Returning to work after 6 months meternity leave

[Mumtobe888]

hello,
im just after some advice really… I’m returning to work in mid July for 3 days a week and my little one will be 6 months old. The thought of this makes me feel sick, I don’t want to leave him but it’s not an option not to go back to work. Has anyone else gone back to work after 6 months and how did you find it? My work are also saying I’m allowed to work part time for 6 months but after that they want me there full time so 5 days a week half 8 till 5 which is making me feel even worse as hell only be one year old in nursery 5 days a week all day!

I've just gone back to work after 6 months' mat leave too, so I understand the nerves! I chose to go back early as I go stir-crazy being at home, and DP was very keen to do shared parental leave.

I'm doing a staggered return, I usually work 12hr shifts so they're gradually building up the hours I work over the course of a month.

I admit I felt sick going back. A lot has changed in my office, and people are getting disciplinaries with harsh consequences for quite minor things (that's another story). DP's paternity pay is awful, so the sense of responsibility I feel being the main earner is huge. I feel very pressured by it, especially as I had awful PND that hasn't quite gone away yet.

I miss the baby terribly, but in a way it's nice to miss him, as I'm so excited to see him when I get home!

You'll be fine OP. Make sure you keep your manager in the loop about how you're feeling, hopefully they'll work with you to make the transition easier. Good luck!

Was this the plan all along or did you plan to have longer off and are having to adjust to the new plan?

Have you requested permanent part time contract and it's been declined or are work being flexible and it's a good thing you're allowed to be per time at the start? Just make sure you and work are very clear what this means in terms of salary/holiday/pension/bonus etc.

On a practical level a baby in nursery 5 days per week is achievable, you & your partner will need to be super organised with getting ready, who is doing drop off/pick up, who has time off when your baby inevitably gets a bug and is sent home etc, but it's totally doable!

I started a new job when my little one was 4 months old. Was never the plan but finances made me go for it. It was part time, 3 days a week.
Luckily my baby was mostly a good sleeper. Missed him like crazy but I made sure we were together on the other days.

I went back full time at 7 months. It's fine, don't panic. Millions of people do it and your baby will adjust. It is really hard to start with, juggling everything, but it does get easier. It took about 6 months for me to start finding it manageable and not feeling like I was failing at the very turn! Don't put too much pressure on yourself, just try and get through each week (or day!), to start with. And accept any help/support offered to you. It will be okay :)

I went back full time after 6 months with my first (and then 5 and 4 months with my younger ones, with my husband taking shared parental leave with the youngest). I enjoy my job and I always planned a short mat leave. It was fine, honestly- more than fine- a bit tiring at first and I probably wasn't my best self either at work or at home- but I was soon back into the swing with a new routine. A phased return is a great idea to get back into it. Keep a good dialogue with your manager and HR if needed- also have a plan about who will take the inevitable sick days!. My DC were all in nursery full time from 6 months - I got to know other parents there with little ones in full time as well- it's not that unusual despite what you might hear from some people. Choosing a nursery setting where mine weren't the only little ones in full time (or most of the time) was important to me. We also really made sure we made the most of weekends and holidays.