Post your going back to work tips here

[CarrieMumsnet]

We have some "expert" tips on going back to work from Philips AVENT?S first baby feeding and wellbeing advisor which you can read here but we'd also love to get your top tips on how you coped if/when you went back to work after giving birth.

Everyone who sends a tip will be entered into a prize draw to win a Philips SENSEO Pod Coffee Maker (RRP £50) and a Philips Aluminum Juicer (RRP £100).

Good luck

(now just give me a minute to add this link (and the other site stuff one) to the Philips AVENT mini site before you all go looking at it ) Thanks!

I hated the thought of returning to work - and still do not like it much - but I do appreciate a few hours in the day where I don't have to worry about 'is she sleeping/drinking/eating enough?'.

Being organised, as previously posted is the key (and I resent that too - not cut out to be a working mum?!). Fridge door lists of stuff to put in CM bag are key to success.

Don't expect your brain to work as efficiently as it used to, so take a notebook and write everything you need to remember down. I found I got stressed about all the stuff I knew I was meant to remember but couldn't on a day to day basis. That stress was worse than actually getting on with the work!

practise at least one full day with the childcarer first - then if you HAVE to call to see how lo is, or if they need to call you, you have the freedom to do it.

get everything ready beforehand, and DOUBLE CHECK it all! i have a list of everything he needs when he goes to his nanny.

on days you aren't working make sure you chill out and enjoy being a mum.

and I try to keep my work and home life separate so I don't have to finish off at home when I have my mum-hat on again.

most of all - enjoy going back to what you did before. Remember the good parts, and on the bad days, remember that you do get some days off!!

and don't be scared to call in sick if you need to - it's hard enough working while ill, without having to look after the kids afterwards too!

Consider very early morning cleaning jobs in your local town that start around 6 or 7am and finish before your partner has to leave for work. That way you can earn a little cash for spends during the day, keep your day free for the kids and save on childcare. You just have to ensure you trust him with getting the kids up if you have one or more at nursery or school! If you're really organised you can try making up a flyer on the computer to sell your cleaning services to local businesses on a self employed basis, as they may be fed up with the one they have and not know anyone better/cheaper. Contract cleaning pays much more than being a simple employee. You may be able to avoid paying tax, too, as many of your expenses can be offset! Check it out, it worked for me.

If you will be breast feeding, block out the times in your diary which will suit you best to pump so that you get the time you need. In my job, if I didn't have a "meeting" in my diary, then other people would book time with me, so I used to block out 3 slots of 20 - 30 mins each throughout the day.

Make sure you drink plenty of water when you get back to work - easy to get busy and forget to drink all day.

if your child is going to a nursery and uses a dummy as for comfort or sleep, make sure you name it.

permanent ohp pens and some name stickers (checked regularly) will ensure they don't get lost/ mixed up.

Wear nail varnish. It gives the illusion that you have loads of time on your hands and are therefore in control of things.

Bump, any more for any more?

If your job is the one that has better opportunities/better maternity benefits/incentives than your partner's consider the option of your DP/DH becoming a SAHD. We did this and it meant that on my 1st day back at work I simply breezed out of the door without any worries about childcare - and we both loved our 'new' roles!

And so say all of us!
DP took 6 months' sabbatical when I went back after DD1, guilt-free, return to work bliss!

And so say all of us!
DP took 6 months' sabbatical when I went back after DD1, guilt-free, return to work bliss!

Treat yourself to a day or half day of your well deserved annual leave, but don't take baby out of child care - go and do something for yourself - did this last week - went with DH to thermal baths in Bath - lovely and didn't feel guilty at all!

Well maybe I did for the first 15 minutes ...