Returning to Work as a New Parent
Returning to work after having a child presents unique challenges for new parents. Discover how you can foster a smoother transition.
6 min read
Eliminating every barrier to mental health
Spring-branded professional practices are independently owned and operated by licensed physicians.
Spring-branded professional practices are independently owned and operated by licensed physicians.
Eliminating every barrier to mental health
FAMILY WELLBEING
Returning to Work as a New Parent
Returning to work after having a child presents unique challenges for new parents. Discover how you can foster a smoother transition.
6 min read
FAMILY WELLBEING
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn came to Spring Health from her start-up company Weldon, a parenting wellness app acquired by Spring Health in March 2022, where she was a co-founder. She has extensive experience working with children and families with Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mental Health and Physical Health challenges, and Executive Functioning Difficulties. Lynn has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Assessment and a Professional Diploma in School Psychology. She has certifications and has practiced in New York, New Jersey, and California.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn came to Spring Health from her start-up company Weldon, a parenting wellness app acquired by Spring Health in March 2022, where she was a co-founder. She has extensive experience working with children and families with Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mental Health and Physical Health challenges, and Executive Functioning Difficulties. Lynn has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Assessment and a Professional Diploma in School Psychology. She has certifications and has practiced in New York, New Jersey, and California.
New parents returning to work after the birth of a child face extraordinary challenges. They must balance the demands of changing diapers, attending to nighttime feedings, and meeting work deadlines.
They navigate two profoundly demanding roles: nurturing a fragile new life while striving to maintain optimal performance at work.
In this delicate phase, new parents must negotiate the intricate interplay of sleep deprivation, postpartum hormone fluctuations, physical recovery, and the complex emotions inherent to welcoming a child into their lives.
Return to work challenges
When an employee takes leave for the birth of their child, their entire focus shifts toward their new role as a caretaker, which involves a significant upheaval in responsibilities and routines.
Once the employee returns to work, they face the daunting task of balancing being a parent and an employee, all while prioritizing their mental health and overall well-being.
This process is further complicated by the physical and emotional changes individuals experience after giving birth. Upon resuming work, employees may experience:
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Physical healing and complications from childbirth
• Sleep deprivation
• Navigating new relationship dynamics with a partner
• Challenges related to childcare arrangements
• Coping with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs)
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), formerly known as postpartum depression, are the most common complications related to childbirth in the United States. They affect a wide range of individuals worldwide, with rates varying from 5% to 60%.
PMADs impact one in five birthing parents, while one in ten non-birthing partners also experience these disorders. It’s important to note that a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder can potentially affect anyone involved in caretaking responsibilities.
Most people are familiar with the baby blues, which can affect up to 85% of new parents. For the first two weeks postpartum, a birthing parent’s body undergoes significant physiological changes, including hormonal fluctuations, heightened emotions, and healing from childbirth.
Typically, these symptoms resolve within a couple weeks as hormone levels stabilize. However, if the baby blues persist beyond this period, it may indicate that the individual is experiencing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder.
Access to childcare
In addition to the physical and emotional changes, the search for childcare poses a significant challenge for many new parents and caregivers of young children.
A recent report, based on a survey of working parents, sheds light on the difficulties they face when accessing childcare. The findings reveal skyrocketing costs, surpassing college tuition fees in certain states, and a severe shortage of available spots. As a result, millions of working parents can’t secure suitable childcare during work hours.
In 2022, the lack of childcare led to the following consequences:
• 44% of parents had to reduce their work hours
• 26% made the difficult decision to quit their jobs
• 23% were fired from their positions
• 33% had to turn down job offers
• 25% had to decline promotions
The absence of affordable childcare costs the economy $122 billion in lost wages, productivity, and tax revenue. The mental health toll on working parents is harder to calculate.
Supporting mental health during the return to work transition
Caregiving can be heavy, as it entails shouldering the immense responsibility of tending to another individual’s social, emotional, and physical needs. Given the magnitude of the task at hand, this role can often invoke feelings of loneliness.
At the same time, new parents find themselves navigating a wide range of emotions. They experience the joy of witnessing their baby’s growth and development while harboring anticipation for their return to work and adult interactions.
It’s natural for them to grapple with guilt over the prospect of leaving their young baby and moments of separation anxiety. Furthermore, they may also experience heightened stress and anxiety levels concerning their baby’s well-being and developmental progress.
Anxiety over child development
The developmental stages for children under five change rapidly and quickly, surpassing any other phase in a child’s life. As caregivers, it’s natural to establish routines and feel a sense of mastery in handling the current aspects of child-rearing.
However, as we settle into a routine, new milestones and behaviors emerge, requiring adjustments and adaptations. This dynamic can give rise to insecurity or anxiety for parents and caregivers as they strive to keep pace with their child’s development.
It’s common for parents, particularly first-time parents or caregivers without prior reference points, to wonder if their child is meeting milestones within the expected range.
Even for seasoned parents, each child is unique, further increasing the challenges and adding to the burden on their mental health.
Comprehensive mental health support for parents and caregivers
Spring Health’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers comprehensive mental health support and resources tailored to families, parents, and caregivers of children under five. These include:
• Parent-specific coaching: Spring Health provides coaching guidance and support to new parents in areas such as time management and achieving a healthy work-life balance while fulfilling caregiving responsibilities.
• Parenting skill development: assistance is available to help parents build essential skills to support their children’s emotional well-being. This may involve strategies for assisting children in identifying and managing emotions and promoting self-regulation.
• Care navigation: each is paired with a master’s level clinician who can offer personalized guidance, connect parents with appropriate resources, and address any concerns they may have regarding their child’s development or behavior.
• Providers specializing in parental support: Spring Health collaborates with mental health professionals working with parents and caregivers. These providers possess the expertise to address young children’s unique challenges and mental health needs.
• Support for grief and traumatic events: Spring Health’s EAP supports parents and caregivers dealing with grief or traumatic experiences. Access to specialized resources and assistance can help individuals navigate these difficult circumstances and promote their overall well-being.
New parents returning to work after the birth of a child face extraordinary challenges. They must balance the demands of changing diapers, attending to nighttime feedings, and meeting work deadlines.
They navigate two profoundly demanding roles: nurturing a fragile new life while striving to maintain optimal performance at work.
In this delicate phase, new parents must negotiate the intricate interplay of sleep deprivation, postpartum hormone fluctuations, physical recovery, and the complex emotions inherent to welcoming a child into their lives.
Return to work challenges
When an employee takes leave for the birth of their child, their entire focus shifts toward their new role as a caretaker, which involves a significant upheaval in responsibilities and routines.
Once the employee returns to work, they face the daunting task of balancing being a parent and an employee, all while prioritizing their mental health and overall well-being.
This process is further complicated by the physical and emotional changes individuals experience after giving birth. Upon resuming work, employees may experience:
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Physical healing and complications from childbirth
• Sleep deprivation
• Navigating new relationship dynamics with a partner
• Challenges related to childcare arrangements
• Coping with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs)
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), formerly known as postpartum depression, are the most common complications related to childbirth in the United States. They affect a wide range of individuals worldwide, with rates varying from 5% to 60%.
PMADs impact one in five birthing parents, while one in ten non-birthing partners also experience these disorders. It’s important to note that a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder can potentially affect anyone involved in caretaking responsibilities.
Most people are familiar with the baby blues, which can affect up to 85% of new parents. For the first two weeks postpartum, a birthing parent’s body undergoes significant physiological changes, including hormonal fluctuations, heightened emotions, and healing from childbirth.
Typically, these symptoms resolve within a couple weeks as hormone levels stabilize. However, if the baby blues persist beyond this period, it may indicate that the individual is experiencing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder.
Access to childcare
In addition to the physical and emotional changes, the search for childcare poses a significant challenge for many new parents and caregivers of young children.
A recent report, based on a survey of working parents, sheds light on the difficulties they face when accessing childcare. The findings reveal skyrocketing costs, surpassing college tuition fees in certain states, and a severe shortage of available spots. As a result, millions of working parents can’t secure suitable childcare during work hours.
In 2022, the lack of childcare led to the following consequences:
• 44% of parents had to reduce their work hours
• 26% made the difficult decision to quit their jobs
• 23% were fired from their positions
• 33% had to turn down job offers
• 25% had to decline promotions
The absence of affordable childcare costs the economy $122 billion in lost wages, productivity, and tax revenue. The mental health toll on working parents is harder to calculate.
Supporting mental health during the return to work transition
Caregiving can be heavy, as it entails shouldering the immense responsibility of tending to another individual’s social, emotional, and physical needs. Given the magnitude of the task at hand, this role can often invoke feelings of loneliness.
At the same time, new parents find themselves navigating a wide range of emotions. They experience the joy of witnessing their baby’s growth and development while harboring anticipation for their return to work and adult interactions.
It’s natural for them to grapple with guilt over the prospect of leaving their young baby and moments of separation anxiety. Furthermore, they may also experience heightened stress and anxiety levels concerning their baby’s well-being and developmental progress.
Anxiety over child development
The developmental stages for children under five change rapidly and quickly, surpassing any other phase in a child’s life. As caregivers, it’s natural to establish routines and feel a sense of mastery in handling the current aspects of child-rearing.
However, as we settle into a routine, new milestones and behaviors emerge, requiring adjustments and adaptations. This dynamic can give rise to insecurity or anxiety for parents and caregivers as they strive to keep pace with their child’s development.
It’s common for parents, particularly first-time parents or caregivers without prior reference points, to wonder if their child is meeting milestones within the expected range.
Even for seasoned parents, each child is unique, further increasing the challenges and adding to the burden on their mental health.
Comprehensive mental health support for parents and caregivers
Spring Health’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers comprehensive mental health support and resources tailored to families, parents, and caregivers of children under five. These include:
• Parent-specific coaching: Spring Health provides coaching guidance and support to new parents in areas such as time management and achieving a healthy work-life balance while fulfilling caregiving responsibilities.
• Parenting skill development: assistance is available to help parents build essential skills to support their children’s emotional well-being. This may involve strategies for assisting children in identifying and managing emotions and promoting self-regulation.
• Care navigation: each is paired with a master’s level clinician who can offer personalized guidance, connect parents with appropriate resources, and address any concerns they may have regarding their child’s development or behavior.
• Providers specializing in parental support: Spring Health collaborates with mental health professionals working with parents and caregivers. These providers possess the expertise to address young children’s unique challenges and mental health needs.
• Support for grief and traumatic events: Spring Health’s EAP supports parents and caregivers dealing with grief or traumatic experiences. Access to specialized resources and assistance can help individuals navigate these difficult circumstances and promote their overall well-being.
Sign up for Spring Health for a confidential and personalized way to manage your stress and start feeling your best.
Sign up for Spring Health for a confidential and personalized way to manage your stress and start feeling your best.