It's Working Project

"Instead of booking my days solid, I prioritized time spent with my new baby."

What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?

Prep for pumping before the baby arrives – sterilize all of the parts, buy the Pumpease hands-free bra and learn how to use your pump before your boobs are in pain and you’re stressed out.

What was your primary motivation for deciding to return (or not) to work? How early did you tell your employer?

As the CEO and Founder of Cricket’s Circle I didn’t have to share the news with an employer but I am equally, if not more responsible to my team. I waited until I was about 4.5 months to share the news as I wanted to get through all of the early days of tests (which nobody talks about and are so stressful!) before I shared the news. As for my second pregnancy, I was able to give them a decent sense of what life would be like for me post baby so they knew what to expect. I also half-jokingly promised I would be around until the day my daughter was born – as with my son, my daughter also arrived on her due date and I was in the office up until the day before her arrival.

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?

Medela, my devoted pump, is key in ensuring I am able to be away from my baby but still deliver her the nutrients she needs.

How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?

As the founder of an early stage start-up I didn’t have the luxury of taking a formal maternity leave. That being said, I also had the flexibility of determining what was going to be right for me. I was back at the office after 2 weeks but about 2 weeks in I realized I was being a little too ambitious and it was important to enjoy the early days with my daughter so I started going in late and returning home early which was a nice balance for me. Instead of booking my days solid, I prioritized time spent with my new baby.

Who was your biggest source of support in returning to work? What was your biggest pregnancy indulgence?

My husband is tremendously supportive of anything I want to do. My indulgence? Naps!

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