https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:40:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2018426 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 15:36:36 +0000 rachiecakes 2018426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So nice of you!<br /> When I returned to work I couldn't look at photos of J because I would get really depressed and lose focus. It was better for me to try to focus on work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2018335 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 14:12:10 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2018335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you've done great so far! I guess it would help to have her workload a little less the first week or 2 so she has a smoother time transitioning into full time work mode. I wish you were my boss! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2018305 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 13:51:21 +0000 AmandaB8 2018305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>But be clear with what her responsibilites are the first week - I felt like a lost puppy, because everyone had adjusted to me being gone. It probably took me 3 weeks to get back into the swing of things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2018027 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:24:25 +0000 autumnleaves 2018027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are so thoughtful! My boss told me with my first week back not to jump back in to all my responsibilities - I checked emails and my back ups answered any questions I had. I appreciated having that week to not be expected to have all the answers. Also my coworkers took the photos I had shared of my LO and printed and posted them in my cube with a big welcome back sign - that was really sweet. Many understood how hard it is to come back and knowing that I felt supported. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017693 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:45:10 +0000 Adira 2017693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the best thing my boss did was make me feel okay prioritize my family over work. He was accommodating of my pumping schedule, my needing to leave by 4:30 everyday, and my needing to stay home caring for a sick baby ALL the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017686 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:36:05 +0000 Beth24 2017686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My situation might be unique but I work in an office where 3 co-workers split up my tasks while I was on leave. I came back during the busiest month of the year and could tell they all wanted to hand that work back to me right away. The best thing my boss did was email all of us and lay out guidelines for me to ease into work. No one was allowed to just pass work on to me for about a week or two so that I could adjust to being back. I loved getting some simple projects to start so that I could slowly adjust to life as a working mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017445 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 17:36:21 +0000 CakeLady 2017445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, it sounds like you have done a lot already!<br /> My boss left a little plant on my desk as a welcome back treat, which was really nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017281 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:56:25 +0000 avivoca 2017281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That was so nice of you! My boss had nothing ready for me. I pumped for the first time in a bathroom while balancing my pump on my knees. It was a coworker of mine who had cleaned out a storage closet and made sure there was a seat and an outlet open in it, and I will be forever grateful to her.</p> <p>Being flexible and not expecting me to get a lot done were things that helped me. I also appreciated people treating me like normal. I didn't want to talk about H because I would start crying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017256 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:47:12 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2017256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great start! Be flexible that first week and know that although its fun to talk about the baby, she may just need some quiet alone time too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017246 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:41:43 +0000 raspberries 2017246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How nice of you to be so considerate - I'd say you made a pretty good start! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017212 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:26:14 +0000 blackbird 2017212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think all sounds good....my boss just treated me like normal when I returned to work. Which is really, all I wanted. Asked how things were going sometimes, was cool with the flexibility when I needed it (which I did) or if i had to stay home b/c E was sick, he'd drop me back an email that said "hope she feels better soon" or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-most-helpful-for-ftms-returning-to-work-survey#post-2017191 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:20:56 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2017191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,<br /> I'm a department manager (and a mom), and I have a staffer coming back from maternity leave on Monday. It's my first time managing someone who's taken leave before (my team is fairly young/kid-less overall) and I'd love to make sure that I handle her return to work as best I can. </p> <p>She's been sharing some challenges she's already facing, most of which we all experience when returning - getting used to a pumping schedule, worrying about her 4 month old not sleeping well, needing flexibility to work around the nanny share schedule, etc. I've been doing my best to be as flexible as I can within what my company allows - I got her a work-at-home day once a week, made sure a pumping room was set up for her, etc., but I'd love to know what your bosses have done for you that was really helpful when you returned to work, especially when you were a FTM. </p> <p>Thanks so much! </p>