Sarah was well-versed at the fine art of excelling. A Division 1 collegiate soccer player, she transitioned with ease into the highly-competitive corporate world after graduation, working for a well-respected global IT company. Moving from an entry-level events planner to senior manager within five years, Sarah was well-known in the organization for tending to urgently needed adjustments in real-time. Then, in August 2018, she was excited to learn she was pregnant. The next spring, Sarah and her husband welcomed a baby girl named Amelia Jeanne, or AJ for short.
Navigating Postpartum Depression at Work
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but these seven strategies can help.
November 01, 2021
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Summary.
More people are starting to become aware of the basics of postpartum depression (PPD) and how common it is in the weeks and months after giving birth. But most people don’t know that PPD can strike up to a year after giving birth — long after most maternity leaves are finished — and that the stress of returning to work is a risk factor for exacerbating PPD. Failing to understand PPD before and during return to work can be dangerous to your wellbeing and your career. This article will help you understand some small steps you can take to lower your risk and return to work with confidence. These include: calling on your village for support, embracing who you are, avoiding social media, reclaiming sleep, educating yourself, returning to work slowly, and recognizing when your return to work plan needs a change. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the spectrum of PPD, but making these investments in your own postpartum physical and mental health are investments in your career and well-being.