A national research project with the NCT and Working Families is looking to understand the experiences of mums returning to work. The results will help the parenting charities to develop practical free tools to help mums who choose to, return to work as easily as possible and employers to be able to support them through this sometimes tricky transition period.
You can help by filling in a survey at Mums Going back to Work. As a small thank you - everyone who completes the survey has a chance to win £200 of toddler and baby products from the NCT shop plus 10% off all orders placed before Christmas 2008.

Anne Dhir runs Calin Bleu, a Scottish company selling stylish and comfortable baby slings. In this useful article she explains why online businesses need to think about local promotion.
 
With the internet bringing the entire world on your desk, it's tempting to focus on big leads, national campaigns, being first on search engines... It's a big world out there but there is one lesson I have learned over the last four years, it's always nurture your local market.
 
I enjoy the challenge of promoting Calin Bleu and baby wearing in general locally, getting out there, talking to parents, sometimes you spend several hours talking to one customer for one item or for none! Other times, after one shopping appointment or dropping off leaflets in a café, I see a cluster of orders over the following months, all from the same area or even the same street. It is also a cost effective way of increasing sales. People love shopping from a local company and are happy to refer their friends and families to us.
 
It is an opportunity to stay closer to customers and learn a lot about our own products and how they are used. Recently I was helping her mum use her baby carrier. As I talked to her, I came up with a new way to explain how to get the wrap nice and snug for the little one, and it comes in very handy when I help a customer by phone or email.
 
The local market isn't just local customers, think suppliers and partners! There is one product that we searched high and low for, internet, yellow pages, wholesaler directories to find it by chance driving through a business park. We also found our fulfilment company at a Small Business exhibition.
 
I always look forward to local networking events, especially women's events. Managing your own business can be isolating, it's nice to get out of the office and meet real people. In addition to great business contacts, I always leave re-energised. You never know who you're going to meet and how they could help you in ways you hadn't even contemplated. Recently, I had dinner with a group of dynamic business ladies, one of them turned out to have a background in sewing threads (our wraps have 10m of expensive thread!), another woman had recently launched a local magazine,  another one gave me some tips on promoting our events and that was before we swapped seats for dessert!... I achieved more in one evening than the whole of the previous week.
 
I believe so strongly in nurturing your local market that I encourage our retailers to promote their local sales as well and support them in any way I can. We're getting great response.
 
Get out there, its fun!

Results of a Government survey in 2008, found that the majority of mums are still returning to work within the first year of their baby's life. 50% of full time working women, return to full time employment, though half of these mums would prefer to work part time. This indicates that making such important decisions, like returning to work, isn't unusual but that doesn't mean it's an easy choice or it is always made at the right time, for the right reasons.
 
Here are some tips to get you thinking about different aspects of your decision so that you can go 'Back to Work Without a Bump';
 
What do I want get out of my work?
Whether you have been away from work for 6 months or 6 years, you now have an opportunity to look at your career from a new perspective.
Is my old career the one I would choose again?
Write a list with two columns headed 'activities' and 'feelings'. List all the things you would like to do in the 'activities' column and how you would like to feel about working in the 'feelings' column.  
How do these outputs fit into my career?
How do these things affect what's important to my family life?
 
Who shall I go to for support?
Finances, childcare and emotional support are all areas that can be pro-actively managed through this period of change. The toughest part is asking for this help. Talk to friends who have similar principles as you, about how they manage their work and family. Ignore the advice you get from people with different values!  Sometimes your family are so closely involved in the decision that their advice may not be for your benefit. Speak to people aren't affected by the outcome of your decision as well as involving those who are.
Who can I talk to with similar values? Who will listen and support me through this change?
We can be influenced by people and things from a long time ago which may no longer be relevant to our present needs. So ask yourself:
Who am I pleasing now, by making these choices? 
 
When do I want to return?
Timing with work and families is crucial. Nearly all mums will go back to work; the more relevant question is 'When?' 8% of Mums return to work early because they feel otherwise, their career will be compromised.
There may not be an easy time to go back but there is the 'right' time for you and your family. This is different for every family and not something you can decide before you have your baby! Its amazing how many people say to their employers when they leave on maternity-'I'll be back in 6 months' and feel they should keep to this because as that's what they said they would do.
What factors influence when I want to return?
Brainstorm these and decide when to review them to see what has changed.
Take responsibility for your decision and give yourself flexibility.The great thing about decisions is that you can always change your mind-it's a women's provocative!   
 
Why-Sell it to yourself
Give yourself a pep talk like you would a friend. Every time you tell yourself you 'should, 'need' or 'have' to do something ask 'what do I really want to do?'
You may be going back to work but actually you are going forward in your life as a more fulfilled and whole individual. There are incredible things you learn from maternity leave which will make you an even more valued, skilled and motivated person.
 
Sam Pringle is a Professional NLP coach specialising in women returning to work.  She offers 1:1 coaching, group workshops and business consulting. www.beeleafconsulting.co.uk