Her · Work
Back to work, and still her mom.
A gentle plan for the first weeks back: easing in, choosing care you trust, knowing your rights, and making room for every feeling.
It's the end of your first day back. You walk through the door, or pull up to the curb, and there she is. Her whole face lights up, her arms reach for you, and every hour apart melts into that one sweet hello. Reunions like this are one of the quiet joys of being a working mom.
Whether you work in an office, a hospital, a classroom, a warehouse, a truck cab or your own small business, going back after baby is a big step. A little planning makes it softer for both of you.
Ease into the first weeks
If you can, talk with your manager before your leave ends about how you'll come back. Some moms start part-time at first or try split shifts. Even one short week can help everyone adjust.
Do a few practice runs before your first real day. Leave your baby with her caregiver for an hour, then a morning, so she gets to know them while you're still close by. Try your morning routine once or twice, too, from wake-up to drop-off, so the real day holds fewer surprises.
Choosing care you trust
There are a few main kinds of child care, and each family's right fit looks different.
- Child care centers. Larger programs, usually in a commercial building, with children grouped by age and a director and staff.
- Family child care homes. A small group of children cared for in the provider's own home, often by one or two caregivers, sometimes with hours outside the usual workday.
- A nanny or in-home caregiver. Care in your own home, focused on your baby.
- Family, friends and neighbors. A grandparent, aunt or trusted friend. This kind of care often has fewer regulations, so talk through expectations openly.
When you visit, notice how caregivers talk to the babies. Then ask your questions: How many babies does each caregiver look after? Where and how do babies sleep? How will you feed my baby, and how will you tell me about her day? What happens when a child is sick?
For licensed programs, you can check their record. Every state and territory inspects licensed child care programs in person and must post inspection reports online. ChildCare.gov links to each state's resources, so you can look up a program's inspection history, including any health and safety violations and how they were corrected.
Your rights if you pump at work
If you're feeding your baby breast milk, federal law has your back. Under the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, most nursing workers are entitled to:
- Reasonable break time to pump, each time you need to, for one year after your baby's birth.
- A private space that is not a bathroom, shielded from view and free from intrusion.
Break time can be unpaid if you're completely relieved from duty. If your employer already offers paid breaks and you pump during one, you're paid the same way as everyone else. If you pump while working, that time must be paid. Some small employers with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt if it would cause them undue hardship.
Understanding FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period, including to bond with a newborn within one year of birth. Your group health coverage continues on the same terms while you're out.
You're generally eligible if you've worked for a covered employer for at least 12 months, have at least 1,250 hours of service in the 12 months before your leave, and work at a location where your employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles. Your state may offer more, so check with your state labor department, too.
The one thing to remember
Ask early. Talk with your manager or HR before your leave ends about your schedule, your pumping space if you need one, and any leave you still have. Clear plans make the first week calmer.
A feeding plan that fits your family
Every feeding choice can work with going back to work. If you're breastfeeding, practice pumping or hand expressing several days or weeks before you return, and pump around the times your baby would usually eat. Make sure your caregiver will feed her your pumped milk, and nurse her right away at pickup if you like. If you're formula feeding or combining, share her usual amounts and timing with her caregiver so her days feel familiar.
Whatever you choose, your baby will still know your arms best.
Caring for your feelings
You might feel relief, guilt, excitement and sadness all in one morning. All of it is normal. Give yourself a few weeks to settle in. Keep a photo of her nearby, plan an easy dinner for the first nights, and protect your evenings for cuddles.
If sadness or worry won't lift, or it's getting harder to get through the day, call your doctor or midwife.
The first Friday
At the end of your first week, you'll look back and realize you did it. She's thriving, you're finding your rhythm, and that hello at pickup is still the best part of the day.
You've got this, Mama. Working mom, loving mom, and both at once.
Decide together who does what, and see how your days are shared.
Where this comes from
This article draws on guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office on Women's Health. It's here to help, not to replace your own doctor, midwife or pediatrician. If you have questions, ask them.
- FLSA Protections to Pump at Work, U.S. Department of Labor
- Fact Sheet #73: FLSA Protections for Employees to Pump Breast Milk at Work, U.S. Department of Labor
- Family and Medical Leave Act, U.S. Department of Labor
- Breastfeeding and going back to work, Office on Women's Health
- Monitoring and Inspections, ChildCare.gov
- Types of Child Care, Child Care Aware of America