The U.S. has the smallest maternity leave compared with most other countries. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll have 12 weeks alone with your baby. The freedom will feel short-lived, which makes appreciating every moment extremely important. If your workplace allows flextime, see if you can\u2019t use that opportunity for those first few weeks to squeeze in extra cuddles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The best-laid plans don\u2019t go according to plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDo you have a to-do list that is a mile long? Don\u2019t try to cram too much into those 12 weeks. You\u2019ll quickly realize your reality now that you\u2019re home with baby: she needs a lot of time and attention, and you need to recover. Not to mention, postpartum hormones can feel like a rollercoaster, which can prevent you from getting much done anyway. Use the time to bond with your baby; the rest can wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re worried about missing baby\u2019s milestones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re hoping that all of her \u201cfirsts\u201d (smile, giggle, clap or rollover) will happen during those 12 weeks, you may sadly be mistaken. These things don\u2019t typically happen right away and you\u2019ll have to come to terms with the fact that they could happen while you\u2019re at work. Here\u2019s a better reframe: they may be her firsts but it won\u2019t be her last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re thinking of work and how you\u2019ll balance it all<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOddly enough, when you become a mom you automatically get better at multitasking and being productive. Your ability to get organized and prioritize tasks gets even stronger. But how will you balance the demands of your job and your baby? After a short while, it will all become second nature and you\u2019ll figure all of it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling the pressure to \u201cbounce back\u201d after baby<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile on maternity leave, the dress code is sweat pants or yoga pants and a nursing top. On most days, looking \u201cpresentable\u201d is not on your radar. And it will take your body awhile to adjust back to its normal shape. You may need to suck it up and buy a few new items to fit this in between time for when you go back to work and need to \u201cdress up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not having anyone around for support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOne of the hardest things about maternity leave is that usually once the excitement dies down, it\u2019s just you and your baby. You feel isolated and alone. Try to make plans for adult conversation or quality time spent with other new moms. Or consider suggesting that your friends throw you a postpartum party, which helps new moms transition into their role with the help of supportive friends and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling envious about the freedom your partner has<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs a new mom, you\u2019re around your baby 24\/7. And if you\u2019re also breastfeeding, there\u2019s even more attachment. And yet, your partner can just rush off to work like it\u2019s NBD. Even with the most supportive person, it\u2019s hard to not feel a little bit envious of the freedom. Just remember that if you really thought about it, you wouldn\u2019t want to trade for anything else in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Panicking over trusting another person to care for your child<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere will come a day when you have to hand your baby over to a virtual stranger and it\u2019s the hardest thing about maternity leave. In your mind there\u2019s no way another person can love and protect your baby like you do. Do your research before deciding on child care, have a backup plan and then try to relax, you\u2019re doing the best that you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling like you haven\u2019t done anything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEat, sleep, repeat for every 24-hour time period. This is your new life with baby. Feeling like you\u2019re in a time warp is normal. Keep your focus on bonding with your baby because you can\u2019t ever get those moments back. Everything else can be taken care of another time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the most part, there isn\u2019t a concrete routine <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBecoming a mom for the first time brings a lot of chaos. Unlike with work, you really don\u2019t know what to expect. There\u2019s no job description, manual or person training you. In the beginning, the baby throws a wrench into everything and that\u2019s perfectly normal. Things will eventually become second nature but right now it\u2019s expected that you\u2019ll feel your way through everything. And that can be especially hard for new moms. Normal will come later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join the other 1,000,000+ expecting mamas who love Bump Boxes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re hoping that all of her \u201cfirsts\u201d (smile, giggle, clap or rollover) will happen during those 12 weeks, you may sadly be mistaken. These things don\u2019t typically happen right away and you\u2019ll have to come to terms with the fact that they could happen while you\u2019re at work. Here\u2019s a better reframe: they may be her firsts but it won\u2019t be her last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re thinking of work and how you\u2019ll balance it all<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOddly enough, when you become a mom you automatically get better at multitasking and being productive. Your ability to get organized and prioritize tasks gets even stronger. But how will you balance the demands of your job and your baby? After a short while, it will all become second nature and you\u2019ll figure all of it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling the pressure to \u201cbounce back\u201d after baby<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile on maternity leave, the dress code is sweat pants or yoga pants and a nursing top. On most days, looking \u201cpresentable\u201d is not on your radar. And it will take your body awhile to adjust back to its normal shape. You may need to suck it up and buy a few new items to fit this in between time for when you go back to work and need to \u201cdress up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not having anyone around for support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOne of the hardest things about maternity leave is that usually once the excitement dies down, it\u2019s just you and your baby. You feel isolated and alone. Try to make plans for adult conversation or quality time spent with other new moms. Or consider suggesting that your friends throw you a postpartum party, which helps new moms transition into their role with the help of supportive friends and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling envious about the freedom your partner has<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs a new mom, you\u2019re around your baby 24\/7. And if you\u2019re also breastfeeding, there\u2019s even more attachment. And yet, your partner can just rush off to work like it\u2019s NBD. Even with the most supportive person, it\u2019s hard to not feel a little bit envious of the freedom. Just remember that if you really thought about it, you wouldn\u2019t want to trade for anything else in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Panicking over trusting another person to care for your child<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere will come a day when you have to hand your baby over to a virtual stranger and it\u2019s the hardest thing about maternity leave. In your mind there\u2019s no way another person can love and protect your baby like you do. Do your research before deciding on child care, have a backup plan and then try to relax, you\u2019re doing the best that you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling like you haven\u2019t done anything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEat, sleep, repeat for every 24-hour time period. This is your new life with baby. Feeling like you\u2019re in a time warp is normal. Keep your focus on bonding with your baby because you can\u2019t ever get those moments back. Everything else can be taken care of another time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the most part, there isn\u2019t a concrete routine <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBecoming a mom for the first time brings a lot of chaos. Unlike with work, you really don\u2019t know what to expect. There\u2019s no job description, manual or person training you. In the beginning, the baby throws a wrench into everything and that\u2019s perfectly normal. Things will eventually become second nature but right now it\u2019s expected that you\u2019ll feel your way through everything. And that can be especially hard for new moms. Normal will come later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join the other 1,000,000+ expecting mamas who love Bump Boxes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While on maternity leave, the dress code is sweat pants or yoga pants and a nursing top. On most days, looking \u201cpresentable\u201d is not on your radar. And it will take your body awhile to adjust back to its normal shape. You may need to suck it up and buy a few new items to fit this in between time for when you go back to work and need to \u201cdress up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not having anyone around for support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOne of the hardest things about maternity leave is that usually once the excitement dies down, it\u2019s just you and your baby. You feel isolated and alone. Try to make plans for adult conversation or quality time spent with other new moms. Or consider suggesting that your friends throw you a postpartum party, which helps new moms transition into their role with the help of supportive friends and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling envious about the freedom your partner has<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs a new mom, you\u2019re around your baby 24\/7. And if you\u2019re also breastfeeding, there\u2019s even more attachment. And yet, your partner can just rush off to work like it\u2019s NBD. Even with the most supportive person, it\u2019s hard to not feel a little bit envious of the freedom. Just remember that if you really thought about it, you wouldn\u2019t want to trade for anything else in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Panicking over trusting another person to care for your child<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere will come a day when you have to hand your baby over to a virtual stranger and it\u2019s the hardest thing about maternity leave. In your mind there\u2019s no way another person can love and protect your baby like you do. Do your research before deciding on child care, have a backup plan and then try to relax, you\u2019re doing the best that you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling like you haven\u2019t done anything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEat, sleep, repeat for every 24-hour time period. This is your new life with baby. Feeling like you\u2019re in a time warp is normal. Keep your focus on bonding with your baby because you can\u2019t ever get those moments back. Everything else can be taken care of another time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the most part, there isn\u2019t a concrete routine <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBecoming a mom for the first time brings a lot of chaos. Unlike with work, you really don\u2019t know what to expect. There\u2019s no job description, manual or person training you. In the beginning, the baby throws a wrench into everything and that\u2019s perfectly normal. Things will eventually become second nature but right now it\u2019s expected that you\u2019ll feel your way through everything. And that can be especially hard for new moms. Normal will come later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join the other 1,000,000+ expecting mamas who love Bump Boxes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a new mom, you\u2019re around your baby 24\/7. And if you\u2019re also breastfeeding, there\u2019s even more attachment. And yet, your partner can just rush off to work like it\u2019s NBD. Even with the most supportive person, it\u2019s hard to not feel a little bit envious of the freedom. Just remember that if you really thought about it, you wouldn\u2019t want to trade for anything else in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Panicking over trusting another person to care for your child<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere will come a day when you have to hand your baby over to a virtual stranger and it\u2019s the hardest thing about maternity leave. In your mind there\u2019s no way another person can love and protect your baby like you do. Do your research before deciding on child care, have a backup plan and then try to relax, you\u2019re doing the best that you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feeling like you haven\u2019t done anything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEat, sleep, repeat for every 24-hour time period. This is your new life with baby. Feeling like you\u2019re in a time warp is normal. Keep your focus on bonding with your baby because you can\u2019t ever get those moments back. Everything else can be taken care of another time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the most part, there isn\u2019t a concrete routine <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBecoming a mom for the first time brings a lot of chaos. Unlike with work, you really don\u2019t know what to expect. There\u2019s no job description, manual or person training you. In the beginning, the baby throws a wrench into everything and that\u2019s perfectly normal. Things will eventually become second nature but right now it\u2019s expected that you\u2019ll feel your way through everything. And that can be especially hard for new moms. Normal will come later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join the other 1,000,000+ expecting mamas who love Bump Boxes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eat, sleep, repeat for every 24-hour time period. This is your new life with baby. Feeling like you\u2019re in a time warp is normal. Keep your focus on bonding with your baby because you can\u2019t ever get those moments back. Everything else can be taken care of another time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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