Stephanie Kramer
How to Navigate a Return to Work
Before Going on Maternity Leave “Pregnancy is work, but as you build your career while you grow your family, it is more than a milestone. It is monumental. The intersection of work and pregnancy is significant, and its importance is something to recognize, to normalize and to celebrate.” ~ Stephanie Kramer, author of Carry Strong: An Empowered Approach to Navigating Pregnancy and Work With the right support and thoughtful planning, it can be very powerful to unburden your confidence, broaden your perspective and unlock your potential for the journey to working motherhood (and through it). I’m here to discuss the why and how of anticipating your return to work after baby while you’re still pregnant. “Anticipate” is the key word. Your needs and feelings will likely change when baby arrives, but understanding the possibilities and preparing now helps you see options, when needed, with clarity. This includes assessing your boundaries and current work environment, which helps downregulate the feelings of a looming return to work before going on maternity leave and focus on what you’re looking forward to with your growing family.
Beyond transitioning work responsibilities, preparing coworkers and celebrating this mega moment (take a photo at work!), there are three things to do before going on maternity leave to empower your journey of becoming a working mom.
Do a Walk Through Physically walk through your workday while pregnant, imagining yourself with baby. Start with when you wake up and contemplate each portion of your day until you’re back home (or if you work from home, when you switch off your “day job”). Think about what you may need throughout the day (and who), but also how you may feel. Be as detailed as possible, making lists as you go. Ask questions now to relieve what’s on your mind. For example, what does your commute look like and how will that need to change? When you’re at work, is there a mother’s room available, should you be breastfeeding and need
8 • SanDiegofamily.com • Baby & Toddlers Guide 2023
to pump? Is it somewhere that needs to be reserved? Where will milk be stored? Go into detail. Are there services available if you need to travel? Beyond logistics, what are expectations outside of work hours for how you check in (or not)—assess your own boundaries and work responsibilities. What will you need to do if they change after maternity leave?
Ask for a Review Regardless of formal review process timing, meet with your boss or manager (if you have one) with the purpose of obtaining feedback, versus only discussing off-boarding or timeline for maternity leave. Discuss your performance on day-to-day tasks, long-term plans or projects and your value as a teammate. This provides a checkpoint, not about your pregnancy, but to know where you stand at work before it becomes a distant priority for a little
