What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?

I sacrificed too much of myself for my husband’s career.

FOR MOMS: If you breastfed, was there a place for you to pump that met your needs and was conducive to your success? If you breastfed, how did you decide to continue? FOR DADS: What, if any, adjustments did you (or your workplace) make to your schedule after having a baby? Was it specific to your manager or larger, whole work culture?

I had difficulties with milk production, but I wanted to breastfeed as long as possible. I fell a month shy of my goal.

How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?

11 Weeks. I went back to work the day after Mother’s Day. The anxiety about going back to work was worse than the actual return to work.

What was your biggest challenge going back to work?

I was transferred to a new office while I was out on leave. There was a lot of anxiety about starting a new position. I did not feel that I had much support from my employer during this transition.

Fill in the blanks: As a working parent, I never expected ____ would be so hard and ____ would be so much easier!

The hormones. I teared up just responding to this survey.

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