5 Things You Need to Know About Maternity Leave & Your Mental Health
As you are getting closer to your due date, there is a lot of preparation that has to be done. And you might have already checked off a few things from your list, with a lot more to go. And this includes understanding the maternity policy of your workplace. When can you avail your maternity leave? How many sick leaves you can take in a month? All of this should be taken into consideration.
For many moms-to-be, deciding when to take maternity leave depends on a lot of factors. It depends on how long you can afford to take the leave, your company’s leave policy, and how your take-home pay is going to be affected by this. And, of course, let’s not forget your mental health status when you return to your workplace. A lot would have changed from the time you left your cabin a few weeks back to when you go back after your maternity leave. The biggest thing being – you are a mother now. Here are five things you need to consider regarding your postpartum mental health before you take time off from work:
1. Don’t Feel Bad For Taking Maternity Leave
Don’t feel bad for taking time off from work. Taking maternity leave will help create a stronger bond between you and your baby. It’s crucial to give your mind and body enough rest after giving birth. Taking maternity leave can improve the mental health of a new mother (1). So, skip the maternity leave guilt and enjoy the time you have with your baby.
2. Being A New Mother Can Be Stressful
Adjusting to the new role of a mother can be a stressful and anxiety-ridden experience for a woman. Many women deal with postpartum depression and anxiety in the first few weeks of giving birth (2). Hence, it’s important to take care of yourself and prioritize self-care before you go back to work.
3. Availing Maternity Leave Can Benefit Your Career As Well
Taking maternity leave has more than a few benefits. It can have a positive impact on your employment and lifetime earnings. Being financially secure, you will be able to take time off from work and spend more time with your baby. It can have a long term impact, up to 30 years, according to a Harvard study (3).
4. Deciding The Length Of Your Maternity Leave
There is no magic number as to how long you should take your maternity leave. It depends on many factors including your company’s maternity policy, whether that leave will be paid or unpaid, and if it is going to affect your take-home pay in any way. Since maternity leave can improve the mental health of a mother, the more time you give yourself after giving birth, the better your mental health status will be. New mothers can experience postpartum depression, baby blues or postpartum psychosis soon after birth. Familiarizing yourself with the symptoms of each condition can help you seek prompt treatment.
Consult your doctor if any of the postpartum depression, baby blues or postpartum psychosis symptoms (4):
- Continues even after 2 weeks
- Gets worse with time
- Affects you taking care of your baby
- Involve any thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
- Makes it tough for you to do everyday chores
5. Focus On You And Your Baby
Leave work at your office and don’t bring it back home when you are spending time with your baby. Give your mind and body enough rest. Use this time to focus on yourself. And spend quality time with your baby as much as you can. If you are breastfeeding, learn about pumping as you’ll be doing that a lot more once you go back to work.
Welcoming a baby into your home can be a joyous and overwhelming time for a new mother. Don’t overwork yourself and don’t hesitate to seek help from your friends and family. Pay attention to your mind and body and prioritize self-care above everything else.
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