I don’t have children: I’m a civilian. And in my ignorance, I think I rather assumed impending labour would drive all other thoughts from a mother’s mind. Mind you, I have always believed that there isn’t a man in the world who could survive labour pains.

Still , there’s also no man in the world who’d be daft enough to go through it twice.

But since we do seem to keep having children and our work isn’t always as accommodating as it might be, as our working and artistic needs and desires may not be replaced even by the overwhelming nature of parenthood, and as so much of what we do cannot survive a prolonged absence, you need to plan.

Harvard Business Review:

What the experts say
“Part of running a 21st-century company with a 21st-century work force is establishing systems that allow for women to go out and return from maternity leave with minimal impact on the company or on their careers,” says Joan Williams, founding director of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law. Yet few organizations offer clear guidelines on the nuts-and-bolts of managing leave. Often, you’ll need to figure out how to prep colleagues, outsource work, stay in touch with the office, and re-enter with minimal disruption entirely on your own. It’s a challenge, particularly for the many women who start families at the same time they’re taking on greater professional and managerial responsibilities. But “planning for your maternity leave is an opportunity to demonstrate to everyone that you’re in the game,” says Carol Walker, president of the consulting firm Prepared to Lead, which trains young executives. Here’s how to take ownership of the process and ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities before you leave, while you’re away, and when you come back.

How to Prepare for Maternity Leave – Julie Mosow (14 July 2014)

A lot of the detail of this piece is specific to US laws and practices but the issues are the same and it’s a useful read if your head isn’t already spinning.