Welcome to the final installment of my 3-part series on being pregnant as a travel nurse.
👉 In Part 1, I shared how I navigated pregnancy and prenatal care while constantly on the move.
👉 In Part 2, I walked through my unexpected labor and emergency C-section experience.
Now, in Part 3, I’m opening up about what life looked like after delivery: C-section recovery, managing postpartum anxiety, and transitioning back to work as a travel nurse and new mom.
🏥 C-Section Recovery: What They Don’t Always Tell You
Immediate Recovery: The First Few Days Post-Op
Before I even left the OR, I received a dose of morphine through my epidural. That first night was surprisingly manageable, but once I got home, the real healing began.
Pain management strategy:
- Rotated Motrin and Tylenol for baseline pain control
- Took hydrocodone PRN for more intense pain, especially during breastfeeding-related contractions
- Started walking early, which helped recovery but came with swelling in my legs and feet
Hydration, elevation, and movement made all the difference.
Scar Care & Mobility at Home
I left the hospital with 13 staples and covered the incision with gauze to avoid irritation. Within a few days, I no longer needed the covering. I gently cleaned it with soap and water, and at my two-week postpartum visit, the staples were removed.
Once healed, I began using scar cream to help fade the incision.
I also made it a point to stay as mobile as possible without overdoing it. Moving around helped with circulation and healing—but I reminded myself often to take it slow and listen to my body.
🧠 Postpartum Anxiety: The Emotional Side of Recovery
Let’s talk mental health.
It’s completely normal to experience baby blues, postpartum depression, or anxiety—yet so few people talk about it openly.
I dealt with postpartum anxiety that made me feel constantly on edge. I had irrational fears that something bad would happen to my baby or to me. At first, I was embarrassed to talk about it—especially since my husband didn’t fully understand mental health the way I did.
But reaching out changed everything.
I started Zoloft, and once it kicked in, I felt a huge shift in my mood and overall wellbeing. If you’re struggling too, please know: you are not alone. There is no shame in getting support.
🤝 Why a Support System Matters
I was lucky—my husband was home full-time, and we shared parenting duties. Even with that help, it was hard.
Between night feeds, exhaustion, and the emotional weight of new motherhood, support is everything.
If you don’t have close family nearby, consider:
- Joining mommy-and-me classes
- Connecting with local mom groups
- Leaning into online communities
Just having someone to talk to or share a coffee with can be a lifeline.
👩⚕️ Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
I took eight weeks off before returning to travel nursing. It was a huge adjustment. I resumed night shifts, while my husband stepped into his new role as a stay-at-home dad.
Our Routine Looked Like This:
- After my shift, I’d spend quality time with our son while my husband hit the gym.
- Once the baby was down, I’d get my sleep for the day.
- My husband would nap when our son napped.
- I’d wake up a few hours before work to pump and reconnect with the baby before heading out again.
🍼 Breastfeeding and Pumping Challenges
Let’s be honest—breastfeeding while working as a nurse is tough.
The hospital had a cozy lactation room, but some shifts were so chaotic that I couldn’t break away to pump. As a result, my milk supply began to drop, and we eventually transitioned to formula earlier than I had planned.
It was a tough decision, but necessary for my sanity and our family rhythm.
✨ Tips for Travel Nurses Returning to Work After Baby
If you’re a fellow travel nurse navigating postpartum life, here are some lessons I learned:
✅ Start maternity leave planning early
✅ Build a financial cushion before baby arrives
✅ Time your last contract around your due date
✅ Consider short-term or local contracts to ease back in
✅ Be honest with your recruiter about your needs
The beauty of travel nursing is the flexibility. You can choose assignments that fit your family life—not the other way around.
💛 Final Thoughts: You Can Do This
This journey taught me how to:
- Be resilient and adaptable
- Prioritize mental and physical recovery
- Embrace the evolving identity of being both a nurse and a mom
It hasn’t been easy—but it’s been 100% worth it. Watching my son grow while continuing my nursing career has brought me more purpose than I ever imagined.
💬 Have you returned to nursing after maternity leave—or balanced postpartum life on the road?
Share your experience or ask your questions in the comments. Let’s support each other through this wild, beautiful chapter of nurse-mom life.