Should you change careers after birth?

I trained in postpartum care before I had a baby, and did a little bit of work for friends and for free. Meanwhile, I had a great job in Community Development before I had kids, it was reliable and reasonably well paid, so it was hard to take the leap and start my own business in an industry no one had even heard of.

But when I had my own baby the calling to postpartum work became much more urgent. The need for postpartum care was far greater than I had realised. I returned to work after my maternity leave was up, but the commute was long, the hours were inflexible and my breasts were leaking. I quit shortly afterwards to start my postpartum care business, Newborn Mothers.

Reassessing the direction of your life and taking stock of how you spend your time is one of the many side effects of having a baby. With parenthood comes a fresh perspective of how valuable our time is, especially when it infringes upon time spent with the newest family member. 

If you already found your job dull or unfulfilling before motherhood, chances are you’ll find it unbearable now - and I don’t blame you! Many new parents find themselves surprised at their urge to quit stable and reliable employment right at the time in their lives when they most need it.

So, this poses the million-dollar question: is it truly time for a career change? Finding a new career path that aligns with your new values and priorities is difficult but entirely possible. 

How does motherhood change your brain?

Our brains are always adapting in response to new learnings and life experiences, and never more than during the transition to motherhood.

Studies have shown that the postpartum period restructures our brain for the emotional, mental and behavioural load of caregiving. This developmental milestone even has its own name: ‘matrescence’, like adolescence.

In postpartum, the areas of our brain responsible for empathy and understanding others’ thoughts, feelings and needs are fine-tuned. This is to help us care for and sensitively respond to our children’s ever-evolving needs. With these significant changes taking place in our brains, it makes sense that the way we view every facet of our life is permanently altered.

How to choose the ‘right’ career change for you

First of all, congratulations on committing to finding a new career path that feels more aligned! Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy, particularly during what will be the most transformative stage of your life yet.

Your career change isn’t something to rush into. Here are a few questions you should explore to treat this decision with the respect and realism it deserves.

When did I feel most ‘in the zone’ in my previous career?

Hopefully, your previous career wasn’t all doom and gloom. It’s helpful to think back to the moments when you enjoyed what you were doing, it felt most natural, and you felt like you were making an impact.

What were your favourite parts of your past roles? What feelings did you experience during these moments?

I’m certain that these skills that you naturally excelled in can be transferred to your new career path in one way or the other. They’re valuable currency for your career change.

When did I feel most unfulfilled in my past role?

Now it’s time for some career shadow work.

What do you feel was missing from your previous career? When did you feel underwhelmed or understimulated? Which parts of the culture didn’t sit right with you?

It’s possible you are looking for something more meaningful and rewarding or something more flexible or closer to home.

By becoming crystal clear on what you didn’t like, you’ll know the ‘red flags’ to keep an eye out for in your new career path. It’s also important to ask yourself: Do I want a career change or a job change?

What do I need to earn from my career change?

What do you really need from your new career both emotionally and financially? Crunch the numbers and seek expert help where necessary to discern how much money you need, how much income you need to earn, and what soft and hard skills are required. Consider the long term too; a career change can be a short-term loss but more financially prosperous later. If you can afford it now, it may be a great investment in your future.

These hard questions will help you make the most educated and empowered choice possible before pursuing your career change, setting you up for long-term success and fulfilment.

How many hours can I work?

One of the many reasons parents look for a new career after having a baby is the inflexibility of most workplaces. Maybe the hours are too long, the commute is too far or there are too many breakfast meetings and Friday night drinks. Consider how many hours you would like to work, and when?

When my babies were little I would work from about 9.30-2.30 on two or three days a week, plus the odd weekend workshop or evening client visit.

Maybe it’s easier for you to work school hours, or maybe it’s easier for you to work weekends? Maybe you want to work fixed hours every week or maybe you’d prefer to make it up as you go along? Start by thinking about what would work best for you.

Who can I ask for help?

Always my favourite question! You’ve heard me talking about asking for help many times before. This may mean speaking to friends or family who have made career changes. You may want to talk to people in your new chosen industry or an accredited career coach. You might need to ask for extra support from your family or ask for help with childcare options. Asking for help will open your eyes to the different paths available and what it takes to make your career change a reality.

Yes, a career change is possible as a Newborn Mother

Many people will be perplexed by the timing of your career change; why on earth would a busy mother choose now of all times to pivot careers? To this I reply, motherhood changes our brains forever! Some mothers who are more nurturing and like to go with the flow may find that motherhood gives them a holistic sense of purpose and satisfaction in life.

However, motherhood will make other women feel more disciplined and ambitious, building their endurance and giving them a renewed sense of purpose and ambition. There is no right or wrong way to be a mother; the only golden rule is to honour what brings you peace and joy.

Do you find it increasingly impossible to ignore the calling to change careers? Then please do it! There is no need to conform to the stereotypes of what a ‘good mother’ looks like. A career change as a Newborn Mother will be difficult, but the skills learnt from your life experiences as a parent will also make you better at your job.

Both experiences - becoming a parent and changing career - may stretch you to your limits and possibly be the biggest personal development journey you have ever embarked on. But you will get better at business, and as you develop a sense of humour about the curveballs life throws at you, you’ll get back on the horse quicker each time after perceived rejection and failure.

Read More About Running a Business as a Mother: Does Running A Business Ever Get Easier?

The key to a career change is building your village

Having a baby does not have to be synonymous with sacrificing your career aspirations, but it does require effort and support, whatever your chosen career path may be. When I’m asked how I “do it all,” I answer that I don’t! It takes a village. In fact, the importance of building your village as a Newborn Mother is one of the biggest lessons of parenthood, and this is never truer than with a career change.

I love my work as a postpartum professional educator and throughout the birth of my three children, I was determined not to give up on my dreams. I’ll be the first to admit there is a lot of privilege involved here, but I’ve also built this life by regularly and consistently asking for help. 

My work as a postpartum professional has always been informed by how traditional societies view motherhood. Did you know in hunter-gatherer societies, many adults share childcare? Babies are not seen as a personal choice but a social responsibility, meaning the whole community takes care of the children.

Take, for example, Efe mothers, who spend just 40% of their time with their babies. In many cultures, words such as ‘uncle’, ‘aunt’, ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ have a much broader meaning. Women breastfeed each other’s children and everyone cares for babies while the biological mothers work.

I believe an essential step in building your village is adapting your mindset. Repeat after me: you do not need to be your child’s everything! Yes, you are a parent, but you are also a human; hopefully, many other adults in your life can support various elements of your children’s health and happiness. Motherhood was never designed to be a one-person job.

Another helpful lesson in building your village in preparation for a career change is working with what you already have. If you’re lucky enough to have your family close and available, ask for help. Maybe you can ask your husband to work from home or call your mum to look after your newborn once a week.

Lastly, be flexible with your concept of a ‘village’. If you don’t have family nearby, paid support is an excellent alternative; think doulas, playgroups, childcare, cleaners, dinner boxes - the list goes on. You can also build a community of neighbours, school friends, playgroups and more. There is no need to feel ashamed or guilty when asking for help. In traditional societies you wouldn’t even have had to ask!

Becoming a postpartum professional as a Newborn Mother

As the transition to motherhood changes your worldview forever, you may feel called to channel this passion for motherhood into your career change. Many people choose to train in professional postpartum care as a result of their own postpartum experiences - positive or negative.

A career in professional postpartum care is flexible and fulfilling. If you’re unclear on what a doula is, we are non-medical professionals who support women to step into their new roles as mothers with confidence and satisfaction. We provide emotional and physical support during this transition with offerings that are varied and fluid; some like to describe this work as ‘mothering the mother’. 

Every postpartum carer’s services will differ, but generally, we help new parents bond with their baby, offer emotional support, provide evidence-based information, refer to relevant professional support, connect the parents with fellow families, classes, and groups - and so much more.

As with all career changes, establishing yourself as a postpartum professional will take time and effort. It’s certainly not easy, but with care and commitment, it can be a wonderfully flexible career; you can decide your hours, your workload, how many clients you take on, and the specific services you offer.

If you want to change how women experience the transition to motherhood, this is a very rewarding job. If you believe that social and cultural change is necessary for shifting how postpartum care is viewed and want to end mother-blaming and shaming, a career in postpartum care could be just what you’re looking for.

Postpartum Education and Care Professional: A baby-proof avenue for becoming a postpartum professional

I’ve been working with new mothers for many years now and I’ve had three children of my own during this time, so I can confidently say that the Postpartum Education and Care Professional training is well and truly baby-proof! This is online postpartum training for professionals, which is accessible and flexible. As a lover of online courses, I see the immeasurable value in this learning format for mothers.

Every lesson is available in video, audio or text, and the workbooks are printable or you can fill them in online. We’ve got students who speak English as an additional language or who have disabilities or learning challenges and we pride ourselves on making our course flexible and accessible. If you feel there might be barriers to your participation, please reach out as we make every effort to be as accommodating as possible. 

Life as a Newborn Mother is full of the unexpected (understatement of the century, I know). With online learning, you can start and stop at your own pace. You don’t have to worry about being late, waking up your baby from a nap or putting on a bra. It almost sounds too good to be true, right?

And when unforeseen hiccups arise, such as your little one feeling sick or your nanny cancelling, you still don’t have to worry about missing out. The Postpartum Education and Care Professional training consists of lifetime access to twelve self-study training modules delivered on a private membership site. You can take your sweet time to make your way through the lessons, whether that’s a matter of weeks or even years.

If you’re the type of learner who craves interaction, I run a live class two or three times a year. This is your opportunity to ask questions, meet other students, and get some accountability to stay on track and finish the course. And it's all included in your enrolment.

Navigating self-doubt when changing careers

You can bet the moment you start seriously planning your career change is the exact moment your self-doubt will rear its ugly head with more determination than ever. The best advice I can give you is to feel the fear and do it anyway because there will be a lot of that during your career change. The good news is that with practice, you’ll become a pro at navigating self-doubt and backing yourself in the face of terrifying yet thrilling decisions.

One of my favourite sayings is “New level, new devil”. This applies to almost all aspects of life, but especially becoming a new mother and making a career change. Every time we push ourselves to the next level, we will encounter a new set of challenges.

Your career change as a Newborn Mother might feel scary, but it will also be rewarding and fulfilling. It’s common to feel doubts, like “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t know enough” or “No one would ever hire me”. But at the end of the day, isn’t the cost of inaction and wasted opportunities the scariest reality of all?

A career change as a Newborn Mother is equal parts scary and liberating

If you are ready to take a leap of faith with your career, you’re about to embark on a rollercoaster of emotions - and that’s the beauty of it! I could talk about the wonders of pursuing a career as a postpartum professional all day long, so feel free to reach out and learn more about how the Postpartum Education and Care Professional training could facilitate your career change into more fulfilling, flexible work.

Just like the transition to motherhood, a career change can be transformative, so embrace every step.