Hi all! I have suffered through PPP 14 months ago. I am now returning back to work after being off almost a year on my maternity leave. I work for an airline so my schedule is irregular. It’s shift work. So sometime I have to wake up at 2:30am to be at the airport at 5:00am. I will of course try my best to go to bed very early the night before and even take Melatonin occasionally if I have to (or some kind of over-the-counter sleep medication) - that way I get at least 6 hours of solid sleep before waking up in the middle of the night.
But I know we have to really watch our sleep patterns after experiencing PP. I’m confident that as long as I sleep 6 hours prior and take a 2 hour nap or so during the day after my shift - I should be ok but I’m naturally still a little nervous. Unfortunately it’s unavoidable to have odd hours at my work. (But it’s not everyday so that’s good). Does anyone else work off night shifts? How do you manage?
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EquineBeauty
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It’s good that you feel ready to return to work after having PP. I didn’t work shifts after my PP but worked on a part-time basis. Reading your other posts I see you are in Florida? I wonder whether the airline has a Human Resources department, as with some employers here in the UK? Just for support as you navigate any changes in the workplace since your maternity leave.
I’m sure other mums will be here to offer better advice. I think you have been signposted to Postpartum Support International at postpartum.net and there are also other mums from across the miles here for you.
It took me much longer to feel ready to return to work so you are amazing 🌻
So I had my first shift yesterday and didnt get home until 2:30am. But I did sleep in today and I feel good. My job is technically part-time also. I work about 3 days a week. We do have an HR department but if I reach out to them and say that I can’t work the early morning shifts they will probably offer a job accommodations packet meaning they would transfer me to a lower paying less desirable department. I really don’t want that as I enjoy my job. HR in the US isn’t very accommodating to mental health. I have 3 shifts coming up that require me to be there at 5am. I’ll see how I do. I’ll try my best to sleep at least 6 hours prior. If I’m feeling off I’ll probably just call in sick for the rest of them and then try to trade shifts with colleagues. But hopefully as long as I get plenty of rest before and after I’ll be ok.
I am happy to be back at work though and get back into my regular routine (before PP). It feels the same but also different as I never worried before about my sleep in any way. (Or my mental health for that matter.) Right now the most important thing is my mental health for sure.
I did join PSI and I recently became a PP task force member. We have our first phone call coming up January 28 and I’m excited to be part of the solution - in trying to prevent this disease from happening to women. Currently there is no screening in hospitals or education about watching out for signs of PP (inability to sleep, mania or hypomania and/or very depressive flat mood out of nowhere). PSI is working on creating a screening tool to distribute to hospitals all around the country. I really hope it gets adapted.
Thank you for your response! I’ll keep you updated as I get through my first month. Take care as well! ☺️🤗
Thank you so much for taking time out to reply. I’m glad you were able to catch up on your sleep today after arriving home from your first shift at 2.30 am. I hope the 5 am shifts will not be too much but as you say, if you’re feeling off, it’s best to call in sick or try to swap shifts with colleagues.
As mums we like to pick up where we left off but need to be mindful of how important sleep is, which you realise. It’s very sad to hear that HR in the US isn’t very accommodating to mental health and if you can’t work the early shifts you would probably be transferred to a lower paying, less desirable department.
Congratulations on becoming a PP task force member for PSI ☺️ I hope this will be an outlet for you to connect with other mums via phone calls on 28 of this month as it’s so comforting to reach out and be understood. Just to be that beacon of light and hope to those suffering will be very rewarding. It might be exhausting too but I’m sure the team will be there for each other.
I’ll be thinking of you. Try to go with the flow and not put too much pressure on yourself. Above all ….. sleep well 🌻
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To complain about post maternity care? 
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Accepting I need help but scared to admit things
Struggling 
