How do you cope with your anxiety when coming to the end of maternity leave?

Is it not possible to take additional time off work if that is your priority. Or phased in return to work?

Literally in the same boat… we are looking to get a nanny until September, working more from home and dropping to 4 days/week for a while

I felt like this, I was pretty devastated towards the end at the thought of going back, but it wasn’t even 10% as bad as I imagined. The first week was hard, but my daughter was absolutely fine, and I think it was her adaptability that helped me. Seeing her okay made me okay.

I had crippling anxiety about returning to work last month and if I’m honest, it’s been absolutely fine! Getting into a new routine was hard but now we’re in the swing of it, we’re all doing well!
Nothing I can say will make it feel better, I cried daily for weeks in the lead up to my return, but you will be ok ♥️

I returned to work last week and thought I'd be crying all day long on my first day. I was anxious leading up to it and cried whenever I thought about it but I honestly enjoyed being back, seeing my colleagues again etc.
Maybe I'm just weird but there are even moment I forget I'm a mom and feel a bit like my old self again 😅
I'm only back part time, working 3 days a week and only 2 of those from the office. This is the perfect way for me personally to transition back. I'm doing this until September

Who is looking after baby ? My mom is with mine which has made it easier for me too.

In the same boat but I think personally it’s a good thing as you can get to speak to different people and not just be known as a mummy and feel like your old self I’m nervous too about going back , hope everything goes well for you xx

I feel exactly the same. I return next week, but have been able to cut my days down, so I'm thankfully only going back 2 days. I'm so anxious about going back, but I know it'll be good for me once I'm settled back in. I felt the same with my first and he was 2 when I returned to work 😂 my husband is able to have baby this time, which I think is making it a bit easier but I still don't want to leave baby

To me it was like climbing up a mountain... everything on the way up was super upsetting and gave me anxiety attacks and everything. Then once you get over that hill and start walking down, you slowly start to feel better again. Don't get me wrong, I'd still love to be on maternity and it's been over a year since I've been back. But it does get easier