As you approach the day when you go back to work after having a baby, it might seem like there are a million things to think about.

Your biggest concern is probably sorting out who will look after your baby. Coach Amanda Alexander (coachingmums.co.uk) says: 'Getting childcare that you feel 100% comfortable about is your number one priority for a smooth transition back to work. As long as you feel confident about your childcare arrangements, everything else can be sorted.'

There's more on your childcare options here, but what else do you need to do before you start your first day back at work? 

Back to work checklist

What to think about before you head back to work:

• What hours will you be working, and are you and your boss agreed on flexible working?
• Are you clear on your rights and the legal side of returning to work?
• How much will you be earning, how much will go on childcare, and how much will you have left?
• Do you need to make arrangements to express breastmilk? Find out more about breastfeeding and work.
• How will you get to and from work, and how long will it take? How does this fit in with your childcare
• What back-up plans do you have in case of emergencies, illness, delays etc?
• What routines and rituals do you have in place or need to introduce to make the transition from work mode to mummy mode and vice versa?

Keep in touch

If you are on maternity leave, it is a good idea to keep in touch with work while you are away. Legally, you are entitled to up to 10 'Keeping in Touch' days while you are on maternity leave, so you know what's going on and don't feel like you have been beamed down from another planet on your first day back.

Brush up on skills

If you have taken quite a bit of time out of the workplace to look after children, you may need to get up to speed with developments in your field of work and with new equipment. Local colleges offer refresher courses in areas such as office skills, often free of charge.

Back to work guilt

As well as these practical arrangements, it's a good idea to think through the more emotional aspects of returning to work. You may feel completely differently to how you thought you would before you actually had a baby in your arms. You will probably feel guilty - about everything from leaving your child to leaving work on time to pick them up.  We've got more about mum guilt here.

A mum says

Mel, who went back to work when her twins were three, says: 'I was looking forward to it and already had a nursery lined up, but I was surprised at how nervous I felt on my first day and wondered if I had made a big mistake. I missed the children like crazy and a year on I still do.'

Trust your instincts

Whatever your feelings about returning to work, you're not alone. Working mum Gillian Nissim founded workingmums.co.uk to connect employers with women returning to work. She says: 'It's important to acknowledge that you have been through a life-changing experience. Network as much as you can with colleagues or friends who are in or have been in a similar position. Their advice is very useful, but trust your own instincts too. There are lots of different and often very strong opinions around everything associated with being a working mum so go with what suits you and your family best.'

There's no denying that there is a lot to arrange, plan and think about before you go back to work. Whatever your reasons and feelings about it, getting super-organised will make this huge change happen as smoothly as possible for you and your baby.