Postpartum feelings

• Many women go through emotional changes after giving birth.
• You can take steps to help manage stress.
• Postpartum depression is serious; ask for help.

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Lots of women go back to work or school after they have a baby. You may be ready to get back to your regular routine and be with your coworkers and friends again.

But it may be hard for you to leave your baby with a caregiver all day, even if it's a family member or a close friend. Also, it may be hard to find a caregiver you trust. You and your partner may disagree about what type of child care is best for your baby. You may be upset and angry that you can’t stay home with your baby all the time. What you can do
Talk to your partner about child care for your baby. Figure out how much you can spend and what kind of care you want. For example, you can have a caregiver come to your home to take care of your baby. Or you can take your baby to a child care center. Ask friends and family members about who took care of their baby when they went back to work. Maybe you can use the same person or service.

If you're using a day care center, ask for the names and phone numbers of people who have used the center. Call to ask how they felt about the center's care.

Ask your boss if you can ease back into work. Maybe you can work a few hours a day at the beginning instead of all day. Or you might be able to work a few days a week instead of 5 days a week.

See also:  Choosing a child care provider

May 2009