No matter how you are getting ready to go back to work — be it full or part-time, at the office or at-home — get yourself and your new, wee family ready for you to go back to work seamlessly, with these 10 tips:

1. Prepare to share the baby duties and household chores in a new way.

It’s just not fair to keep doing the full lion-share of the domestic responsibilities once you start working. And that means the divvying-up of duties moving forward has to be done right (or at least with the right intentions) in order to circumvent a whole lot of resentments and disagreements for you and your partner down the road. Decide who will do which household chores, drop-offs and pick-ups to day care, late night and early feedings, and other tasks now so that you can hope to achieve some balance in your daily duties when it all starts up. And as much as you can, make these decisions (of what you’re both reasonably okay with) during a serious, family, at-the-table discussion.

Having a plan is what we, at PPB, are all about! Print our year one blueprint out, here:

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2. Rearrange your priorities.

Once your newborn makes her way into the world, your priorities will naturally need to be rearranged. But remember, just because your baby has become a HUMONGOUS, new priority…your top priorities still  also include your partnership and the importance you place on your work. If you can keep these 3 as your “high-trifecta” (if you will) or your daily mantra (“Marriage, Baby, Career!”) — you can’t help but succeed a little more with them all. And being a well-rounded, contented, fuller person will make you a much better mom.

Learn the many values of retro-parenting your modern family, today:

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3. Make bedtime routine EXTRA special.

Even when you’re totally pooped, when you decide that you will make your baby’s night-time routine an extra special time for the two of you, every night, they will soon become some of the most cherished memories you will ever share.  But for now, know that you will both start to look forward to it every night, when you get home — and that’s motivation enough to muster up the energy (especially after a long day at the office) to make it count.

Here’s how we create a magical bedtime routine:

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4. Prepare your daycare.

There is no reason your daycare can’t accommodate your baby’s schedule. And when they do, the transition for everyone is much more seamless.

Get our tips on how to help your daycare providers help your family, here:

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5. Keep the schedule consistent at home.

Don’t let the guilt of getting home late or having to be away for a work trip make you believe it’s better to get your baby off-schedule so you can spend more time with her. There will be plenty of other times and reasons that that will happen anyway! Your baby will need consistency above all else when you return to work. So let her know she can start to rely on her “new normal” as quickly as possible by sticking to her schedule as much as you can when you’re at home.

Get all our schedules by clicking the pic below:

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6. Manage your guilt, as best you can.

When you’re working, you’ll probably be wishing you were at home. But know that the chances are you may not be that much more satisfied if were staying at home full-time. According to Dr. Leon Hoffman, director of the Pacella Parent Child Center, many working mothers wish they were home with their children, but while at home, they wish they were back at work! The bottom line? Being a mom is a guilty pleasure, no matter where you are doing it. So if you can gain perspective on your situation and are confident about why you’re in the workforce, you can get through even the toughest days with a little less guilt.

Join other moms in keeping that mommy guilt at bay: workingmomsagainstguilt.com

7. Make time for yourself too.

When you’re stressed out by work, the time you actually get to spend with your family won’t be quality time. Of course the irony is that that’s what they need most from you when you get home from a long day away at work. That means you need to make you time a priority too by doing what you need to care for yourself and de-stress:

Here are some me-time suggestions that help us:

-meditate for 5-10 minutes in a quiet room (like really go in to another room, lock the door, and sit cross-legged with a meditative purpose)

-pour yourself a glass (or two or three!) of some vino

-journal about your day before bed or start a “gratitude journal” to keep the focus positive

-light a festive, scented candle near you while you’re doing something mundane (like dishes) to remind yourself to stay centered and that you’re life is busy, but beautifully blessed

-schedule a massage, a mani/pedi, or anything that relaxes you or that you’ll look forward to (like a concert or a trip)

-decide you’ll start readng a book (that has nothing to do with your career) before bed, every night

8. Make meal times as simple as you can.

Reduce the amount of time you’re spending in the kitchen. There are tons of fabulous meals that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, and others that can be made ahead of time. We love pulling out the slow cooker for a meal that is ready when you walk in the door — think of what a comforting aroma that is for everyone to come home to.

Check out these quick and healthy recipes: workingmother.com

9. Make the most of your commute time.

Making the most of your drive-time can turn your stressful commute into a time to unwind. Listen to your favorite music (like go and actually buy or upload the CD you’ve been wanting to buy for your car), an audio book, or walk or bike to work if you are close enough. Prepare for your car life! You might also consider carpooling or taking public transportation so you can actually enjoy reading a book, socializing on the phone, or daydreaming.  The point is to try to use the time you spend commuting as a time that can either help you prepare for work on your way or a time to prepare to transition to come home.

10. Get tips on pumping at work (if you plan to).

We love these breast-milk pumping tips from working moms, in Parenting magazine: 

What you need:

  • “Don’t cheap out on a breast pump. Buy the best you can afford.”
  • “Keep a pump at home and another one at work. This will eliminate schlepping and stop panic when you forget it due to mommy brain.”
  • “At work, double up on the pump parts that need to be washed. That way, when you’re in a rush, you’ll have backups for your next session.”
  • “Buy a hands-free pumping bustier. It may seem silly until you realize you can pump and balance your checkbook at the same time. Genius.”
  • “Keep an extra bra, blouse, and breast pads in your office for leaks.”
  • “Be patient and committed. You’ll be fine.”

Helpful hints:

  • “Ask ahead of time for an arrangement if your company doesn’t have a lactation room and you don’t have an office.”
  • “Be committed. Aggressively protect pumping time by blocking it off on your schedule.”
  • “A discreet note helps keep people from barging into your office.”
  • “Accidents will happen. Laugh them off.”
  • “Pump as soon as you get to work. In the morning you’ll have more milk and you’ll be less likely to put it off once you’re involved in a project.”
  • “No matter how busy your day gets, don’t let yourself become engorged. This puts you at high risk for mastitis.”
  • “Keep photos of your baby in your pumping bag to help stimulate milk production. Or watch a video of your baby on your phone.”
  • “Relax. Stressing out makes it all the more difficult.”
  • “Consider learning how to hand express milk. In a dire emergency, you can do this in a restroom to relieve pressure until you can pump.”

Timeline for Preparing to Pump:

Get to know your pump while you’re still on maternity leave. Adjust the dates if you have a longer leave. Note: If you’re breastfeeding a child under the age of 1 and work for a company with more than 50 employees, U.S. law requires your employer to provide a private lactation room, and it can’t be the ladies room.

Before baby’s born: Buy a pump or two and extra parts. Consider a hands-free model. Open the box, and examine and wash the parts. Read all of the instructions.

2 weeks after baby’s born: Pump once a day in the morning when you’re likely to produce more milk, and include your partner in a feeding. Try different bottls and nipples if necessary.

Baby is 1 month: Optional: Pump a few times a day and freeze the milk to build up your supply for when you go back to work. Date and double bag milk before freezing. Use the oldest first.

Before you go back to work: Go over the procedures for breast milk storage, thawing, and feeding with your baby’s caregiver. Set up a system for your caregiver to record the ounces your baby eats.

You’re back at work: Track the number of ounces you pump daily. Keep up with how much your baby eats, but don’t stress if you need to supplement with formula. Any amount of breast milk is good.

Any time: Your body can adjust to a new feeding or pumping schedule. Gradually reduce pumping sessions, but still maintain a basic schedule such as nursing before and after work.