Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: 8 Ways to Feel More Confident

Career Coaching for Women Returning to Work after Maternity leave

You've had the baby shower, you’ve welcomed a tiny new human into the world and somewhere between the endless feeds, muslin cloths permanently draped over your shoulder and the faint aroma of sour milk, you've learnt how to become someone's mum.

You've probably never been more exhausted, or more in love.

For a while, work has felt like another lifetime and then, almost without warning, maternity pay begins to dwindle, conversations turn to nursery settling-in sessions, and returning to work after maternity leave suddenly feels very real.

Whether you're genuinely looking forward to going back (let's be honest, there are definite perks to drinking a hot cup of tea and finishing a sentence uninterrupted) or returning simply because the bills need paying, this can be one of the biggest transitions of your career.

As a career coach, I often work with women at this exact pinch point. They tell me they don't feel like the confident professional they were before maternity leave. Instead, they worry they've lost their edge, forgotten everything they once knew or somehow fallen behind. You may feel uncertain at this time, that your identity has disappeared. It hasn’t; it’s expanded, but that doesn't mean the transition is easy.

Whilst you've been immersed in motherhood, work hasn't stood still. Projects have moved on. People have joined and left. Teams have restructured. Relationships have shifted.

Even if you've used your KIT (Keep in Touch) days, it's completely normal to feel like the child returning to school after being off with a tummy bug. Everyone else seems to know what's going on whilst you're quietly trying to work out where everything is and whether you're supposed to know what everyone is talking about.

Some changes are obvious - "We're now using a different system” or "Our priorities have changed." Those are easy enough to learn.

The harder part is the invisible knowledge like the unwritten rules, the office dynamics and the conversations that happened whilst you were away. These are subtle shifts in workplace culture and ways of working that nobody thinks to explain because they've lived through them. This is often where confidence takes a knock.

Prepare before you leave

If you're still pregnant and planning your maternity leave, a little preparation now can make your return much smoother.

Find out:

• What your maternity leave policy includes.

• How many KIT (Keep in Touch) days you'll be able to use.

• Who will be covering your role (and how)

• How you'll be kept informed about important organisational changes.

• Whether you'll return to the same role.

• What the flexible working policy looks like and, just as importantly, whether people genuinely use it.

Policies tell you what's possible in a workplace and the slippery fish that is Workplace Culture tells you what's probable.

It's also worth understanding your legal rights before you return. If you're unsure about anything, ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) has excellent guidance on returning to work after maternity leave and flexible working requests.

Is it normal to lose confidence after maternity leave?

Absolutely. Many women mistake feeling rusty for no longer being capable but they're very different things.

Your brain has been focused on a completely different role for months, perhaps even a year. It's only natural that your confidence feels a little shaky as you step back into meetings, conversations and projects that once felt second nature. One thing I always come back to in coaching is that confidence grows because of action, not before it.

Give yourself permission to feel uncertain and sit with this. It doesn't mean you've lost your ability, it simply means you're finding your feet again.

Give yourself permission to be a beginner

It's okay not to know everything at first - ask questions, take notes, connect with colleagues, and seek guidance for what isn't in the handbook.  Most people are far happier to help than we imagine, and asking for help is a sign of confidence, not weakness.

Reconnect with your professional identity before your first day back

Returning to work doesn't begin on your first morning in the office. A week or two beforehand, spend a little time dipping your toe back into your professional world. Read an industry article, listen to a podcast whilst you're out walking with the pram or arrange a coffee with a trusted colleague. These small steps can make work feel familiar again and remind you that the capable professional you were hasn't disappeared.

Has my career fallen behind whilst I've been on maternity leave?

This is probably the question we explore the most in coaching women returning to the workplace after maternity leave. When you've spent months immersed in motherhood, it's easy to assume everyone else has been racing ahead whilst you've been standing still.

But careers aren't linear and neat for everyone (as I well know with my very squiggly career!), they're made up of seasons and phases.

Some seasons are about building professionally. Others are about building your family. Neither is more valuable than the other.

Celebrate what motherhood has taught you

It's easy to focus on what you think you've lost but take a moment to recognise everything you've gained.

Motherhood develops skills that every employer values like resilience, empathy, communication, prioritisation, adaptability, problem solving and making decisions under pressure.

You've become brilliant at switching between competing priorities, reading people, staying calm in challenging situations and keeping going when you're running on very little sleep.

You may not have added another qualification to your CV, but you've developed as a leader and as a person. Don't underestimate that.

Build your support network before you need it

As you’re probably already realising, returning to work is going to look a whole lot different to the last time you were there. This time, you need to think about childcare logistics, nursery bugs, balancing the mental load, sharing responsibilities and navigating a completely different rhythm of family life.

Talk openly with your partner or support network about who will do what. Think ahead about those inevitable moments when childcare falls through or your little one is poorly.

Having a plan A (B and C!) won't remove every challenge, but it can remove a huge amount of unnecessary stress.

Protect your boundaries from the beginning

It can be tempting to prove yourself all over again when you return to work. To say yes to everything, answer emails late into the evening, to overcompensate because you've been away but your worth was never erased by maternity leave.

Set expectations early around your working hours, childcare commitments and availability. Healthy boundaries don't make you less committed at all, they make your career sustainable.

Consider a phased return

Not every employer offers this, but if yours does, it's worth exploring.

A phased return could mean gradually increasing your hours, using annual leave to shorten your first few weeks or easing back into larger projects rather than jumping straight in at the deep end.

There's no prize for making the transition harder than it needs to be. A gentler return often benefits both you and your employer.

A final thought

Returning to work after maternity leave for many isn’t a piece of cake and you may need time to rebuild confidence, rediscover your professional identity and work out how your career now fits alongside the life you've created. It’s important to give yourself time and remember your first week back won't define the next year.

How coaching can help

Returning to work after maternity leave can bring excitement, uncertainty and everything in between. Coaching gives you the space to think clearly, rebuild your confidence and navigate this transition with intention rather than simply surviving it. Together we explore boundaries that protect your family life, strengthen your wellbeing and help you create a career that works for the life you want now, not the one you had before your baby arrived.

I'm Kate Oatley, a life and career coach based in Wiltshire, working with women across the UK online and in person. With a degree in Psychology, professional coaching qualifications and many years' experience supporting women through career transitions, I combine evidence-based coaching with practical strategies to help women navigate life's biggest pinch points. Whether you're returning from maternity leave, considering a career change or wondering what's next, I help you understand the psychology behind change so you can move forward with confidence, purpose and fulfilment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request flexible working after maternity leave?

Yes. Many parents choose to explore flexible working when they return, whether that's adjusted hours, compressed hours, hybrid working or part-time arrangements. Before speaking to your employer, familiarise yourself with your organisation's policy and your legal rights. Going into the conversation well prepared often leads to a more constructive discussion.

How long does it take to feel settled back at work?

There's no set timeline. Some women feel comfortable within a few weeks, whilst others take several months to find their rhythm. You're adjusting to a new way of balancing work and family life, so be patient with yourself. Feeling unsettled at first is entirely normal.

How can coaching help when returning to work after maternity leave?

Coaching provides a confidential space to explore your worries, rebuild your confidence and think about the kind of working life you want to create. Rather than simply reacting to each challenge as it comes, you'll develop practical strategies, stronger boundaries and a clearer sense of how you want your career to fit around your family life.