9 Things to Do at Work Before Maternity Leave

A Practical Guide for Career Moms Preparing for Maternity Leave

Pregnant and preparing for maternity leave? Here are 9 essential things every career-driven mom should handle at work before giving birth — from FMLA paperwork to insurance coverage and your postpartum return plan. Access the Free Resource Hub for Career Moms for nurse-designed checklists, trackers, and printable tools to make this transition easier.

Feeling overwhelmed by what to do before maternity leave?

If you’re pregnant and trying to figure out what needs to happen at work before you deliver — you’re not alone. Between FMLA paperwork, HR forms, payroll details, and insurance deadlines, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing something.

As a career mom postpartum recovery mentor, I’ve guided countless professional women through this exact phase — women who manage teams, deadlines, and calendars, but suddenly realize no one taught them how to prepare for maternity leave itself.

So, let’s make it simple. Here are nine things you should take care of at work before your baby arrives to ensure your transition into postpartum life is as calm, covered, and confident as possible.

And if you’d like all the nurse-designed tools to stay organized — grab free printable checklists, planners, and recovery trackers inside the Free Resource Hub for Career Moms .

1. File for FMLA Early

Start by checking your eligibility for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act). It grants up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave — but only if your employer has at least 50 employees and you’ve worked there for a year.

Here’s what most moms miss: FMLA doesn’t start automatically. You have to file the paperwork, and that process usually involves a medical certification form from your OB provider and approval from HR.

Ask these three questions early:

• When is the deadline to submit my forms?

• Do I qualify for income coverage through PTO or short-term disability?

• How will FMLA protect my benefits while I’m away?

If you deliver early and haven’t submitted your paperwork, your job protection may be at risk. Handle this first — it’s your foundation.

2. Confirm Your Leave Dates

Once FMLA is filed, confirm exact start and return dates. Are they based on your due date or your delivery date?

Also clarify what happens if:

• You go into labor earlier than expected

• You’re induced

• There are holidays or company closures during your leave

Make sure all of this is documented — even just in an email thread. That clarity will protect you when your mind is focused on healing, not HR policies.

3. Review Your Health Insurance Coverage

During unpaid leave, your paycheck stops — but your health insurance premiums don’t.

Ask your HR rep:

• Will premiums be deducted from my final paycheck?

• Do I need to pay monthly out-of-pocket while on leave?

• How do I add my baby to my plan after birth?

You usually have just 30 days to add your baby. Get the instructions now, save your contact person’s email, and bookmark your benefits portal.

4. Order Your Breast Pump

Most insurance plans cover a breast pump, but you need to order it through an approved provider (like Aeroflow or Edgepark). You can typically apply between 28–30 weeks.

You’ll need your due date and possibly a prescription from your provider. Shipping takes time — so order early. That way, you can unpack, sanitize, and learn how your pump works before your baby arrives.

5. Choose and Confirm a Pediatrician

Hospitals often ask for your baby’s pediatrician before discharge — so make this decision now.

Steps to take:

1. Check your insurance network for in-network pediatricians.

2. Call to confirm they’re accepting new newborn patients.

3. Ask whether they do hospital rounds or only office visits.

Pick someone whose communication style and office hours work with your lifestyle. You’ll see this provider often during the first few months.

6. Complete HR and Payroll Forms

Before you go on leave, make sure your HR paperwork is updated. This may include:

• Your W-4 if you’re adding a dependent

• Direct deposit verification

• Short-term disability or PTO coordination forms

Once your baby arrives, you may need to submit documentation to trigger your benefits. Keep everything together — digitally or in a labeled folder — and share the location with someone you trust in case you need help submitting anything postpartum.

7. Prepare Your Work Exit Plan

You don’t need to finish everything before you leave — but you do need to make your exit clear.

Write a brief handoff summary of ongoing projects, include key contacts, and set an out-of-office message that reflects your true availability.

If your company tries to loop you in during leave, it’s okay to gently remind them you’re on medical leave and focusing on recovery and your baby. Boundaries protect your peace — and your healing.

8. Know How to Report the Birth

Depending on your benefits, you may need to report your baby’s birth within 48–72 hours to activate insurance or formalize your leave.

Ask your HR contact:

• Who should I notify?

• What documents do I need?

• What’s the deadline?

Save a draft email now so you can send it easily once the baby arrives.

9. Mentally Disconnect and Give Yourself Permission

This last step is the hardest for career moms — letting go.

You’ve been in planner mode for months, managing calendars and deadlines. But motherhood isn’t another project to complete — it’s a transition.

You’re allowed to slow down.
You’re allowed not to check email.
You’re allowed to rest.

Stepping back doesn’t mean you’re less committed to your career. It means you’re giving yourself the time and space to heal — which is the most productive thing you can do right now.

Take the Guesswork Out of Your Transition

If you want nurse-designed checklists, postpartum recovery guides, and printable tools to help you stay calm, organized, and confident during maternity leave — access my Free Resource Hub for Career Moms .

Inside, you’ll find:

• A maternity leave prep checklist

• A postpartum recovery planner

• Pumping and return-to-work guides

• Emotional wellness worksheets for working moms

It’s everything you need to prepare — without overwhelm.

You’ve worked hard to build your career — and you deserve to enter motherhood feeling informed and supported, not stressed and scrambling.

Download the resources, set your boundaries, and remember: you don’t have to plan your postpartum alone.