Work After Baby: What If the Obvious Choice Is the Wrong One?

I wish someone told me how complicated this part would be. Not birth. Not breastfeeding. Not even sleep deprivation. But deciding what comes next with work.

Whether you’re currently on maternity leave, preparing for it, or in the thick of early motherhood trying to find your footing — the truth is, there's no universal roadmap for what your work life should look like after baby. And yet, it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make for yourself and your family. The question isn’t just “Should I go back to work?”

It’s:

• What kind of work environment will support the kind of mother I want to be?

• What are the actual hours I can realistically give, without burning out or going numb?

• What do I need at home to make working feel possible, not impossible?

• And what happens when your partner shows up differently at home than you do?

It all matters. It all counts. Let me share a bit of my story.

ROUND ONE: RETURNING AFTER BABY #1

After my first son was born, I returned to my corporate job as a Senior Project Manager— but this time, part-time. I came back at 20 hours per week, gradually increasing my hours. I had the same role I held before maternity leave. At first, it felt risky. There was a reorg while I was on leave (those are never fun surprises), and I was anxious about what I’d be returning to.

But sometimes the universe throws you a lifeline.

I ended up getting a new leader who happened to be a father of three. He got it. He saw value in flexibility. He recognized that hard-working colleagues don’t stop being hard-working just because their availability shifts. Under his leadership, I felt trusted and seen.

And here’s something I want to say clearly: Even though I was working 30 hours, I was managing the same number of projects— sometimes more— than others on my team. Not because I was trying to prove anything. But because as mothers, we over deliver. We become ruthless with our time. We waste less. We know what’s urgent and what’s not. That clarity spills over into how we work.

And honestly? I felt good working. It didn’t feel like a sacrifice. It felt aligned.

What made it work wasn’t just the hours or the leadership, though. It was a mix of the right pieces coming together:

Here’s what helped:

1. Incredible childcare – I trusted the people caring for my baby, which gave me peace of mind to actually focus at work.

2. Control over my hours – Gradually increasing from 20 to 30 hours was the right pace for me. This was before remote work became widely accepted, so the slow transition was especially helpful. I was on track to reach 40 hours eventually—but then I had another baby, and everything changed again. (I dive into that later in this article.)

3. A beautiful mother’s room – I could pump in peace, without stress, without guilt, and without having to wean earlier than I wanted. It was fully equipped with a sink, fridge, comfortable furniture and a door with a lock.

4. A supportive partner – My husband and I had ongoing, honest conversations about how life felt. Not just finances, but: Are we balanced? Are we happy? Do we need to adjust anything?

5. Supportive leadership and teammates – I wasn’t penalized for working fewer hours. I was still trusted. Still respected. Still part of the team.

That season taught me that it is possible to return to work and feel empowered. But it requires the right ingredients. Not every job or environment offers them — and that leads me to what came next.

ROUND TWO: WHEN CLARITY HITS

After my second baby was born, something shifted in me.

Again, there was a reorg (I wonder sometimes what were the chances there would be major changes both times I was on maternity leave!) The work I was doing changed significantly. Remote work was still not the norm, so work-life integration was more challenging. The career ladder looked foggy, maybe even blocked. I didn’t see a path that felt exciting— or even realistic— if I stayed.

As much as I loved building up my career and enjoyed the people I worked with, it no longer felt aligned with my new role as a mom of two, the lifestyle that I wanted and the career goals I had. I knew my career would change from being liner to more of a mosaic if I traded in my work badge for burp cloths, but it felt like the right decision at the time.

I left.

And let me tell you— it was scary and exciting at the same time.

I didn’t know exactly what would come next, but I knew I needed space to figure it out. I chose full-time motherhood not as a fallback, but as a conscious choice. A way to slow down, re-center, and ask bigger questions about what I wanted for myself and my family. That nudge came partly from my family’s needs shifting now that we were a family of four— but also from knowing I didn’t have the same opportunities in the workplace that I did the first time around. The work description changed and it did not feel like the right timing to look for a new role all together when I was raw in my new role as a mother of two.

One thing I want to make clear, because there's often a misconception when a new mom does choose to take a pause, is that my ambition didn’t go away. I go into that a lot more in my blog post:

“Career or Baby?”—Why You Don’t Have to Choose”

SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

If you’re reading this on your leave or with a baby snoozing next to you— wondering if you should return, switch jobs, reduce hours, or step away— let me offer you this:

There’s no one right answer.

But there is a right-for-you answer.

And finding that takes more than logistics. It takes honesty. Courage. And a reminder that this decision is not forever— it’s for right now.

You’re allowed to change. Your career is allowed to evolve. Your family deserves a version of you that feels whole, not just productive.

So don’t rush the decision. Sit with it. Talk it out. Check in with your partner.

Talk to your leadership at work. Check in with your gut.

Because when the decision is made from that place, even if it’s hard, it’ll feel good.

REFLECT BEFORE YOU RETURN

Maternity leave isn’t just a break from work— it’s a transformation. Before diving back into the hustle, take a pause and ask yourself what you really need in order to return in a way that feels supported, intentional, and true to this new version of you. Here are a list of reflective questions to help you get started.

Emotional & Mental

1. How do I feel about returning to work?

2. What worries or fears am I holding onto?

3. What am I most looking forward to about going back?

4. What would help me feel emotionally supported during this transition?

5. Am I putting pressure on myself to “bounce back”? What would it look like to return gently instead?

Childcare & Logistics

1. Who will be caring for my baby while I work—and do I feel confident in that setup?

2. Do I need to build in time to ease into the new routine before returning?

3. What support do I need from my partner, family, or friends to make this work?

4. What do I need to organize at home to help mornings and evenings go more smoothly?

   
   

Workplace Environment

1. What boundaries do I want to have around work hours and availability?

2. Do I feel safe talking to my manager about what I need?

3. What flexibility or accommodations (e.g., remote days, breaks for pumping) would make a difference?

4. What expectations are being placed on me—and which ones feel realistic right now?

Self-Care & Identity

1. What parts of myself do I want to protect or reclaim as I return to work?

2. What routines help me feel grounded and like “me“?

3. What am I doing just because I think I should?

4. How can I bring more intention and less autopilot into this new season?

Big Picture

1. Do I still feel aligned with my current role or company?

2. What does “success“ look like for me in this next chapter?

3. What would make me feel proud of how I navigated this return?

Need more support navigating this delicate phase of postpartum and reintegrating back to work?

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Reach out to me at anisha@masalamommy.com or click here to connect with me— I’d love to support you during this powerful transition.

Anisha Pandya Patel, Founder of MasalaMommy

Anisha is pregnancy and postpartum coach, corporate well-being consultant, author of Expecting: A Pregnancy Journal, and founder of MasalaMommy. She helps ambitious women navigate early motherhood with confidence, care, and connection—blending holistic wisdom with real-life experience. Through coaching, content, and consulting, she supports both individuals and organizations in creating healthier transitions for working parents. When she’s not working, she’s raising three boys and embracing the beautiful, messy balance of parenting and purpose.

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