Maternity Leave – Maintaining your Career Momentum.
Maternity leave is an exciting and transformative time for any new mother. It’s a chance to bond with your baby, adapt to your new role, and recover physically and emotionally from childbirth. However, for many ambitious, career-driven women, it can also be a time of anxiety about losing professional momentum.
Taking an extended break from work, even for such an important reason, can feel like putting your career on hold. You may worry about becoming disconnected from your industry, missing out on opportunities, or being perceived as less committed upon your return. These concerns are understandable, but with some strategic planning and effort, it is absolutely possible to take the maternity leave you need while still nurturing your professional growth.
In this post, we’ll explore five effective strategies for maintaining positive career momentum throughout your maternity leave. From communicating clearly with your employer to investing in your skills and network, these proactive steps will help you stay engaged, visible, and well-positioned for continued success as a working mother. Whether you’re currently pregnant, already on leave, or planning ahead for the future, these tips will empower you to approach your maternity leave not as a career roadblock, but as an opportunity for personal and professional development.
1. Communicate Your Plans Early and Clearly
Open, proactive communication with your employer is the foundation of a successful maternity leave transition. Start the conversation early, ideally several months before your due date, to ensure everyone is on the same page and has ample time to plan.
Schedule a meeting with your manager to discuss your intentions in detail. Share your estimated leave dates, but also express your commitment to facilitating a smooth handoff and supporting your team’s ongoing success in your absence. Come prepared with a draft coverage plan outlining how your responsibilities could be divided or delegated to colleagues while you’re away.
Emphasize that you value your role and intend to return to work at the end of your leave. If you’re already considering a modified schedule or flexible arrangement upon your return, this initial conversation is a good time to float that idea and gauge your manager’s receptivity. However, it’s wise to frame this as an exploratory discussion rather than a definite decision, acknowledging that your post-leave needs may evolve.
Beyond your immediate supervisor, make sure to communicate your leave plans to key stakeholders like clients, vendors, and cross-functional collaborators. Introduce them to your interim replacement, and assure them that you’ve developed a robust coverage plan to minimize disruption. By taking ownership of a smooth transition, you demonstrate your professionalism, leadership, and investment in your team’s collective success.
As your leave approaches, amplify your visibility within the organization. Volunteer for high-impact projects, share your recent wins, and make an extra effort to contribute in meetings. The goal is to depart on a high note, leaving a strong final impression of your value and potential.
2. Stay Connected and Engaged While On Leave
Once you’re officially on maternity leave, it’s important to maintain a level of connection and engagement that feels appropriate for you. This looks different for every woman depending on their role, industry, and personal preferences. The key is finding a balance between unplugging to focus on your baby and staying loosely tethered to your professional life.
One simple way to stay informed is to maintain access to your work email and calendar, even if you’re not expected to be responsive. Scanning subject lines and meeting titles can help you keep a pulse on major initiatives and organizational changes. If you see something intriguing or concerning, you can always follow up with a trusted colleague for more context.
Most companies offer “keep in touch” (KIT) days for employees on parental leave. These are paid workdays, often used for attending important meetings, training sessions, or company events. Consider strategically using a few KIT days to stay visible and connected to your team. This could mean joining a quarterly planning session via videoconference, bringing your baby to the office holiday party, or having coffee with your manager to informally discuss the transition back to work.
If you’re in a client-facing role, sending a personalized email to your key accounts can be a thoughtful gesture. Share a baby photo, thank them for their patience and loyalty during your absence, and express your excitement to work with them again in the future. These small touchpoints take minimal effort but send a powerful message about your professionalism and commitment.
Of course, staying connected during maternity leave is a highly individual choice. Some women find great fulfillment in maintaining close ties to work, while others prefer to unplug completely. Trust your instincts, and don’t feel pressured to check in any more than feels right for you. The goal is not to be working during your leave, but rather to avoid feeling isolated or forgotten.
3. Invest in Your Professional Skills and Network
Maternity leave can be a surprisingly opportune time for professional development. While caring for an infant is undoubtedly time-consuming, you may find pockets of downtime while your baby naps or in the evenings after they’re asleep. Seizing these windows to invest in your skills and network can pay significant dividends when you return to work.
Consider enrolling in an online course or certification program relevant to your field. Platforms like Coursera, EdX, and LinkedIn Learning offer a wide range of self-paced options, many of which are free or low-cost. Pursuing continuing education not only enhances your knowledge and marketability but also demonstrates to your employer that you’re committed to ongoing growth.
If you have more sporadic free time, listening to industry podcasts or reading professional development books can be an easy way to sharpen your skills on the go. Look for recommendations from respected thought leaders in your field, or ask colleagues for suggestions. Jot down key takeaways and reflections to discuss with your manager or team when you return.
Maternity leave is also an ideal time to nurture your professional relationships. While you may not be able to attend in-person networking events, you can still engage with your contacts virtually. Schedule phone or video chats with mentors, sponsors, and peers you admire. Let them know about your leave, ask for their advice on managing the transition, and offer your support or expertise in return.
Don’t forget about the power of social media for maintaining visibility and expanding your network. LinkedIn is an especially valuable platform for professional brand-building. Share articles, insights, or personal updates related to your field or parental leave experience. Comment on others’ posts to add value and spark conversation. You may even consider writing a short blog post about a professional topic you’re passionate about, showcasing your expertise while on leave.
4. Set Realistic Expectations for Your Return
As your maternity leave winds down, it’s natural to feel both excited and anxious about the prospect of returning to work. One of the best ways to ease this transition is to work with your manager to set clear, realistic expectations for your re-entry.
Initiate a conversation about your return several weeks before your planned start date. Discuss any changes to your role or team that occurred during your absence, and clarify what deliverables or milestones will be expected of you in the first 30, 60, and 90 days back. Make sure you’re aligned on any modified schedule or flexible arrangements, such as gradually ramping up from part-time to full-time hours.
If possible, negotiate a “soft return” where you come back on a Thursday or Friday before jumping into a full week. This can help you acclimatize to the routine of working parenthood without feeling overwhelmed. Some companies also offer “phase back” programs that allow new mothers to work reduced hours for their first weeks or months back, which can be a hugely beneficial way to strike a healthy balance.
As you prepare to re-enter the workplace, be kind to yourself and realistic about what you can accomplish as a new working mother. Your priorities and bandwidth have fundamentally shifted, and that’s okay. Focus on doing a few things well rather than overextending yourself to prove a point. Communicate proactively with your manager and team about your needs and constraints, and don’t hesitate to ask for help or adjust expectations as needed.
Remember, the transition back to work is a process, not an overnight switch. It’s normal for it to feel challenging at times as you find your new equilibrium. Trust that the skills, knowledge, and relationships you’ve built over your career are still there, even if they feel a bit rusty at first. With time, patience, and self-compassion, you’ll find your footing and start making valuable contributions again.
5. Embrace Your New Identity and Perspective
Becoming a mother is a profound identity shift that touches every aspect of your life, including your career. As you navigate your return to work, it’s important to embrace rather than downplay this transformation. Motherhood brings a host of new skills, insights, and priorities that can actually make you a more effective and well-rounded professional.
For example, managing the demands of an infant is a crash course in efficiency, prioritization, and adaptability. You learn to accomplish tasks quickly, delegate non-essential responsibilities, and pivot gracefully when plans go awry. These are all highly transferable skills that will serve you well in any fast-paced work environment.
Motherhood also tends to crystallize what matters most in life, leading many women to approach their careers with greater intentionality and purpose. You may find yourself less willing to tolerate toxic work cultures, unproductive meetings, or misaligned values, and more inclined to advocate for meaningful change. This clarity of conviction can be a powerful asset as you progress into leadership roles.
On a practical level, don’t shy away from integrating your parental identity into your professional brand. Mention your children in casual workplace conversations, display family photos in your office, and bond with other working parents on your team. By normalizing parenthood as a key part of who you are, you help create a more inclusive, family-friendly culture for everyone.
That said, it’s also important to invest in maintaining a sense of self outside of your roles as employee and mother. Make time for hobbies, friendships, and solo pursuits that bring you joy and fulfillment. Regularly reflect on your professional goals and values to ensure your career path still aligns with your authentic self. Cultivating this multifaceted identity will help you show up to work as your best, most energized self.
Conclusion
Maternity leave is a joyful, challenging, and transformative chapter in any woman’s personal and professional journey. By staying connected, invested in your development, and true to your evolving self, you can emerge from this period with renewed focus, resilience, and momentum in your career.
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to combining motherhood and ambitious career goals. What works for one woman may not work for another, and your own needs may shift over time as your children grow and your professional responsibilities evolve. The key is to stay attuned to your values, advocate for your needs, and surround yourself with supportive allies at home and work.
As more and more women successfully navigate this transition and ascend into leadership roles, they pave the way for better policies, cultural norms, and support systems for all working mothers. By sharing your own story, struggles, and triumphs, you become part of this vital cultural shift toward a world where women can thrive as both devoted parents and powerful professionals.
So embrace the journey ahead with confidence, knowing that your career momentum is yours to maintain and define. With intention, communication, and a commitment to your own growth, you can absolutely continue rising as a leader while savoring the incomparable joys of motherhood. Your best chapters are still unwritten.
