Life does continue after Maternity Leave

We are aware that you have several questions that need to be addressed in addition to basking in the glory of being a future mother-to-be.  “What’s next for my career?” is the first thought that comes to mind if you’re a working woman.

Will you balance it all, continue working, become a part-time employee instead of a full-time one, or do you want to?
While those more important decisions require time – thoughtful consideration, and consideration of your support system after having a kid,
maternity leave is currently the most pressing issue.

It can be exciting to tell your loved ones that you are expecting a child. However, it’s possible that your coworkers won’t show the same amount of passion or support. After all, they must devise a practical means to survive without you for the upcoming few months

Returning to work, after maternity leave, can be an anxiety ridden phase as well. You have to re-engage in the workforce while also keeping your infant in mind, at all times.

Getting used to your new situation could take some time.

Maternity leave is frequently portrayed as a wonderful, idealistic period to spend with your newborn child. While you’re “off work,” your worries from your regular life vanish, and saying anything otherwise is still considered taboo.

So much so that research found that 30% of new mothers didn’t appreciate their maternity leave as much as they anticipated.

Only 12 weeks (if you’re lucky) make up the average maternity leave, and you’ll be thinking about how little time that is, all the time. And this only makes matters worse.

Whether we like it or not, our occupations frequently enter our mental landscape. Are people missing you? Have you been replaced? When you get back, will everything be in a complete mess?
You fight to recall who you were and what you were thinking before your child was born, to have a sense of self, and to remember your identity.

A survey by the Genpact Centre for Women’s Leadership found that by the time they are 30 years old, half of working women in India quit their employment to care for their children. Even among those who do succeed in going back, a sizable portion leaves the workforce again within the first four months. Only 27% of women advance in their jobs and remain in the workforce after having children, according to the survey. Only 16% of women who return to work go on to achieve senior leadership roles.

Maternity leave causes a lack of self-confidence that ultimately led me to accept a position at a lower level than I had been. It was difficult to find childcare, and it was difficult to ensure that you had a strong enough support system.
Personal reasons, such as but not limited to pregnancy, childbirth, taking care of children or the elderly, typically compel more women than men to take a work pause. The failure to achieve anticipated career development or progress is another factor.

For instance, A lady with a successful corporate profession who made the decision to have children in her early 30s. “This is a typical age when opportunities for leadership and management jobs arise for career women working in corporate environments. Given the travel requirements for a leadership position, I did step back and chose to concentrate on parenting my son instead. I was keen to return and regain financial independence after he turned three,” she recalls. Reality however, bit hard.

The harsh truth is that being on maternity leave is difficult job. There shouldn’t be any shame in admitting that maternity leave is difficult. That having a child is exhausting and that you don’t cherish every minute of it.

We need to start discussing maternity leave and everything that it entails more openly. It’s acceptable to admit that you adore your new baby but don’t love your new life just yet.

 You are left alone at home with a picky little boss, no hand-over instructions, and no predecessor to ask for assistance.

Being a new mother may still be incredibly isolating.

According to statistics, a staggering 59% of mothers reported feeling lonely, while 49% felt compelled to be complimentary about their time with their child. This is supported by a ComRes survey.

It’s not a vacation; it’s a work. And a challenging one at that. We dress it up as being a holiday filled with nothing but hugs and coffee mornings. There aren’t many careers where you’re on call morning, noon, and night, 24/7, without holidays. when, a lot of manual labour is done while getting little sleep.

 Preparation is always key.

And preparation should start months before the maternity leave begins

Talk To Other Mothers

Experience is always the best teacher, right? Read up on the topic of taking a maternity vacation, join communities and speak to other women who have.
The advice and tricks you will learn from them are unmatched.

Women must stay connected, relevant, and inspired during this important stage of their personal and professional lives. 

It’s usual to always juggle your work and the infant because our brain won’t ever shut out your work. However, you can make sure that you foster both with the correct preparation and assistance.

The last thing you want to do is stress over paperwork. So, well in advance of your due date, find a coworker who has experience with maternity leave, take her out to lunch, and ask her about the policies around medical leave at your workplace. Make your life simpler and attempt to do so before bringing the baby home because there are many hoops to clear.

Be kind to yourself

It’s okay if not everything can be resolved. Finding solutions that are realistic, making sure your stress doesn’t harm the baby, and looking after your health should all come before driving yourself insane. It’s a lot, and it’s acceptable for things to be imperfect. You’re doing fantastic. Breathe. Smile. And sip on that water.

Don’t berate yourself for your anxiety. With the baby’s arrival just around the corner, how else could you possibly feel? The secret is to channel that anxiety into planning for your new life: Prepare meals in two servings and freeze half for later. To prepare for labour and delivery, pack an overnight bag for the hospital, reread the information you learned in your childbirth education class, and visit the maternity ward.

Be practical.

 Be realistic about what can be accomplished. During your maternity leave, make a list of everything you want to accomplish. It’s sobering for a woman to examine her expectations and lay them bare. Most of us are shocked by how harsh we are on ourselves. When you’re through making your list, ask yourself: “Who is it I’m trying to please with these expectations?” “Where do the expectations come from?” “How realistic are they?” Sort over your responses, then make an effort to cross out as many as you can from your list.

Certain tasks must be completed, of course. Therefore, it’s crucial to ask for assistance. Make a list of the tasks you do each week, such as cooking, food shopping, stopping at the bank, etc. For each entry, “attempt to think of someone who might assume that task for you.”

People truly feel better when they are helping out, and you can do the same for them if they ever need it.

After maternity…

Staying at home with a new baby is a significant change for women who are accustomed to having a lot of structure in their careers, since babies don’t really have a routine, the erratic days and nights can make a new mother crazy.
When you’re going to sleep, you never know. Getting a meal might be difficult. You start to feel incompetent suddenly. This little bundle you’ve been waiting for can truly throw you off your game.

It’s very normal to need some time to get comfortable in your new position.
Its natural to be slow to get comfortable.
“I grew sluggish in my work, which can be annoying. “

“Give yourself two months before things start becoming normal.”

Giving yourself some time to adjust is the best course of action here rather than killing yourself trying to excel at both motherhood and employment.
Give yourself two months before things start becoming normal. Even if there is nothing you can do to stop you from worrying for your child, having a trustworthy system in place at home where someone is watching over your child can help you relax.

Research other options, such as a day-care facility that is close to work, if you don’t have the option of turning to your parents or other family members. This will ensure that you know your child is being well-cared for.
Asking for assistance is not a sign of weakness; you will need it because this is a difficult situation.

Don’t feel guilty; remember it takes a village to raise a child.

You might occasionally need to focus on both your career and your child. Setting aside time for both is the ideal approach. Establish a set “connection time” for checking in with your business while your infant is being cared for by a relative or domestic helper in order to avoid replying to work emails at 3 AM. If you don’t want to be an exhausted, sleep-deprived mother 24/7/365, avoid the error of working while your child is resting. When the infant goes to sleep, you should too. Your health depends on sleep; it’s not a luxury.

More ways than you may think, having a child alters your life. Momtrepreneurs often concur that after having a child, their perspective changed. You will discover that you are taking on fewer projects—choosing quality over quantity—that you are connecting differently with your team and your clients, and that your business vision has changed as well.
“I enjoy having regular conversations with my coworkers during my coffee breaks. But after having a baby, I became more productive and focused,” claims Sunita. I had to leave work at a specific hour and account for the time it took for me to pump. So I just eliminated anything that wasn’t required and concentrated on doing my work and getting out of here on time.

Furthermore, keep in mind that you are returning after a break of at least six months, so you should give yourself and your team some time to settle in again. Given that things may have changed at your place of employment in the last six months, you might have to start your work from scratch from a contextual understand