Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Handle the Guilt and Separation Anxiety episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 20 MIN

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Handle the Guilt and Separation Anxiety

from Working Mumma · host Carina O’Brien

Missing your baby at work? Feeling like your heart is in two places at once? You’re not alone, and more importantly, there is nothing wrong with you. In this episode, Carina talk's about one of the most common (yet rarely spoken about) parts of returning to work after maternity leave: that quiet ache of missing your baby, the constant mental juggling, and the guilt that seems to follow you everywhere. If you’ve ever sat at your desk wondering how your baby is doing, felt distracted in meetings, or questioned whether you made the right decision going back to work, this conversation is for you. You’ll learn: Why missing your baby at work is completely normal (and actually a good sign) What’s really happening during this transition into working motherhood Why the guilt and overwhelm peak early, and how it gets easier over time How to gently navigate the emotional stretch of being in “two worlds” Practical, real-world strategies to feel more present, at work and at home, without adding to your mental load This episode is not about “fixing” how you feel; it’s about helping you understand it, permit yourself to experience it, and find your rhythm again. Because you’re not failing, you’re adjusting to one of the biggest transitions of your life. Connect with Carina and Working Mumma  Follow on Instagram  Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter 

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 16, 2026

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Missing your baby at work after maternity leave? Carina shares what that ache really means and how to find your rhythm in this new season of life

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Returning to Work After Maternity Leave? How to Handle the Guilt and Separation Anxiety

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