you can ask your nanny to take on (with proper compensation, of course!).
Proxy Tip: When it comes to creating your nanny’s schedule for when you go back to work after maternity leave, start by defining your work schedule. Beyond the hours you’re on the clock, make sure to also include travel and transition time back into the house, time to work out, go on a walk, or whatever makes you feel less rushed. Then, build support around that.
Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Protect Your Time On The Calendar
Being intentional with your time is key to staying organized and having any semblance of work-life balance once you’re a parent, and especially when you’re going back to work after maternity leave. I’ve found the best way to ensure something is treated like a priority is to put it on the calendar the way you would any important meeting.
On the work side of things, block out time on your calendar for pumping and any childcare logistics so those slots don’t get filled with meetings.
On the parenting side of things, I recommend creating a shared family calendar if you don’t have one already. This will centralize communication around schedules between you, your partner, and your nanny or other caregiver. My partner and I go over the calendar every Friday during our weekly meeting.
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Outside of work and parenting duties, make sure you’re scheduling some time for self-care each week.
“I will schedule [self-care]. I will actually block off my calendar,” CNN anchor and mom of two, Laura Coates, told Essence. She said she has to be very intentional about creating a little time for herself each week, or she will end up depleted. (I completely agree!)
In those early months with a newborn, they are sleeping so much that you should be able to fit in some “me time.” Once they are sleeping through the night and on a schedule, then I highly recommend getting up at 5 am for a guaranteed hour of “me time” before the rest of the household gets up. You can do anything you want during that time. I have a yoga instructor come to my house two times a week in the morning. Other days, I’ll read or color my mandalas.
Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Strategize With Your Partner
Besides talking to your boss, you definitely want to plan a time to talk to your partner about your return to work after maternity leave. Here are the two main things to make sure you discuss: who’s on call and what extra support you both will need at home.
1. Backup Care Ownership
Talk with your partner about which days of the week each of you is "on call" for backup care in case your nanny is out or your child is sick and needs to stay home or go to a doctor’s appointment.
In our house, my partner is the one "on call" on Tuesday and Thursday when I'm in the office. The other days I'm available to step in.
There are awesome companies that can help with backup care day of, that we've vetted through Proxy for exactly this reason. It doesn't mean one parent won't still need to be "on call" and willing to adjust their schedule until relief arrives, but there are options to help accommodate this real-life situation.
2. Invest In Support
Consider what support you can put in place at home so neither parent gets burned out. This is in addition to the conversation around childcare that I mentioned above. Most likely, your partner still works, so I've found that it's less about them sharing the load with you during this stage, and more about outsourcing those tasks that neither of you wants or has time to do once you’re also back at work after maternity leave.
Think about what your biggest pain points are. What are the tasks that both of you dread doing or simply don’t have the time for? Maybe it’s meal planning, laundry, or booking everyone’s doctor appointments.
You can text Proxy — (820) 732-2625 — what you’re struggling with, and we can suggest ways you can outsource it. You might be surprised by some of the services that exist! For example, you could hire a family assistant who helps out 4 hours a day with afternoon school pickup and meal prep. Or, start using mobile services for your wellness and beauty appointments so that you save on drive time.
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Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Prepare Emotionally
The transition back to work after maternity leave will have its ups and downs emotionally. Give yourself permission to feel conflicted. You might be excited to return and miss your baby simultaneously — both feelings are completely normal.
Setting realistic expectations for what you can accomplish during your first few months back at the office is key to setting yourself up for success. Now isn’t the time for stretch assignments. Those first three months back are about figuring out how to be functional as both a mother and a professional. Focus on creating your new normal.
Most importantly, I recommend waiting at least 6 weeks after returning to work before making any major career decisions. The first few weeks back are an adjustment period, and your perspective will likely shift. Don’t make a rash decision that you might regret later on. These first few weeks will not feel like “balance,” but eventually work-life balance will feel more natural.
On the personal side, be aware of the coping mechanisms you’re using during these challenging times, especially when it comes ot “mommy wine culture.” I found that cutting back on alcohol helped me stay connected and have more quality time with my kids, husband, and myself. If you’re interested in rethinking your relationship with alcohol as a mom, I highly recommend reading It’s Not About The Wine by Celeste Yvonne — another great book that made my list of the best books for first time moms.
Proxy Tip: Talking to a therapist during this transition period can be a great way to process all the emotions you’re feeling. If you don’t already have a therapist you like, we’ve vetted some amazing perinatal mental health specialists through Proxy.
Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Invest In Yourself
Pregnancy and childbirth take a serious toll on the body. Doing things to pamper and reset yourself will help you feel like your best self when you go back to work after maternity leave. Here are a few things I recommend doing ahead of time.
- Clean Out Your Closet: Clear out most of your maternity gear, and create 5-7 work outfits that you actually feel good in. This will help simplify morning decisions. If that sounds overwhelming, consider hiring a personal stylist to help modify your closet so you can find clothes that feel good on your current body and that actually fit. We’ve vetted a few personal styling services through Proxy — including stylists who specialize in postpartum styling.
- Schedule Beauty & Wellness Appointments: Get a haircut, manicure, facial, massage — whatever helps you relax and feel put together. At this point, you might be itching to leave the house, but after your maternity leave ends, you might want to consider mobile beauty or wellness services for self-care moving forward. Having professionals come to your house saves a TON of drive time and can be more comfortable.
- Create An Efficient Beauty Routine: This will make getting ready in the morning as a busy working mom so much easier. Things like microblading your brows, getting lash extensions, or doing laser hair removal can all help you save time in the morning.
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Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave: Use a Thinking Partner
Proxy is a thinking partner for home life. It was created to help busy parents delegate with confidence, get support at home, and stop overthinking things so they can actually have quality time with their family and experience the joyful moments of parenthood.
Subscribing to a thinking partner, like Proxy, before you go back to work after maternity leave is a great investment in your future sanity. Proxy can help busy working mothers delegate more effectively in two ways:
1. Delegate The Thinking:
Proxy can help you think through any questions you have about going back to work after maternity leave, parenting, your relationship, outsourcing, etc. Seriously, anything you are overthinking, wondering about, debating with your partner, or about to Google, you can ask Proxy instead.
Here are some examples of questions we’ve gotten lately:
- What temperature is best for newborn bath?
- My three month old baby is sucking her thumb a lot all of a sudden. Is this normal?
- How do you transition from work to home and get in the right mindset for the kids after a long ass day of work?
Text us — (820) 732-2625— what’s on your mind, and we'll respond in 2 minutes or less with expert guidance and recommended next steps. Our goal is to be a trusted source that helps parents not get stuck in the analysis paralysis phase.
2. Delegate The Doing
On top of providing guidance, Proxy can also help you find and hire the support or service you need as you go back to work after maternity leave.
Proxy maintains a curated network of providers we’ve personally vetted — services we’d feel comfortable using for our own families. We only recommend partners based on quality, never commissions.
We can recommend full or part-time help, as well as one-off or pay-as-you-go options for short-term needs — or for dipping your toes into the water before committing to something more permanent. To get started, you can text us what you need — (820) 732-2625 — or take our quick quiz, and we’ll match you with the best vetted options in your area that fit your budget and needs (both options are free).
Even if you decide to use a service outside of our network, we can still help you pinpoint your pain points and identify what type of help will have the biggest impact on reducing your stress. There are so many services and types of help out there that you may not even realize exist!
Here are just a few examples of some of the support Proxy can help you hire to free up time when you go back to work after maternity leave, along with an estimate of the number of hours it can save you per month:
- In-home mobile beauty & wellness services (6 hours)
- Meal prep chef (28 hours)
- Pharmacy delivery (1 hour)
- Personal stylist for professional women (2.5 hours)
- Dog walking service (4 hours)
- Dry cleaning delivery service (1 hour)
- Errand runner (2 hours)
- Help with computer-related tasks, ie) booking appointments and basic research (1 hour)
Total Potential Hours Saved: 45.5
Returning back to work after maternity leave requires emotional planning, household support, workplace clarity, and a realistic view of your capacity. With the right systems and partners in place, your transition back to work can feel intentional instead of overwhelming.
And if you love Proxy, start a conversation with your HR department about adding Proxy as an employee benefit or submit a reimbursement form.
FAQs: Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave
Quick answers to common questions we get from moms about going back to work after maternity leave.
How should I prepare to go back to work after maternity leave?
Start preparing 2–4 weeks before your return. Finalize childcare, talk with your manager about expectations and logistics, block time in your calendar for pumping and transitions, and set up support at home so your workload doesn’t double overnight. Small steps ahead of time make the first few weeks much easier.
What should I talk to my manager about before I return?
Key topics include: your return date, schedule, pumping accommodations, expectations for the first 30–60 days, and any team or company updates that happened while you were out. Clarifying this early reduces stress and helps you ease back into work intentionally. This is also when you have the most negotiating power, so think about what your ideal situation is for returning to work before you get on the call.
When should I start childcare before returning to work?
Have your nanny start care, at a minimum, one week before going back to work. This gives the caregiver time to bond with your baby, gives you practice leaving the house, and allows your home routines to settle before your first day back.
Is it normal to feel anxious about going back to work after maternity leave?
Yes. Most parents feel a mix of excitement, guilt, relief, and sadness. These feelings can coexist. Experts often recommend giving yourself at least six weeks back at work before making any big career decisions, because your perspective will shift as you settle into a new rhythm. Feel free to text Proxy — (820) 732-2625 — what you are feeling, and we will respond — judgement-free — with clear, actionable next steps.
How can I manage pumping at work when I return?
Block pumping time in your calendar the same way you’d block a meeting. Secure a private, comfortable location, and talk with your manager or HR if you need accommodations. Many parents find that scheduling pumping times before their calendar fills up prevents last-minute conflicts. Or consider weaning and only feeding bottles. Emily Oster has done a ton of research on this subject, and I’d encourage you to read her book Crib Sheet for more details. (It’s also on our list of the Top 10 Books For First-Time Moms.)
How do I balance work and parenting after maternity leave?
Protecting your time is key to achieving work-life balance as a parent . Block time for work, for parenting, and for yourself. Establish “on call” days with your partner for sick days or schedule disruptions, simplify your morning routines, and consider outsourcing tasks you both dread so you aren’t carrying two full-time jobs. If you’re not sure which tasks will have the biggest impact — meal prep, errands, scheduling, or something else — Proxy can help you identify what to delegate and suggest vetted options that fit your budget and lifestyle.
What should I expect emotionally during the first few weeks back?
The first two to three weeks are usually the hardest — your body is still recovering, your baby is still young, and you’re adjusting to a new identity as a working parent. Fatigue, tears, and moments of overwhelm are common. Having a relationship with your baby’s caretaker helps tremendously, which is why I suggest hiring a nanny earlier than you’d think so that you have time to bond with her and feel more comfortable with who is caring for your child while you are at work.
What types of support help most when returning to work after maternity leave?
Time-saving support can make a major difference: meal prep help, mobile beauty services, childcare backup options, pharmacy delivery, dog walking, a family assistant for household tasks, and simplified morning routines. Even outsourcing one recurring task can free up hours and reduce decision fatigue. If you’re unsure what to outsource or where the biggest time drains will show up, you can text Proxy — (820) 732-2625 — to help you think through a simple, realistic plan for the first few weeks back.
How do I make mornings easier when I go back to work after maternity leave?
Hire a night nurse for a few nights so that you have uninterrupted sleep or at least a minimal wake window to feed. A night nurse can also prep pump parts, bottles, bags, and your lunch. They can even starting a crockpot for dinner before they leave in the early morning so that dinner is one less thing you have to think about. Creating 5–7 go-to work outfits, streamlining your beauty routine, and keeping mornings predictable also makes a huge difference during the early weeks back at the office after maternity leave.
What if I don’t feel ready to go back to work?
Many new parents feel this way, and it’s not a sign that you can’t succeed at work. Identify where the overwhelm is coming from — emotional, logistical, or support-related — and address it piece by piece. Building the right support system at home often makes the transition feel far more manageable, and Proxy can help you think through that for free.
