Going Back to Work After Baby: Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster

Natarsha March APP
Jul 21
4 min read

Updated: Aug 4

Let’s talk about the thing that makes so many new mums cry in the shower (while speed-washing their hair and singing “Twinkle Twinkle” at the same time): going back to work after baby.

Whether you're still pregnant and planning your maternity leave, or you're deep in those newborn days with a tiny human in your arms and a return-to-work date looming, I see you. As someone who meets a lot of new mums through my newborn photography in Brisbane, I hear this exact struggle all the time.

This is SO MUCH HARDER than anyone talks about.

You might be feeling a whole cocktail of emotions right now:

✔️ Sad

✔️ Guilty

✔️ Kind of excited (wait, am I allowed to say that?)

✔️ Terrified

✔️ All of the above before breakfast

And here's the thing no one really says out loud: whatever you're feeling is completely valid.

Newborn Photography Brisbane: A Story to Remember

I recently photographed a mum with her six-week-old baby, let’s call her Sarah.

She was glowing, and not just in the “hasn’t slept in 3 days” kind of way.

She told me she was already counting down the weeks until she had to go back to her high-pressure job in marketing.

She looked me in the eye and said, “I love my job. But how the hell do I leave him and still feel like a good mum?”

She didn’t want to give up the career she worked so hard for.

But she also didn’t want to miss a single gummy smile.

And THAT is the heart-wrenching tension so many of us live in.

Managing Your Return to Work

So, how do you manage the return to work?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are some tips that might just help soften the edges:

1. Plan for Logistics and Emotions

It’s easy to get caught up in practical matters like childcare drop-off times, pumping schedules, and whether you can still fit into your work pants (honestly, leggings are forever now).

But give yourself space to feel.

The sadness, the guilt, the weird excitement about adult conversation and hot coffee… it’s all part of it.

Tip: Try not to schedule anything big or emotionally demanding in your first week back. You’ll need room to breathe.

2. Find Your New Rhythm

Trying to jump back into your pre-baby life is like trying to wear your pre-baby jeans two weeks postpartum.

Uncomfortable, unrealistic, and frankly unnecessary.

This is a new version of life.

Give yourself grace to create new routines, new boundaries, and maybe a new definition of success.

3. Let Go of Perfection

You don’t need to be 100% at work and 100% at home. You’re a human. A brilliant, tired, loving, doing-her-best human.

Some days your inbox will win.

Other days, the laundry will.

And every once in a while, you’ll manage both and feel like the version of you that you hoped you'd become.

Celebrate those days, but don’t expect them every week.

4. Lean on Your Village

You were never meant to do this alone.

Whether it’s a supportive partner, a friend who texts "You've got this" at 8am, or your daycare educator who becomes your new best friend, lean in.

Ask for help. Take the help. No gold medals for doing it solo.

5. Remember: This Choice Was Made from Love

This is the part I want you to take with you, deep in your bones: Whether you decide to go back full-time, part-time, or not at all, it is a decision made out of love.

Love for your baby.

Love for your career.

Love for yourself.

Love for the kind of life you’re building for your family.

There is no right answer. Just your answer.

A Gentle Reminder

These early months are wild.

Emotional. Exhausting. Beautiful. Fleeting.

If you haven’t already booked your Brisbane newborn photography session, or even just thought about it, now’s the time.

It' never too late.

Whether you’re soaking up the slow days or gearing up to head back to work, this moment matters.

You deserve to be in the frame.

Not just as a mum, but as you, becoming, evolving, showing up with all the love in the world.

You’re Doing It Right

Messy, magnificent, imperfectly perfect.

And whatever comes next, you’ve got this.

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER BRISBANE | NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER BRISBANE

About the Author

Natarsha March is an award-winning Brisbane newborn, baby, and family photographer who specializes in creating timeless, heartfelt images that capture the love and connection between families. With years of experience and a passion for working with little ones, she’s known for her relaxed, stress-free sessions that result in beautifully natural photographs. Based in Bunya, Brisbane, Natarsha has helped countless families preserve their most precious moments, from the tiny details of a newborn to the joyful chaos of a growing family. If you're looking for a trusted photographer in Brisbane who values quality, safety, and genuine connection, Family Photography by Natarsha March is the perfect choice.