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Going back to work after having a baby can bring up a lot of questions. You may be thinking about your responsibilities at work, child care, money, your health, or whether it’s time for a new path. The good news is that you do not have to figure it all out at once. Texas has programs and tools that can help you plan your next step.

Where to Begin

Returning to work can look different for every family. Some parents go back to the job they had before the baby. Others are looking for a new job with a different schedule, different pay or a shorter commute. Some parents choose to go back to school or get training for a new career. 

A good first step is to think about what your family needs most right now. You may want to ask: 

  1. When do I plan to return to work? 
  2. Can I go back to my current job? 
  3. Do I need child care? 
  4. Do I need a different schedule or work support? 
  5. Is this a good time to look for a new job or go back to school? 

You don’t need to have every answer today. Take it one decision at a time.

Returning to Your Current Job

If you plan to go back to your current job, it helps to start planning early. Think about your return date, your child care plan and what support you may need at work.

Understand Your Rights

Some workers have legal protections when returning to work after pregnancy or childbirth. Employers may be required to give parents a certain amount of time off or provide accommodations when returning to work. It’s important to know what rights you have before talking to your employer about next steps.

Talk with Your Employer

Talk with your employer about your return date, work schedule and any other support you may need. It can help to make a list of questions ahead of time. Talking with your employer can help your family plan for your return.

Ask for Accommodations

If you need changes at work because of pregnancy, recovery or breastfeeding, ask as early as you can. Accommodations might include extra breaks, a place to sit, limits on lifting, schedule changes or a private pumping space. Most employers are required to provide these types of accommodations.

There are several laws that protect parents returning to work. These include: 

  1. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act says employers that have more than 15 employees must provide reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy and childbirth. This includes providing accommodations related to lactation and recovery from childbirth. To learn more, read What to Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. 
  2. The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, protected leave for the birth of a child. It applies to public agencies, schools and companies with 50 or more employees, but not every worker is eligible. To see if you’re eligible, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website. 
  3. The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act helps protect breastfeeding workers. It says employers must provide reasonable break times and a private space that’s not a bathroom for pumping breast milk for up to one year after a child’s birth. To learn more, read about lactation laws. 

Finding Child Care

Child care is one of the biggest parts of a return-to-work plan. If you need care, start looking as early as possible. Some child care programs have waitlists, and it may take time to find the right fit. 

Texas Health and Human Services has a Child Care Search tool that helps families find licensed child care programs and review inspection histories. This can help you compare options and make a more informed choice. To start your search, visit the Search Texas Child Care page. 

The Texas Workforce Commission also has a search directory for child care programs. To find out more, visit the Texas Child Care Connection website.  

If paying for child care is a challenge, Texas Child Care Services may be able to help. It offers child care scholarships for eligible families with low incomes who are working, looking for work, in school or in job training. Services are handled locally, so eligibility and wait times can vary by area. To learn more and find out if you qualify, visit the Texas Child Care Connection website. 

Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites

The Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites (TMFW) directory provides a list of employers who are recognized for supporting breastfeeding employees. To become a Texas Mother-Friendly worksite, employers should have: 

  • A written lactation support policy. 
  • Flexible break times. 
  • A private place to pump. 
  • Access to water. 
  • A clean place to store milk. 

To find a list of Texas Mother-Friendly worksites, visit the TMFW directory. 

Explore New Job Opportunities

Sometimes going back to the same job is not what’s best for your family. You may need a job with different hours, a shorter commute or better benefits. When you search for a new job, ask yourself: 

  • Will this schedule work for my family? 
  • How long is the commute? 
  • Does the job offer benefits? 
  • Is the workplace supportive of parents? 
  • Will I need child care? 

There are resources in Texas to help you search for a job. WorkInTexas is the official state job-matching website. It lets you search for jobs, post resumes and get job alerts. It’s free to use and includes openings across Texas, including state jobs. To start your search, visit the WorkInTexas website. 

If you need help with your resume, interview skills or job search, you can get support through your local Workforce Solutions office. These offices can provide resume help, career counseling and other services to help you find a job. To find your local Workforce Solutions office, visit the Texas Workforce Commission’s Find Locations page.

Return to School 

Some parents may consider a larger career change, including returning to school to finish a degree, earning a certificate or completing training. Choosing to pursue a new career or returning to school can be a big step, but Texas has tools that make it easier to explore your options. 

My Texas Future is a free planning tool. It can help you explore careers, compare education and training options and learn how to pay for school. If you’re not sure what kind of work you want, the career exploration tools can help you learn about jobs that match your interests, strengths and goals. It can also help you understand what education or training you may need. To explore career and education options, visit MyTexasFuture. 

Related Resources

What to Expect from Your Employer When You’re Expecting
WIC Breastfeeding, Returning to Work & Child Care Training
Texas Workforce Commission Job Search