By Harriet Wright - Branch & The SABI
The return to work after having a baby isn’t just logistical, it’s deeply emotional. You’re recalibrating a life that no longer fits the way it did before. And while your calendar might show 9-5, what it doesn’t show is what it takes to arrive, as a mother, as a professional, as someone trying to feel human again.
We know this terrain well. As working mums and founders, we’ve lived the early returns, the messy transitions of building business while caring for our families, and everything in between, breastfeeding, leading teams, and navigating the fog of reentry…
For many of us, the return is a quiet reckoning. A tender dance between guilt and ambition, between a body that still aches and a brain expected to perform. And in that fragile space, micro self-care becomes not a luxury, but a lifeline.
Here are the small practices (and powerful rituals!) we return to. Ones that come from lived experience.
-
Let Music Shift the Mood
Sound cuts through overwhelm. In just a few minutes, music can change your breath, your pace, your inner weather.
We recommend creating two short playlists:
-
To energise and empower (for those tough mornings or pre-presentation nerves):
“Freedom” – Beyoncé, “I am Woman” – Helen Reddy, “Just Fine” – Mary J. Blige -
To soothe and regulate (post-daycare drop-off or wind-down moments):
“Holocene” – Bon Iver, “River” – Leon Bridges, “Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Radiohead
Even 3 minutes before you step back into the house or office can become a ritual of return, to yourself.
-
Reclaim Skincare as a Ritual, Not a Routine
When you’ve spent the day nourishing everyone else, skincare can become your soft re-entry into self.
Try turning your evening cleanse into a ritual:
-
A hot flannel to melt tension.
-
A few deep breaths with SABI’s Active Nutrient Serum, infused with rosehip, black pepper and adaptogenic herbs, designed to soothe reactive, hormonal skin.
-
A final layer of the Prebiotic Cream, rich and grounding, safe for breastfeeding and sensitive skin.
This is creating a moment that’s yours. No guilt. No multitasking. Just care.
-
Words That Ground You
On days when confidence wavers, language can steady you. Tiny mantras - taped to your mirror, saved in your Notes app - can offer surprising strength.
A few to try:
-
“I do not need to be everything at once.”
-
“I am allowed to transition slowly.”
-
“My softness is not a weakness.”
-
“Every version of me is worthy.”
These reminders don’t change reality. But they help you move through it with a little more grace.
-
The Pre-Pick-Up Pause
There’s a sacred moment before you collect your child from childcare. Or just after you’ve said goodbye for the day. Most of us rush through it, thinking about emails or errands.
What if you didn’t?
Sit for one minute. Five breaths. One hand on your heart. Let the noise settle before you step into the next role. We transition all day long, but rarely honour those crossings. This one matters.
-
Honour the Return With One Small Joy
You don’t need to overhaul your wardrobe or reinvent your routine. Just pick one small object that honours this next chapter.
-
A notebook for your new ideas
-
A nourishing lip balm that lives in your pocket
-
A calming cup of Mama Recover Infusion, our favourite blend of raspberry leaf, oat straw, and lady’s mantle, designed to replenish postpartum mothers gently and naturally
-
Shared Care is the Real Self-Care
I’ve learned, through both motherhood and building two companies, that the most powerful kind of self-care isn’t individual, it’s collective. It’s not something you have to escape for. It’s something you receive when you’re seen.
Send the voice note. The messy, honest one.
“I feel frayed today.”
“I don’t know how to be both.”
“I’m touched out and running on empty.”
Sometimes, the most healing thing isn’t advice, it’s hearing “same here.”
That’s why I built Branch, a peer support programme designed for women navigating the messy middle of motherhood, identity, work, and everything in between. With expert-facilitated groups and real talk that doesn’t flinch, it’s a space where you don’t have to hold it all alone.
Because as founder, mum, and woman, I’ve felt it first-hand: the deepest care is shared care and connecting honestly with others.
You Deserve More Than Survival
Returning to work isn’t about snapping back. It’s about reassembling. About learning how to feel like you again, piece by piece.
You don’t need a silent hour or a perfect morning. You just need a few anchor points—one song, one cup of tea, one woman who listens.
The SABI builds products to support this: hormone-safe skincare, nourishing infusions, rituals made for your wellness. At Branch, We connect women returning to their careers for honest conversation, peer support and community.
And between the two, we hope you find what you need to not just keep going, but to feel yourself again.
Even in small moments.
Especially there.
ABOUT HARRIET WRIGHT - Cofounder & CEO Branch
Harriet is a second-time founder with a decade of experience building businesses. After helping grow FT Strategies at the Financial Times, Harriet transitioned to Techstars, where she experienced the challenges of returning to work after maternity leave. It was through this personal experience and the support of a small group of women that the idea for Branch was born. Now, as the founder of Branch, Harriet is dedicated to helping women navigate the return-to-work journey. The Branch groups programme connects women across organisations when they return to work, providing invaluable support.
FURTHER READING
-
Branch: Group Programme for Women Returning to Work
-
NHS: Returning to Work After Having a Baby
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/returning-to-work-after-having-a-baby
-
Mind UK: Maternal Mental Health Support
-
PANDAS Foundation UK
https://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk
HORMONAL & PROUD
Created as a brand to help women navigate the toughest moments in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum — and practically every stage of life –– The SABI is changing the narrative around our hormones from one of taboo, embarrassment, and loneliness to awareness and even, pride. As more than a wellness brand, The SABI offers a carefully-crafted line of products to carry you through your hormonal journey, including rituals, supportive tools, and ancient herbal remedies that have been tested time and time again by women and now come backed by medicine. The SABI is a blend of science and nature conceived by women who have experienced the joys and deep struggles of bringing a child into the world, the pains of a heavy, difficult period, miscarriage, and difficulty conceiving.
We invite you to get to know your body and its cycles better –– to really understand what is going on inside. Learn to use your hormones to your advantage no matter your stage of life, and know that you can support and balance your hormone levels. We are here to help with the information, understanding and natural tools to support your body and the emotional process along with it.
DISCLAIMER
The SABI blog and articles are not meant to instruct or advise on medical or health conditions, but to inform. The information and opinions presented here do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals for your unique situation.
