Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

Going back to work after maternity leave was harder for me than becoming a new mom.

I spent so much of my pregnancy mentally preparing myself for having a baby, knowing it would be both the happiest time but also hardest time in my life, that when it all started to play out, I just went with it. Having a Type A personality, I definitely worried about how I would do with the lack of control, unpredictability and uncertainty of it all. But because I expected it to be that way, I actually ended up managing a lot better than I thought I would. Now, I don’t want to minimize in any way the postpartum experience or make it seem like it was a breeze for me, because it wasn’t. But because I expected it not to be, I adjusted to this new chapter in my life a lot easier than I anticipated.

What caught me completely off guard a year later was returning back to work after being on maternity leave for 14 months. The anxiety, the guilt, the feelings of inadequacy all started to hit me, which felt like a year too late. Shouldn’t I feel more adjusted? Secure? I mean, I’d been a mom for over a year, I thought I would finally be starting to get the hang of it all. But that’s just the thing. I had settled into my new norm as a mom, that starting yet another new chapter completely overwhelmed me and I felt so uncomfortable trying to amalgamate my old working life with my new mom life.

I’ve been back to work for just over a month now and my feelings are finally starting to settle. One thing that got me through those really difficult days was telling myself that this is just a phase and like everything else, I’ll make it through it. When I remind myself that I won’t feel like this or be like this forever, everything starts to feel more manageable again.  It also really helped to surround myself with supportive peers and other working moms that knew exactly what I was going through, having been through it themselves. So if you’re a mom, returning back to work and are struggling, I see you. Take it one day at a time and give yourself grace. If you’re a woman, a man, a person, going through a difficult phase or chapter in life, this too shall pass. Surround yourself with people that care about you and take it easy on yourself. You will make it through <3.


Speaking of returning to work, I’m sharing one of my favorite back to work outfits with Le Chateau. This coat has been one of my favorites ever since the temperature dropped as it goes with everything!

You can shop my look here: