Going Back to Work after Having a Baby

This was originally posted on my Instagram, but after the caption sparked such an interesting discussion with other Mums, I wanted to also post it on the blog. Be sure to head to the Instagram post to read the inspiring comments from other women. I hope it helps you and other women to realise that there is no such thing as NORMAL, when it comes to going back to work after having a baby…

Lets talk about going back to work after having a baby. It’s a discussion topic I have battled in my own head for a long time, until a long talk with my friend @therapywithnaomi sparked a bit of an epiphany for me. When it comes to this topic, there is no ‘normal’. Some women choose not to go back to work. Some women go back to work after 6 weeks. Some women take 9 months and others take a year. Some women don’t really feel as if they’ve had a maternity leave at all as they are self employed and cannot / do not want to abandon their business (hey, thats me). The vast majority of women don’t really get to make a decision at all because their family needs the income. So take whatever it is society says you SHOULD be doing and throw it in the bin. Then ask yourself what would be the decision that will make you the happiest? Because a happy Mum equals a happy baby, and that is the most important thing. Right? Theo’s prematurity has added another complex layer to our decision making. But after putting my own societal pressures in the bin, we’ve decided to enrol Theo with a childminder as of October. We will build up to 3 days a week and he will be 8 months corrected / 11 months old at the time. I take my hat off to stay at home mums, but I am not made to be one. Being with Theo makes me happy, but working, making money and growing my community also makes me happy. I’m really looking forward to starting this next phase in my motherhood journey and to reclaiming time to focus on my business again. Whatever decision you make, back yourself every step of the way and trust that its also the best thing for your baby. That’s what I intend to do.

What are your thoughts about going back to work after having a baby? This is a judgement free zone