My Honest Experience & Tips
Returning to work after maternity leave can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. One minute you’re excited to use your brain again and have adult conversations, and the next you’re filled with worry about leaving your baby. You might be wondering …… Will I still fit into work life? How will I manage everything?
And that phrase we hear so often—work-life balance—suddenly feels more important (and more challenging) than ever.
I wanted to share my personal experience, along with a few tips that helped me prepare for this big transition.
Maternity Leave: A Beautiful but Challenging Time
My maternity leave has been such a special time, but not without its challenges.
I was lucky enough to have 12 months off work, which I know isn’t the case for everyone. Some mums return after just 3 to 6 months due to financial circumstances.
But no matter how long you have, I truly believe the emotions are the same—guilt, anxiety, excitement, and everything in between.
Planning Childcare Early
One of the biggest questions you’ll face is:
Who will look after your baby when you return to work?
This is something I’d really recommend thinking about early on. Having a plan in place allowed me to actually enjoy my maternity leave, rather than constantly worrying about what would happen later.
Our Childcare Plan
For Millie, we created a routine that worked for our family:
- 2 days with grandparents
- 2 days at nursery
- 1 day shared between me and Rob (using annual leave)
💡 Tip: You still accumulate holiday while on maternity leave, so make sure to factor that in.
Choosing Between Nursery, Childminder and Family
There are so many options when it comes to childcare—nurseries, childminders, or family support—and every family will choose differently.
I started looking at nurseries when Millie was around 8 weeks old. It might seem early, but it gave me time to feel confident in the decision.
In the end, we chose the same nursery her older sister attended. That familiarity made such a difference— many of the staff were still there and even remembered us, which instantly reassured me.
I completed the forms and paid a refundable deposit to secure her place.
Although I did consider a childminder (especially after meeting some lovely ones at baby groups), the nursery felt like the right fit for us.
The Emotional Countdown to Returning to Work
As part of my “keeping in touch” days, I spoke with my boss and confirmed my return date.
Suddenly, everything felt very real.
The countdown had begun—and so had the mix of emotions.
On one hand, I was looking forward to:
- Getting back into a routine
- Having adult conversations
- Feeling like me again outside of being “mum”
On the other hand, I felt:
- Sad about leaving Millie
- Anxious about the change
- Like I was losing a kind of freedom
It sounds strange to say, but maternity leave has its own rhythm—and stepping away from that is a big adjustment.
What Helped Me Prepare
Here are a few things that made the transition easier:
✔️ Plan childcare early
It takes pressure off later and gives you peace of mind.
✔️ Use keeping in touch days
They help you ease back into work without feeling thrown in.
✔️ Be kind to yourself
This is a huge life change—emotionally and physically.
✔️ Accept that it’s okay to feel conflicted
You can miss your baby and enjoy being back at work.
Final Thoughts
Returning to work after maternity leave isn’t just about going back to your job—it’s about adjusting to a completely new version of life.
There’s no perfect way to do it. No perfect plan. Just what works for you and your family.
If you’re about to go through this transition, know that your feelings are valid, and you’re not alone in them.
It takes time—but you will find your balance.
Let’s Connect
If you’re going through this stage, I’d love to hear from you—how are you feeling about returning to work?
