Returned to work following Mat Leave

[WhenLifeGivesYouLemons]

I'm a nurse and I have returned to work following Mat Leave. I only took 3 weeks of ML because my DH enjoys looking after DD and she's so easy to look after- slept though since 4 weeks, rarely cries etc. For a few weeks I have been really forgetful and absent minded. I've thought that I was doing a good job and then at the start of the next shift I'll have remembered I didn't hand something important over or that I wrote something down in the notes that didn't make sense. I had also been waking up with numb hands and feeling drowsy. The workplace is horribly understaffed and I didn't want to go on the sick or give my new managers the impression that I can't cope with work and a baby. I've since been to the GP after I nearly passed out at work and they've said that I have had a viral infection brewing for the past few weeks.

Essentially I've given my new managers a dreadful first impression of myself and I'm convinced that they think I'm a blithering idiot that should never have been registered. I've done a reflective account of the past few weeks to demonstrate that I have regretted not investigating my illness, telling my managers or acting upon it appropriately. I also feel like I need to give myself and my managers more confidence in my abilities. I was so good at this job and I know that I have in no way been myself in the past few weeks. Is there anything else that I should do to demonstrate to my managers that I'm not stupid or incapable?

[lightrain]

Do you think you might just need to take a bit more time off? 3 weeks is a very short time, your body will be nowhere near back to normal and that would probably explain why you're so absent minded. Is there a way that you could take mat leave now, even though you've returned? I'd discuss with HR.

[lightsandshapes]

I took a whole year and still felt I needed more! I would seriously take more time off! Your body has been through a massive change and also, even though dh is good with your baby, dd may need more mummy time. Are you breast or bottle feeding??

[lightsandshapes]

I took a whole year and still felt I needed more! I would seriously take more time off! Your body has been through a massive change and also, even though dh is good with your baby, dd may need more mummy time. Are you breast or bottle feeding??

[Bramshott]

Do you mean 3 weeks, or 3 months? Either is pretty short, and it's no wonder you're still a bit under par.

This is a crappy time of year for illnesses, and if you're reasonably recently post-natal you will probably be at more danger of picking stuff up. Do you have some time off over Christmas? Sounds like you need a bit of a rest, and a new year /new start. Are there systems you can put in place temporarily to help you at work, like carrying round a notebook and quickly writing down anything you need to hand over?

[WhenLifeGivesYouLemons]

Dr has signed me off :( I just feel like I've been so unprofessional. I just want to communicate with my manager that it was totally unintentional

[BrianButterfield]

It's not unprofessional - while there are people who can go back after a short time and be fine (usually with the help of a nanny, I would imagine), there's a reason why most people take longer than 3 weeks off. I suspect your managers may have secretly thought you were a little crazy to come back so soon anyway.