Returning to Work After Baby: What Jamie Wishes She Knew (Guest: Jamie Blackall)
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You’ve spent months preparing for birth—reading the books, taking the classes, maybe even folding tiny onesies with tears in your eyes (no judgment, we’ve all been there). But let’s be honest: most of us spend way less time preparing for what comes after baby arrives—especially when it comes to the emotional rollercoaster and logistical chaos of returning to work postpartum.
This week on the Doula Talk podcast, I sat down with Jamie Blackall, a former teacher turned virtual assistant, homeschooling mom, and all-around powerhouse. Our conversation was raw, real, and a much-needed reminder that navigating the return to work after baby deserves just as much preparation—and compassion—as the rest of the journey into parenthood.
So, let’s talk about what it really means to go back to work postpartum—and how you can start preparing now for a more supported experience.
The Invisible Load of Returning to Work Postpartum
Most pregnant women are handed a pamphlet about hospital bags and swaddling techniques, but no one gives you a heads-up about the emotional gymnastics of returning to work. Jamie shared that, even with years of experience as a teacher, nothing truly prepared her for the internal conflict she felt leaving her baby to return to a demanding, inflexible job.
For so many families, the return to work isn’t just about daycare and pumping schedules. It’s about identity. It’s about guilt. It’s about the pressure to "bounce back" while you're still healing physically and emotionally.
If you're nodding along thinking, Yep, this is what I'm worried about, you're not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
Start Planning Now: Postpartum Is More Than a Diaper Budget
One of the biggest takeaways from our chat? Most families don’t realize they need a postpartum plan until they’re already drowning in exhaustion and spreadsheets.
Creating a postpartum plan during pregnancy isn’t about control—it’s about care. It’s about anticipating what kind of support you’ll need emotionally, practically, and professionally. That includes:
Mapping out your maternity leave and understanding your rights
Planning your return timeline (even loosely—you’re allowed to change your mind)
Discussing division of labor with your partner or support team
Creating a realistic feeding and pumping plan that supports your mental health
Building a support network (think therapist, postpartum doula, best friend, neighbor with snacks)
If your birth plan gets laminated but your postpartum plan is “we’ll just figure it out,” I gently invite you to flip that script.
Giving Yourself Permission to Pivot
One of the most powerful parts of Jamie’s story? She gave herself permission to say this isn’t working. After pushing through two years of postpartum work struggles—pumping in closets, hiding tears in staff meetings, and carrying the guilt of “not being enough”—she made a bold pivot.
She left traditional employment and built a more flexible, family-centered career working from home.
Now, I’m not saying every new parent needs to or is able to quit their job and become a VA. But I am saying that if your current plan doesn’t align with your mental health, family needs, or values—it’s okay to make a change. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for choosing your well-being.
Guilt, Pressure, and Unrealistic Expectations: You’re Not Broken, The System Is
Let’s pause here for a little soapbox moment. The pressure to be a high-achieving professional, a present parent, a meal-prepping goddess, and a perky postpartum human with clear skin and strong pelvic floor muscles? It’s absurd.
Jamie and I both agreed—guilt is part of the postpartum experience, but it doesn’t have to define it. One of the best ways to navigate guilt and overwhelm is to remember this simple truth: support is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. That includes:
Childcare you trust
Therapy or counseling
Meal trains or postpartum doulas
Flexible work arrangements
Saying no. Often.
You are not broken because you’re struggling. You are a human being navigating one of the biggest transitions of your life—and you deserve to be supported through it.
Preparing Emotionally for the Return to Work
Let’s get real: no checklist can fully prepare your heart for that first day apart from your baby. But that doesn’t mean you can’t care for your emotional well-being along the way.
Here are a few tips I often share with clients during postpartum planning sessions:
Name your feelings. Guilt, grief, relief, rage—it’s all valid.
Find your people. That could be a support group, therapist, or postpartum doula.
Decide what success looks like now. Spoiler: It’s not doing it all perfectly.
Build in buffer time. Don’t overpack your schedule those first few weeks back.
Prepare your "bad day" plan. Who can you call? What’s your emergency comfort routine?
You don’t have to push through. You don’t have to suck it up. You get to ask for what you need.
You Deserve to Be Held, Too
As Jamie so beautifully said in the episode: “There’s no medal for doing it all alone.” And yet, so many new parents feel like they should be able to juggle everything without dropping a ball.
Friend, you were never meant to do this alone.
If you’re pregnant and thinking about what life after baby might look like—whether you're returning to work, staying home, or still figuring it out—I want to encourage you to start building your postpartum support system now. That includes emotional support, practical logistics, and space to change your mind.
Need help figuring it all out? My Postpartum Planning Sessions and First Year Support Program were created exactly for this reason—to give you expert guidance, a compassionate sounding board, and a personalized plan that actually fits your life.
Ready to Get Real About Postpartum?
🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode with Jamie here
📝 Download the FREE Postpartum Logistics Checklist
📅 Book a Postpartum Planning Session
Other resources you may want to check out!
🎁 Downloads & Tools: Learn all the things you need to know before having your baby
• Preparing for Parenthood Workbook: For practical planning and emotional prep
• Postpartum Meal Planning Workbook: Support your recovery with real food and real rest
💜 Ongoing support: Access support and referrals at your fingertips from personalized consultations or doula calls for customized guidance.
• First Year Support Program: Weekly or monthly doula calls tailored to you
• Prenatal Consults: Let’s talk through your birth prep and recovery plan
Jamie Blackall
As a wife, mother of two, and former educator, Jamie experienced firsthand the challenges of returning to work after childbirth while navigating postpartum struggles. What she expected to be a smooth transition became an overwhelming experience that reshaped her perspective on work, motherhood, and self-care. Now a homeschooling mom and passionate advocate for maternal well-being, she shares her journey of healing, self-discovery, and the difficult but transformative decision to step away from traditional employment.
Got a question for Jamie? Send an email to podcast@douladeb.com and we’ll get it to her!
