Returning to work after maternity leave brings with it a storm of emotions. It’s a storm that, in my experience, I don’t think you can fully prepare for, no matter how many times you’ve done it.
This is my third maternity leave at the same company. I work part-time, I know my role, and I should feel confident walking back through those doors. But instead, the pressure feels heavier than ever. The pressure to perform. To achieve. To prove that I still belong here.
Some of that pressure comes from the usual workplace realities: expectations, deadlines, targets. But, if I’m being honest, most of it actually comes from within. There is a feeling like we have something to prove. Like I need to show that having another baby hasn’t diluted my ability, my ambition, or my worth at work.
And that pressure doesn’t exist in isolation.
Alongside it sits mum guilt. Wife guilt. Work guilt. The constant balancing act of trying to be the best version of yourself in every role you play. You want to be present at home. You want to be reliable at work. You want to be supportive, productive, switched on, and calm through it all.
But the reality? It’s tough.
Things slip off the radar. Mistakes are made. Emails get missed. Balls get dropped. And when they do, the guilt piles on even more. You tell yourself you should be coping better. That you should have this figured out by now. But it all feels so alien and you’ve lost a little faith in your brain power and its ability to keep on top of everything at work and back at home.
Then there is the physical ache of wanting to be with your child every second and not miss a moment, combined with the pull from the ‘big successful career’ version of you that’s desperate to have financial independence again and contribute to the household.
So, what’s the solution? Honestly, I don’t think there is a neat one.
I think as mums, there will always be a quiet undercurrent of guilt. A feeling that we’re falling short somewhere, that we’re not quite enough in one area or another. That feeling doesn’t magically disappear when maternity leave ends, it just changes shape.
We talk about how we’re ready to get back to the rat-race, the routine, the structure, the adult world of working, earning and feeling valid.
What does help is support
A supportive workplace that understands you’re human, not a machine. A supportive network around you, family, friends, partners, who help carry the load when it feels too heavy. And maybe most importantly, learning to go a little easier on yourself.
Try not to put so much pressure on. Try not to expect perfection. You’re doing the best you can with the energy, time, and capacity you have right now, and that has to be enough.
Because returning to work after maternity leave isn’t just about picking up where you left off. It’s about rebuilding confidence, redefining balance, and giving yourself permission to grow into this new version of you at your own pace.
A few things that could help along the way
Use your KIT days
To alleviate the feeling of being the ‘new girl’ again, ensure you use your KIT Day allowance whilst on maternity leave. This gives you a chance to dip your toes back in the water. No pressure, no deadlines, no targets. Just friendly, familiar faces to help remind you what’s on the other side waiting for your return. It will also allow the baby the space to grow and explore without you.
Treat your KIT day as a practice run
A KIT day can also act as a test run for your new routine. You can practise the morning schedule, childcare arrangements and commute. It helps you identify what works and what needs adjusting before returning fully. As well as how many coffees are needed to get you through!
Stay in touch with colleagues
It can be easy to disappear completely while on maternity leave. Sometimes that space is needed, but maintaining occasional contact can make the return much smoother.
A quick message, a coffee catch-up or a short visit to the office with baby in tow can help keep relationships strong.
Share updates
Something that worked well for me was sharing the occasional baby update with my team. In return, colleagues shared updates about what was happening at work.
It helped me still feel connected and reminded me that I was part of something, even while away.
Finding your stride again
I am genuinely happy to be back at work. In many ways, I think working makes me a better mum. And being a mum has also made me a better marketer. It takes a few weeks to find your stride again. Sometimes weeks, sometimes months. But with the right support and balance, you make it work, and gradually things start to fall into place. Interestingly, the contrast between work and home often makes you appreciate and cherish both more.
So if you are returning from maternity leave, good luck, you’ve got this! And remember, be gentle on yourself, we’re all just human beings navigating (and quite often winging) this journey.
