“There’s a saying that it takes a village to bring a baby up, and it actually does.”

Becoming a parent brings big changes in your life, and working out how to adapt takes everyone a bit of time. But having the right support around you can make a difference, whether that’s friends and family or a workplace culture which supports parents.  

On 6th November, the Fawcett Society and Total Jobs published research into the experiences of new mothers as they returned to work following maternity leave. The study found many face difficulties at this time.^[1]  

The report describes challenges mothers experienced as they navigate their career and childcare including: 

• Finding or maintaining their support network – in terms of work this can be due to events taking place outside of work hours which new parents, who don’t have childcare, are unable to attend.  
• Coping with guilt – mothers describe the challenges of balancing work commitments with those at home. 
• Reduction in responsibilities at work – mothers returning to work after maternity leave describe having fewer responsibilities or missing out on opportunities for development or promotion.  

There are recommendations to make things better – including workplaces creating family-friendly cultures which involves making sure policies are put into practice throughout the organisation. 

If you want to share the challenges you’ve experienced as your return to paid work, or find out how others have successfully navigated this transition, you can post in our Facebook community.  

You can hear more about one new parent’s experience of pregnancy, maternity and returning to work in this week’s podcast – out on Tuesday 14th November. 

It’s a special episode with England Lioness Toni Duggan. 

England Lioness and Everton footballer Toni Duggan joins Alistair and Jennie to talk about breaking boundaries for maternity leave in women’s football, morning sickness at work, the importance of having a support network, and the benefits of the women’s game that extend off the pitch. 

Listen here