When the baby is finally born, you will relish those first few days home with your new family. But just as you were all feeling warm and comfortable in your newly populated nest, reality sets in: It's time for you to return to work.

Hard as it may be to separate yourself from your happy new home, someone usually has to keep working in order to pay the bills. If that someone is you, there are still some ways you can stay connected while you're toiling away at work:

• Visit Mommy and baby on your lunch break.

• Call in a few times per day to see how things are going — or if Mommy needs you to pick up anything (like dinner!) on your way home.

• Create a slideshow of baby photos to share with coworkers (if company policy allows).

• Form a “new dads” group at work and meet at lunch.

Be sure to follow all company policies at your workplace. Many companies don't allow employees to make personal phone calls or share photos on their computers. If you're unsure about such policies, ask your supervisor or the human resources manager. Better safe than sorry — especially now that you have an extra mouth to feed!

Connecting with Web Sites and Community Groups

If your work hours and family commitments don't leave time for much socializing with other new parents, consider joining an online parenting group or Listserv. Here, you can freely post any questions, answers, or comments you have about life in your baby's first few years. You'll find that there are many other parents out there who want to feel connected to others who face similar challenges and triumphs. Like you, their jobs may be demanding on their time, making it difficult to meet up with other parents in person.