In addition to settling into your role after a period of absence, there are various things which might feel difficult for you. There might be colleagues who are pregnant or those who visit during their maternity leave to introduce their new baby. There might also be colleagues who have experienced the death of a baby at an earlier time. If you are the birth mother colleagues may have seen you pregnant so might be more sensitive to your situation. For fathers, co-mothers, foster parents and adoptive parents, the loss may seem less obvious to other people and more isolating for you.
Grief can be tiring. You may be surprised at how exhausted you feel and you might find that you struggle to concentrate and remember things. You may find that you are very sensitive to what people say, or that you lack confidence about making decisions. Some parents become frustrated with themselves and anxious that they can no longer cope with work. However all of these reactions are common effects of grief, and should pass with time and support.
If you suddenly feel overwhelmed, take a break if you can. You could possibly go for a short walk or find a quiet space to be alone. You may also find it helpful to find somewhere private to talk to a sympathetic colleague, phone a family member or friend, or phone the Sands Helpline. If you find that being back at work is too difficult, you could talk to your manager or employer about having some more time off or talk to your GP and see if you can have sick leave.