It's working for Jessica A
Cleveland , Ohio
3 children
"Moms make the world go round and the more we can do to encourage them to make healthy, well-orchestrated transitions the more our businesses and organizations will prosper."
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
It gets easier. I can’t stress that enough. The first few months back were the hardest for me and I wish I had understood that it would get better in time.
FOR MOMS: If you breastfed, was there a place for you to pump that met your needs and was conducive to your success? If you breastfed, how did you decide to continue? FOR DADS: What, if any, adjustments did you (or your workplace) make to your schedule after having a baby? Was it specific to your manager or larger, whole work culture?
I did pump for the first year for my son. Pumping worked well for me and kept up my supply for evening and morning feedings at home.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
I took 11 weeks but started checking emails and calling in on occasion around 6-7 weeks. For my last week of leave I worked two half days just to get used to being away, practice pumping, etc.
How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?
We found a terrific day care near our house for our son. When I went back to work after our twins arrived we had a harder time finding the right match.
What was your biggest challenge going back to work?
The hardest part was how much I missed my son. I had no idea how much I would love being with him and I physically missed him when I first went back. That deep love took me by surprise – it was a phenomenal feeling but made it hard to leave each morning.
Who was your biggest source of support in returning to work? What was your biggest pregnancy indulgence?
I had many friends and women who were supportive of me during my back-to-work transitions and helped with my million questions. I also had a terrific male boss who was very patient and encouraging. That was a really special thing.