Navigating the transition: workplace support and sleep deprivation shape mothers’ return to work

Returning to work following maternity leave represents a critical transition in the postpartum period, often occurring while mothers are still navigating disrupted sleep, breastfeeding, and hormonal changes. Workplace conditions can either safeguard or intensify these challenges, affecting maternal mental health and wellbeing. This study explored the psychosocial experiences of mothers returning to work, focusing on workplace support and sleep deprivation. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using an open-ended online survey. Twenty-five UK mothers with infants under two years who had recently returned to work participated. Participants were recruited via mother-and-baby groups, social media, and personal networks using purposive sampling. Reflexive thematic analysis was used, with analytical attention to maternal mental health, workplace structures, and sleep-related challenges. Five interrelated themes were developed as follows: Drivers of return; Identity and emotional transition; Workplace conditions of return; Embodied strain; From individual struggle to structural awareness. Returning to work within the first two years postpartum is shaped by financial necessity, identity negotiations, disrupted sleep, and variable workplace support. Findings highlight the need for compassionate, flexible, and inclusive workplace policies that recognize the ongoing caregiving demands and support mothers's health and wellbeing during this transition and address broader systemic conditions influencing return to work experiences.