Back to Work After Baby: Childcare, Nanny Prep, and Mom Guilt

In this episode of the Early-Momming Podcast, Hillary and Erica talk about one of the biggest transitions in early motherhood: going back to work after having a baby. Erica shares what it was really like to return to work after 12 weeks of maternity leave, including the emotional lead-up, the sadness of leaving the newborn bubble, and the surprising identity shift that comes with stepping back into professional life while still feeling deeply attached to your baby. They also talk through the practical side of returning to work: setting boundaries with email, preparing before maternity leave, organizing personal information outside of a work account, and making the transition smoother for both mom and baby. A big part of this episode focuses on childcare — especially the decision to hire a nanny. Erica shares how she and Nate weighed daycare, family help, and nanny care, what they looked for in a nanny, how they handled interviews, what questions helped them find the right fit, and how they onboarded their nanny before Erica's first day back at work. Resources: [https://www.babysettler.com](https://www.babysettler.com) Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple or Spotify—it helps more moms find this support