Acknowledgements

As we publish the first edition of this book, I want to thank my husband who continuously encourages and believes in me. His understanding and acceptance of my dreams made this book possible, and this is another way for us to continue to better our lives and inspire others.

I also want to thank all my friends and family, who have hugely contributed to the content of this book but also to my mental state during my own maternity leave. Through your advice but also your comforting words, patience, guidance and love, you have made me a better Mum—and also a better woman. My son and I will be eternally grateful.

Finally, this book would not have been possible without the tremendous support of numerous parents, female professionals and business leaders from many sectors, who have made suggestions for improvements.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with all you and I hope to continue to do so in the future.

Introduction

The philosophy

Navigating motherhood is a complex process, and there is no doubt that the waters ahead are troubled with many dilemmas. As with the actual birth itself, mothers have to consistently make difficult and important decisions; this book invites women from all over to consider and carefully plan their maternity leave.

If you bought this book, you are most likely pregnant and about to embark on one of the most rewarding adventures life has to offer, so let us start by congratulating you!

If you are employed, your work should grant you a ‘period of absence’ to care for your new child and recover from birth: This is called a maternity leave.

Barbara Katz Rothman said ‘birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers--strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength’. We would like to invite you to consider your maternity leave as an opportunity and invitation to grow—a special time not only for your newborn, but also a time of growth for your family as well as yourself, as an individual.

It is our belief that the sum of all the decisions you are going to make during this time off work, a challenging yet extraordinary period, will ultimately determine who you individually become as a mother, a wife, a partner, a friend and a successful employee/ leader.

In this book, we will discuss how you, as a new mother about to embark on your maternity leave, can achieve your full potential. This book will not focus so much on your child (although this will be touched upon), but it is instead an invitation to celebrate working mothers everywhere, helping new ones to use their maternity leave for the maximum expression of their abilities.

Presented in a simple format, each chapter is broken down into clear sections, all packed with vital information and handy tips. This book covers a full range of practical situations, from managing your finances to your health, understanding your rights, but also your obligations.

We will explore what you can do before your departure from your work as well as how to re-enter it.

It is also our belief that regardless of where you live and how long you take off, a maternity leave can be used like any other tool or resource—to better your life and that of those around you. In this book, we will explore the key benefits of taking maternity leave and more importantly, the key processes with associated tips to not only raise what will become an exceptional human being, but also reflect and create a better quality of life for you, the Mum, and those around you.

The goal of our philosophy in this book is to help any woman stay in control of their life by taking control of their maternity leave, providing practical tips and ways of thinking to help you achieve any personal objectives.

We will also discuss what milestones and goals you might want to consider taking on during your maternity leave.

The statistics

The 20th century has seen a radical increase in the number of women working 1 globally rising from 32.30% in 1921 to 72.7% in 2020 in the United Kingdom. The office of national statistics also confirmed that more than two-thirds of woman aged 16-64 were employed 2 last June, 2020. More women now choose when to become pregnant, taking control over their career and marriage choices. The contribution that a woman makes to a household income is no longer considered a ‘bonus’. We have careers and we follow our dreams, while also being pregnant and giving birth.

The ‘International Labour Organization’ (ILO) specifies guidelines for maternity leave standards, which are currently observed by 119 countries. These guidelines call for a minimum 12-week maternity leave, with at least 14 weeks being recommended. The standard established by the ILO also specifies that women should be paid at least two-thirds of their earnings while on leave, while receiving full health insurance benefits.  3

Finally, it is most often compulsory for women to take at least two weeks of maternity leave following the birth of their babies for health and safety reasons. It is then up to most of us to decide how much maternity leave we want to take, following a set of private and public policies, guidelines, and laws.

Why take maternity leave?

Have you ever wondered what it means to be a ‘working mum’ as well as a great role model, and an inspiration to those around you? It all starts with a successful pregnancy and maternity leave.

By definition, maternity leave has been created to give new mothers time to bond and care for their new baby, as well as give them the necessary time to learn how to become a mother. Indeed, whilst mothering and breastfeeding can be natural and easy for some, for most of us, looking after a child can be confusing, tiring and difficult. Like starting a new job, we feel like we should know what to do immediately, when of course, the total opposite is true.

While caring for the needs of your new baby, this time of adaptation will affect the role of all members of your family, and it will most likely change your own identity. It is a time for you to reflect upon where you are, who you are—and who you would like to become. An invitation to grow!

What does a ‘successful’ maternity leave look like

The use of ‘we’ in this book reflects the collective experiences women have shared with the author, without whom this book wouldn’t have been possible. But let us start by acknowledging that no two maternity leaves are the same.

Maternity leaves are very personal, and they can be lived and managed in very different ways. Circumstances, parenting styles, and personalities are different, so what may work for one parent and/or one child might not work for another.

While defining what makes a successful maternity leave, we also appreciate that the concept of ‘success’ is a subjective notion, however for the purpose of this book, a successful maternity leave would be defined as successfully achieving the goals and objectives you have set out for yourself, while continuously reviewing them during your time away from work, and adapting them to your individual circumstances (baby, health, job…).

We will provide you with a roadmap along with key considerations a new parent might want to take into account, when planning and living their maternity leave successfully.

How to get the most out of this book

There are many sceptics out there who believe that taking care of a newborn during maternity leave leaves little time to do anything else. We are also regularly told that ‘maternity leave is not a vacation’ and that ‘first-time moms have all sorts of unrealistic expectations.’

While we understand a new baby is time-consuming, we would like you to remember that it is possible to multitask, delegate, plan and find synergies. It is our belief that you can achieve much more than simply changing nappies and breastfeeding during your leave, and keeping mental stimulation is good for all of us, especially as many of us actually enjoy working.

During your maternity leave, like any other phase of your life, we believe balance is absolutely key. Through careful planning and attention to details, we believe woman can efficiently plan their day and manage their personal goals and objectives.

There will undoubtedly be a lot of sleepless nights, but with the right techniques and mental attitude, any woman entering maternity leave can achieve what they put their mind to, redefining their energy and life. This book will give you the tools and key information to consider, to elevate you during this extraordinary period of your life.

We will suggest that by following a simple set of rules and guidelines, you can gain the mental clarity to set your goals, the energy to achieve them, and the joy and celebration to make your vision, dreams or desires a reality. Through simple processes, tips and techniques, we hope this book will give you the tools to achieve ‘your next level’, whatever it may be.

Finally, it is worth nothing that maternity leaves are hard, full of surprises and curve balls. These should not deter you. There is plenty of information online (including forums and social media), which dig deeper in the various sub-topics as they occur.

Who is the book for?

This book has been written for any woman going on maternity leave. Whether you are taking the mandatory two weeks, three months, six months or a year, this book has been created to help you start your maternity leave inspired, motivated and in control.

Maternity leave is a unique time in a woman’s life, and it is our belief that this period can be used to successfully change it, whether it is simply nurturing and bonding with your newborn child or improving your life by making extra money, following your passion, or simply waking up every day feeling excited!

During your maternity leave, no two days will be exactly the same, but it is important to keep being challenged, inspired and motivated. This book has been created with you in mind, to help you live a happier, healthier and more fulfilled life.