Baby brain

emer_b

I'm going back to work soon after 11 months maternity leave (my second mat leave in 3yrs). I feel brain dead! I know I haven't exactly been mentally challenged in the last year, just physically. I also know that I will get back up to speed eventually but I feel a lot slower to process things and retain information now than I did after my first baby.

I work in a specialised profession that requires a lot of high-speed, accurate decisions so I'm a little nervous.
Just wondering if others have experienced this and how long it took to get back to professional mode after mammy mode?

Obviously I'm getting less sleep than before but I'm not sleep deprived and have two happy healthy children that cause me no worry (very thankful!)

John Mason

I am back at work about 4 months and only now I feel like I have a grasp on what is happening.

There had been a restructure when I was on leave and have come back to a completely different department, structure, systems, team etc. everything was different except for my desk.

It probably wont take as long if you are going back to your old job,

Good luck

madeinamerica

My guy is 10 months now and I'm back to work since he was 3 months (lack of mat leave in USA). By now I find that my brain is actually OK and I can function. My job isn't as demanding as yours as mostly I just need to do my work but i need to read a lot to keep up with my area and for a couple of hours a day I have to really concentrate and be on the ball in meetings/presentations, which I found doable but exhausting at the start but now that I'm not so sleep deprived it isn't that difficult. I found that trying to eat well, drink lots of water, go for a short walk to wake up and be organised helped (the organised bit didn't go so well for me...). I try not to rely on coffee as i find i crash again later. Also, if you are pumping: I sometimes have to put it in my calendar to make sure I don't forget! Of course your boobs will remind you but it might be too late by then.

If there are any other new Mums or even not-so-new Mums in your work place or that do your job elsewhere that you know, do get in touch with them. Having someone else who has gone through it and knows what it is like in your shoes can be helpful for advice but also to feel that you aren't the only one if it is sometimes hard and have a bit of a bitch with. There aren't many women with kids in my job so the few are very helpful to know.

You'll get back into things but it will take a little while so cut yourself some slack at the start. I went back all guns blazing and took on extra responsibility at the start and it was a mistake.

emer_b

Thanks guys. Back to work after 3 months, God I just could not have coped. We are so lucky to have extended leave here.
Yes there are some other mums that will be working with me and I'm sure some of us will be in the same boat. I'm just quite surprised at how slow, mentally, I feel. I literally cannot concentrate on more than one task/project at any given time. I'm a big fan of making lists and keeping on top of things so that will help.

I guess it's just going to take time to adjust to the working mum role and I'm finding it a bit daunting seeing as the mum role on its own is so challenging!!

madeinamerica

Yeah I didn't really cope very well either. It was hell. One major reason we will be leaving the us!! But I guess my point was that now at 10 months, my brain is a lot more normal!! I'm sure it'll take you a bit to adjust and it won't be easy but you'll do it.

Lists are great, and Google calendar runs my life!

Mink

It was a few months for me to get back to optimum brain speed, I daresay close on 6mths, but I reckon that was more to do with less broken sleep. Sometimes having an 8hr sleep broken more than once during the night ends up feeling like less than 4hrs sleep.

Going back to work after 3 mths sounds like a living hell, I was barely feeling human or showering more than twice a week at that stage. My friend is pregnant over in US and isn't even quite taking the 3 months, she'll have no family over there either, I just can't imagine it.

pwurple

It's tough, and down to lack of sleep mostly. I went back full time when the babies were 5 months each time, and had been picking away at small bits of work before that. Nerves alright, but you'd be surprised what you remember as well.

A few nights disturbed though and my brain is barely functioning again.