Returning to work after having a baby

Returning to work after having a baby can be confusing and it gets even more confusing and stressful if like me, you’re self-employed and you don’t have anyone to answer to, but yourself. You see, for self-employed people and small business owners, maternity leave is often not an option.

When I got pregnant, I was adamant that I would carry on working over my maternity period, but the truth is towards the end of my pregnancy my brain wasn’t in a place where I could continue pitching for work and new clients. I was technically on maternity leave but in some ways, I never left because I was still creating content for my social media platforms (mainly Instagram), negotiating contracts, replying to emails, etc.

In the weeks following my son’s birth, I barely had time to eat, never mind attempting to get back to work. Fast forward 1o weeks, I am ready to get back in the ring again. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to work from home as I certainly don’t feel emotionally ready to leave my little one with a complete stranger.

With a newborn, working from home takes on new meaning – and new challenges. I am now learning to work in short blocks of time while Noah is napping or playing in his bouncer – it’s not easy to move from changing diapers to dealing with deadlines and back again, but I try not to stress or panic and stay calm and positive.

If you can, consider returning to work on a part-time basis so you can get used to being away from your baby and to your new routine.

It’s also worth asking your employer if they’re willing to let you work from home one or two days a week to make the transition easier.

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Whether you’re employed or freelance, see your return as a career opportunity. Though it may not happen in the early weeks or even months of your return, once you are completely settled into life as a working mum, you’ll notice that you’re more efficient as you’ve most definitely acquired a whole set of new skills from becoming a parent. You’ve got this, mama!

How did you feel returning to work after having a baby? Let me know in the comment section below.

Fie ca ai ramas doar cateva saptamani acasa sau intreaga perioada disponibila pentru concediul de maternitate, intoarcerea la serviciu poate parea un pic stresanta si infricosatoare – cu atat mai mult daca esti liber intreprinzator, asa cum sunt eu. Concediul de maternitate nu este intotdeauna o optiune, daca ne referim strict la mamicile care desfasoara activitati independente.

Cu toate ca la inceput mi-am propus sa lucrez pe toata perioada sarcinii, adevarul este ca spre final am inceput sa obosesc si nu m-am mai simtit capabila sa creez content sau sa negociez contracte, campanii, etc. Oficial in tot acest timp am fost in concediu de maternitate, dar in realitate am continuat sa fiu activa pe retelele de socializare (mai ales pe Instagram). Acum, sunt gata sa imi reiau activitatea!

Iata cateva sfaturi utile pentru a face intoarcerea la job cat mai usoara si placuta.

Bucura-te de pauze si fii pozitiva! Sa lucrezi de acasa cu un nou nascut este o adevarata provocare. Programul urmeaza sa ti se schimbe radical – fii pregatita sa iei multe pauze! Eu reusesc sa lucrez doar atunci cand Noah doarme sau se joaca. Nu este usor sa schimbi scutece in timp ce negociezi un contract, dar am invatat sa am rabdare si sa fiu pozitiva (nu imi iese mereu, dar incerc pe cat posibil sa nu ma stresez).

Incepe, preferabil, sa lucrezi part-time – asa te obisnuiesti cu programul, cu trezitul la o anumita ora si cu munca in sine. De asemenea, poti intreba angajatorul daca este dispus sa te lase sa lucrezi de acasa o zi, doua pe saptamana pentru a facilita tranzitia. In curand vei vedea totul ca pe o continuare naturala a stilului tau de viata, iti promit!

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Fie ca esti angajata sau lucrezi pe cont propriu, incearca sa vezi aceasta pauza ca pe o noua oportunitate din viata ta. Lasa teama deoparte si vino la servici dornica sa inveti si sa dai tot ce ai mai bun. Cu siguranta iti vei impresiona sefii, vechii si noii colegi!

Revenirea la serviciu după concediul de maternitate este un pas important in viata multor femei. Fiecare trebuie sa isi gasească echilibrul intre cariera si familie, iar cu perseverenta si multa rabdare, cu siguranta vei reusi si tu. Iti tin pumnii!

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