Workplace wellbeing: How to navigate returning to work as a new mum

Becoming a mother often changes your priorities but experts say it does not mean you have to shelve your career plans 

How can new mums make the return to work post-maternity leave smoother?

Returning to work after maternity leave can be a colossal challenge. The logistics involved in getting yourself and an unpredictable baby up and ready to leave the house are daunting in themselves. That’s before you ever set foot in a workplace where you’ll have to re-adjust to the demands of professional life.

“It’s a stressful time for parents,” says Karen O’Reilly, founder of the flexible work specialists www.employmum.ie and employflex.ie, a former accountant, and mother to two teenagers. “For many, the physical separation from their little bundle of joy often comes with guilt, stress, sadness, and separation anxiety.”