Having a child is one of life's greatest personal experiences. When women bring new life into the world, they are celebrating the creation of a new source of hope and happiness. While doing so is a wonderful feeling, it is also very difficult emotionally, mentally and physically. Pregnancy can take a huge toll on a woman's body that may take months to recover from fully. Labor can last for hours or even days. Caring for a new life is a huge task. Babies may not sleep through the night for months, leaving women exhausted.
In the meantime, many women would like to return to work. Fortunately, there are lots of great ways to balance a job and caring for a baby at the same time. All women who are going to reenter the workforce should develop a plan as soon as they find out they are pregnant. Women who have the help and support they need will find returning to work much less stressful.
Know Your State's Laws
State laws regarding pregnancy and child care leave can vary from place to place. You should know your state's specific laws and how they apply to you personally. Strategic HR at work can help. They can clarify what laws you can use and precisely what they mean for you. This includes when you need to take leave should you experience physical problems during your pregnancy and when you need to recover after giving birth. Paid or unpaid leave can help women get the help they need to recover physically.
Look for Childcare Options Early
Good, reliable child care is a necessity for all new moms. Getting back to work is easier when you have a group of people to help you care for your new baby. Investigate all local options. You might find there are great childcare options near your home. You may also discover that there are options closer to work. Some companies offer onsite child care that they directly subsidize for their employees. Speak with employees there in person. The care center should be clean, well kept and have trained staffers.
Have Backups in Place
Emergencies can arise. A child may be too sick to attend daycare. The parent may have a work emergency that requires them to be at work past normal hours and put in overtime. One parent may be sick and unable to bring the child to the daycare center. Any parent should look for backups and create plans in the event that something goes wrong. A parent may ask their own mom if she would watch the baby for a few hours. The mom may also know many other parents with young children. A parent can network with them. Parents can ask others to help out and then serve as a backup childcare for other children. Flexible access to care is one way to be a good employee and a good parent.
Remember Babies Grow Up
Babies are a lot of work. One of the best things about having children is they will grow up. While it may seem like a challenge to go back to work after having kids, it's important not to lose sight of the big picture. A mom should make time for the moments that are important to her. Bonding with a newborn makes babies feel more secure and makes parents happy. All new moms should bear in mind that the baby will no longer be a baby and it will get easier to care for them. Now is the time to enjoy the baby's soft skin and how it nestles in the corner of a parent's arm and smiles when it sees the mom. A new mom should take the time to care for herself, let her recover from the trauma of childbearing and appreciate the miracle of giving birth.
Ms. Career Girl was started in 2008 to help ambitious young professional women figure out who they are, what they want and how to get it.
