Helped by new government standards and improved childcare provision, mums now have more choice when it comes to deciding whether or not to work. Nowadays, 45% of new mums go back to work after the birth of their baby.

There are many important reasons why you as a first-time mum might want to continue working. Yours may be the only income if you are a single mum or your partner has been made redundant; you may be following a career; you may want to work to give you a sense of value; or perhaps because your own mother coped successfully with work and children. If you have always worked, you may also have to ask yourself if you would feel right about being dependent on your partner financially. Work can also give you another outlook on life – because staying at home with baby can often feel very isolating for some mums.

– Make sure you tell your employer as soon as possible about your pregnancy. Employers are legally required to keep a woman’s job open for her if she is going on maternity leave. If you are intending to return to work, discuss with your employer the opportunities for working part-time on your return. Or perhaps job-sharing (equally sharing your current hours with a colleague), or working more family-friendly, flexible hours (coming into work later and leaving earlier) may be possible. Sorting things out during your pregnancy will not only give your employer time to make new arrangements to help you. It will also enable you to organize good childcare where your baby will be loved and well cared for;

– There is a standard entitlement for maternity leave. In general, every woman who is in work while she is pregnant is entitled to at least 18 weeks’ maternity leave. Maternity pay depends very much upon your individual circumstances regarding length of service with your employer and your National Insurance contributions. Check your details first with your employer. If you need any further help, contact your local Benefits Agency Office (you’ll find the address in your phone book) who will be able to work out your entitlements based on your personal situation.

Whatever your reasons for working, you are bound to experience mixed emotions about leaving your new baby when the time comes. It is normal to worry that your baby will not be happy without you, or that his or her development will be affected because you are not there.

-A common worry is that your baby may feel more love for the person who cares for them while you are at work.

– You might also worry that your baby won’t be cared for properly.

Childcare

The secret to any working mum’s success and the way to make these worries disappear is organization. If you make carefully planned childcare arrangements that you are content with and are satisfied that your baby is being well cared for, this is sure to give you much more confidence about going out to work.

Options for childcare include:

– A family member or close friend. Perhaps you have a close relative, such as your mum or mum-in-law, or a trusted family friend with good experience of caring for her own children who is at home during the day and who could care for your baby;

– A day nursery. These are either privately run (and must be council registered) or under the control of your local council. Perhaps your workplace has its own day nursery or crèche. Using this facility can give you the opportunity to see your baby during the day, and you will also be nearby in case of illness or emergency. You will be able to find details of day nurseries and crèches in your area from your council social services department;

– A child minder. Child minders are usually mums themselves who care for children in their own homes. Anyone paid to look after children under five in this way must apply to register with the council social services department, who check the person’s suitability and those they can give a good standard of care;

– A nanny. A child’s nanny is someone who generally ‘lives in’, that is, shares your home and facilities. As nannies don’t have to be registered with the local council, it is very important you check that they have excellent personal references and are qualified to care for your baby. Recognized qualifications in childcare include the Diploma in Nursery Nursing (formerly the NNEB qualification), NVQ in Childcare and BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies;

– Whatever option you choose, remember that it is important to only entrust the care of your baby to a loving person who will look after your baby well. Before you make a decision on childcare for your baby, ask for recommendations from other parents. Visit a shortlist of care providers. Ask questions and go with your instincts – it’s a good sign if you like the feel of the place and the children there seem safe and happy.

Below is a useful list of questions to ask when considering childcare in day nurseries and with child minders. Jot them down to take with you when visiting possible baby-care providers. Then you can compare the responses and choose the best option for your baby.

Choosing childcare – questions to ask

– Is the child minder, day nursery/crèche registered with the local council? Ask to see their certificate of registration.

– What is the ratio of staff to babies/ children?

– Are the staff qualified to care for children? Recognized qualifications include the Diploma in Nursery Nursing (or NNEB), NVQ in Childcare, and BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies.

– What facilities are there, such as equipment, spaces to play?

– What sort of discipline is used?

– What would my baby’s day be like?

Make sure you explain your baby’s special needs to your child minder or crèche staff, for example, feeding information and likes and dislikes. It is also especially important that they know about any health problems your baby may have. Most importantly always leave a name and contact number with whoever is minding your baby so you can be quickly reached in an emergency.

When you are home, try to forget about work and make the most of the time you have together. Make baby’s bath times and feeding time’s special occasions for the whole family. Plan a head to book odd days off work so that you can spend all day with your baby. If you can have quality time with your baby when you are at home, there is no reason at all why being a working mum should have a bad effect on your unique relationship.

To make going back to work easier, stay in touch with colleagues while you are on maternity leave so they can keep you up to date with work news. Ask if it will be possible to return to work gradually, perhaps doing two or three days a week for the first month, which will help you to see if your childcare arrangements are working out.

As a first-time parent you cannot pretend that you only have yourself to please. But remember that you are also high up on the list of priorities in your new family. The important thing is to find a balance that is right for you.