For those out there who are worrying about returning to work there are a few things I would suggest that worked for me and other things that I learned by trial and error. The week before returning to work I talked with my husband (who would be the stay at home care giver) and made a plan with what time we would get up, go to bed etc. Now a newborn on a schedule doesn't happen but if you try to make a schedule and just go with the flow it is do able and your little one will adapt. Mine now wants to sleep when we sleep at night (not all night, but it's a start).
My manager is really understanding of the need to feed our little babies, he has a room with a lock for us and we have a little door sign that says "Privacy Please, Pumping in Progress". He also is not worried about how long we take. That has been such a blessing, I've noticed when I have a plugged duct it takes a lot longer to pump.
Other things that have changed which I expected to change were what my day to day job duties would be. I was very protective of my job before I left and was very reluctant to train my fill in on everything. I wanted to keep a few things that only I knew how to do. Well I think the office used my leave of absence as an excuse to give my job duties permanently to another employee. I did retain some, but they just don't fill up all the hours in the day. In exchange I was given more technical work to do (computer maintenance, ATM maintenance and troubleshooting etc). As well as a raise, which made it a bit easier to move forward. That also reminded me that I didn't fail at my job duties before leave, I was being recognized for those things I do well and was being rewarded with work that I love to do that also has advancement.
I prayed about letting go of those things I was protecting at work, letting someone else take care of them and succeed. I prayed to be okay with what ever new job duties came for me when I returned. My maternity leave was pretty typical of most American Mom's in that I returned to work a lot sooner. I took 6 weeks off to be with my baby and then returned to work part time for 6 weeks, then full time after that. Those days at home were very precious to me and each day when I come home from work I get to see those big blue eyes and smiling face. Anya gets so excited to see me when I get home. I warms my heart and makes everything I do and struggle with worth it.
Bottom line, returning to work is scary but it doesn't have to be. Make a plan before you return and do some practice runs with your morning routine. Cherish those moments you have at home, but know that you are providing for your family.
