<h3>Returning to Work After the Loss of Your Baby</h3><p>Coming back to work after the loss of your baby is one of the most difficult steps you may ever take. It can feel surreal — like the world has kept moving while yours stood still. Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and stepping back into a routine that once felt normal can now feel overwhelming, even impossible.</p><p>You may find comfort in the structure of work, or you may struggle with the routine and the memories tied to your pregnancy. Both reactions are valid. There’s no “right way” to navigate this.</p><p>If it feels right for you, consider asking HR or your manager to send a message to your team before you return, explaining what has happened. This can ease the pressure of answering difficult questions or navigating awkward silences. You might include specific requests — such as asking colleagues not to avoid you or the subject, or alternatively, asking that your baby not be mentioned at all. You can also express that while you appreciate people’s care, you don’t want to be treated differently. Let them know how you’d like to be supported (or not) as you return, and that your boundaries may shift day by day.</p><p>This return isn’t about “moving on” — it’s about learning to carry your grief with you and adjusting to a new normal.</p><h3>Consider a Phased Return to Work</h3><p>If possible, explore a phased return. Being expected to work a full week straight away can feel overwhelming when you're still navigating deep grief. Starting with shorter hours or fewer days can give you space to breathe and adjust at your own pace.</p><p>Taking one day — or even one hour — at a time can make the transition feel more manageable. Speak with your manager or HR about what’s possible. Many workplaces are more flexible than we expect, especially when they understand the emotional weight you’re carrying.</p><p>You are not alone. And you don’t have to do this all at once. One hour, one task, one day at a time.</p><h3>Finding Support After Baby Loss</h3><p>Connecting with others who have experienced similar loss can be incredibly comforting. Support groups offer a space to feel less alone and more understood.</p><p>As bereavement therapist Dr. Peter Hanlon puts it, </p><blockquote><p><i>“The best thing to give a bereaved parent is another bereaved parent.”</i> </p></blockquote><p>Sometimes, just knowing someone truly understands your pain can offer a sense of solace and strength that words alone cannot provide.</p><h3>Grief Comes in Waves</h3><p>Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. Certain moments — a memory, a date, a conversation — can feel like waves crashing all over again. Recognising this, and giving yourself the space and tools to cope, can make those waves a little more bearable.</p>

Returning_to_Work_After_Baby_Loss_Navigating_Grief_in_the_Workplace_3aaf102c1d2735632ddfd8c6a5777cb208ff7812c0b426a4.png

Returning to Work After Baby Loss: Navigating Grief in the Workplace

Antrim

Armagh

Carlow

Cavan

Clare

Cork

Derry

Donegal

Down

Dublin

Fermanagh

Galway

Kerry

Kildare

Kilkenny

Laois

Leitrim

Limerick

Longford

Louth

Mayo

Meath

Monaghan

Offaly

Roscommon

Sligo

Tipperary

Tyrone

Waterford

Westmeath

Wexford

Wicklow

Condolence Books - Printed and Bound

RecaptureOne - QR Coded Memory Plaques

Mini Condolence Books - Printed and Bound

RIP.ie Sympathy cards

RIP.ie Acknowledgement cards

Condolence Book for Home Printing

Ogham Wishes

Angel Ornaments & Keepsake Boxes

Pressed Flowers with Verse / Photo

Religious & Spiritual

Hand-carved Celtic Wall Hangings

Mounted Prints

Thoughtfully penned Sympathy Cards. Designed and printed in Ireland by RIP.ie.

Send heartfelt thanks to those who supported you during your time of loss with our beautifully pen written Acknowledgement Cards.

Condolence Book Cover & Presentation Box - for Home Printing

Topic: Workplace Support

Returning to Work After Baby Loss: Navigating Grief in the Workplace

Memorial Gift Shop

RIP.ie Sympathy cards

RIP.ie Acknowledgement cards

Condolence Book for Home Printing