Returning to Work After Baby: What I Shared at Mum Talks Malahide
This week I spoke at Mum Talks Malahide about returning to work after baby, alongside Sara Stokes, founder of SKN TO SKN, in a conversation moderated by Mum Talks founder Lucy O'Driscoll Edge. At Clarico we specialise in navigating life's key transitions and the return to work after a baby is definitely one of the big ones. Here's what I shared.
How to prepare, and when to start
A smooth return is a two-way street: employer support plus your own preparation. Preparing sooner is always better than scrambling later.
Weeks out: agree how the home workload will be shared, and learn your entitlements.
Two weeks out: reconnect with colleagues, even with a text or a coffee.
Days out: settling-in days and a dry run of the morning routine.
Build a back-up plan for sick days and crèche closures and agree with your partner who goes if the call comes. If you can, push for a gradual start, using KIT days, annual leave or parental leave, or simply starting midweek. Know your legal entitlements, including breastfeeding breaks, parental leave, force majeure leave and the right to request flexible or remote working under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
Confidence, imposter syndrome and overwhelm
Those feelings are normal. You've been through a profound biological, emotional and circumstantial change but much like early motherhood itself you can and you will adapt. Ease your head back in to the game with small things like an industry podcast or a scan of the news. And remember the value you bring back: skills, resilience, perspective, culture and dedication. The first year of a child's life is a masterclass in navigating constant change. These are incredible professional skills that you now have naturally! Most of all, give yourself grace.
What employers can do
Small, low-cost efforts on the part of the employer can make an enormous difference. Never assume how the leave went or how someone feels about being back. Rethink flexibility: it isn't just working from home, it's scheduling around drop-offs and allowing time for medical appointments. Acknowledge the transition properly; there's a lingering trope that someone has been "off" for a year, when in reality they've likely never worked harder. Support parent and carer networks, and make it easy to attend healthcare appointments during working hours. Underneath it all is the concept of unconditional positive regard: believing in the person and trusting they're ready, willing and able to do the work.
What about not returning?
Not everyone can or will return and that's OK. Being able to go back is a privileged position, shaped by childcare costs and the housing crisis. For those who can, returning protects career momentum and an identity beyond motherhood. For those who can't, they take an understanding of the value of mothers with them and may become future hiring managers and decision makers. Whether it's your work within the home, starting your own business or returning to the workforce, as women we need to stay visible and uphold our value.
Support for your return
If you're preparing to go back, download Clarico's free Return to Work cheat sheet for the practical steps in one place.
And if you'd like support through the months either side of your return, Clarico's Return to Work coaching gives you one-to-one sessions, practical frameworks and summary notes after every session.
When you're ready, we'd love to chat.