Stay at Work Mums

This week’s episode is a short one. I’m right in the middle of shaping Season Two of Stay At Work Mums and before I finalise anything, I want to bring you into the process.Over the last few months, we’ve explored the realities of returning to work, the partner’s perspective, the impact of birth trauma at work, and the small psychological insights that help us understand what makes working motherhood so complex.Now I’m planning Season Two, and I want it to be intentional, grounded, and shaped by the full support network around working mums... partners, managers, HR, healthcare, colleagues, and the people who influence workplace culture, whether they have children or not.To do that well, I’m taking a short pause to record and curate the next set of episodes.And I’d love your input.What topics do you want me to explore?Who would you love to hear from?What conversations are missing in the world of work, motherhood, and systemic change?You can DM me on Instagram @stayatworkmums, reply to my LinkedIn post, or drop your ideas in the question box on Stories. I read every message.Season Two is coming soon and your voice genuinely shapes what it becomes.

A quick look into micro job crafting. The tiny 12‑minute tweaks that make work feel more meaningful, energising and mum‑friendly. Emily unpack's the research, why it matters during matrescence, and simple ways mums and leaders can use it to rebuild confidence and wellbeing at work.Research mentioned:Fong, C.Y.M., Tims, M., Khapova, S.N. and Beijer, S. (2021),Supervisor Reactions to Avoidance Job Crafting: The Role of Political Skill andApproach Job Crafting. Applied Psychology, 70: 1209-1241. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12273https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/abs/pii/S1362043623000077https://www.cipd.org/globalassets/media/comms/get-involved/events/micro-job-crafting_tcm18-59082.pdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/284432756_Job_Crafting_and_Cultivating_Positive_Meaning_and_Identity_in_Workhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/373449085_Mothers'_job_crafting_and_work-to-family_enrichment_a_self-concept_perspective

In this episode, we explore what birth trauma truly means, how it can manifest long after the physical birth, and practical ways workplaces and friends can offer support. Our guest, Emily Flannery (@EmtheMidwife), shares clinical insights, personal experiences, and actionable advice to help mothers navigate the emotional and physical aftermath of birth.Main Topics Covered:​What constitutes birth trauma beyond just dramatic emergencies, including subtle symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance​The long-lasting effects of birth trauma, with some women recalling trauma 20 years later​How birth trauma impacts confidence, identity, and performance at work​Common triggers in the workplace and how to address them sensitively​Practical workplace adjustments and legal rights under the Equality Act​How friends and partners can support someone through recovery, emphasizing listening and open communication​The importance of safe spaces and birth reflection sessions for processing trauma​Tips for managers to create supportive environments for returning mothers​The significance of honest conversations about birth experiences and breaking societal expectations​https://www.makebirthbetter.org​https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/​https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/resources​https://www.instagram.com/em_themidwife/

A quick, evidence‑packed dive into the hormonal and brain changes partners experience when they become parents—and why it matters for families and workplaces.---⏱️ Episode Highlights00:00 — Introduction00:56 — Fatherhood as a Biological TransitionDads experience real hormonal and neurological changes, just different from mums.02:45 — Hormonal Shifts in New FathersTestosterone ↓, oxytocin ↑, prolactin ↑, cortisol ↑ around birth.04:08 — Brain Changes: Mum vs. DadMums: emotional circuits (amygdala).Dads: social‑understanding circuits (STS).Caregiving reshapes both.05:41 — The Abraham et al. StudyHow researchers measured oxytocin, filmed early interactions, and used fMRI to see how parents’ brains respond to their own babies.07:08 — Learning Baby Cues Takes TimeDads rely more on social‑cognitive processing; involvement accelerates adaptation.08:57 — Why This MattersReduces mums’ invisible load, challenges myths about “natural” parenting, and supports equal caregiving.10:31 — Workplace ImplicationsFatherhood is a biological transition. Early bonding time boosts retention, wellbeing, and family stability.11:30 — Practical Tips for MumsInvite hands‑on care, step back from “I’ll just do it,” and give partners space to learn.12:54 — Practical Tips for WorkplacesParenting passports, parenting groups, inclusive leave policies, and reducing stigma around shared parental leave.16:24 — Share & FollowSpread the word about the partner transition. Follow @stayatworkmums for more insights.

What really happens when mums return to work after having a baby? In this episode of Stay at Work Mums, Emily Napora talks to Georgina Burridge, Amy Bach and Elisabeth Coates to explore the emotional, practical and systemic challenges of returning to work after maternity leave.Together, they share stories of premature birth, trauma, demotions, redundancies, lost confidence, unexpected pivots and the quiet resilience required to rebuild a career while raising young children. Their experiences reveal how common these challenges are, and how much support is still missing for working mums.This conversation dives into​ The shock of returning to work when everything, including you, has changed​ How poorly managed maternity leave can derail a woman’s career​ The emotional toll of redundancy and sidelining during postpartum​ The pressure of part‑time work, boundaries and mum guilt​ Why ambition doesn’t disappear just because hours change​ The importance of choice, control and being included in decisions about your own career​ What employers could be doing differently to make staying in work easierThis episode is for mums preparing to return, leaders who want to do better, and anyone who believes work should work for families. These are personal stories, raw, varied and deeply relatable and they shine a light on what needs to change so staying in work isn’t just possible, but easier.

Episode OverviewIn this candid, funny, and deeply relatable panel episode, Emily brings together three partners, Phil Wong, Yasmin Sampson-Da Rocha, and Adam Napora, to talk honestly about what it actually feels like to become a working parent today.From shifting gender roles to the mental load, from school‑run logistics to parental leave, this conversation lifts the lid on the partner perspective we rarely hear. The group explores how expectations have changed across generations, what co‑parenting really looks like, and why culture and flexibility at work matter more than ever.As Emily says in the episode:“Real change means hearing from everyone involved… not just mums, but partners, employers, friends and more.”​Phil is a Management consultant and a dad of two, navigating parenting pre‑ and post‑COVID.​Yasmin Sampson‑Da Rocha a leadership consultant, non‑birth parent, mum to a four‑year‑old, passionate about flexible working and identity.​Adam Napora Emily’s husband, dad of two boys, reflecting on how becoming a parent reshaped his priorities and leadership style...how could we have a partners episode without him?⏱​ Episode Timestamps00:00 — Welcome to Stay at Work MumsEmily sets the scene for the series and today’s focus: hearing directly from partners about the realities of working parenthood.01:32 — Meet the PanelPhil, Yasmin, and Adam introduce themselves 04:17 — How the Partner Role Has ChangedThe group reflects on generational shifts, from dads who never changed nappies to today’s expectation of hands‑on co‑parenting.08:41 — Co‑Parenting, Communication & ‘Good Enough’ ParentingYasmin shares how she and her wife learned to prioritise presence over perfection — and why logistics dominate modern relationships.11:07 — Real-Time Communication & Invisible AssumptionsAdam opens up about defaulting to old patterns and how subconscious expectations can create friction.12:59 — The Non‑Birth Parent ExperienceYasmin describes the sudden identity shift of becoming a parent overnight while returning to work quickly.15:17 — Physical vs. Mental LoadEmily and the group explore how pregnancy and birth shape the birth parent’s experience — and why partners often take longer to adjust.17:43 — How Parenthood Rewrites Your PrioritiesThe panel shares how becoming a parent changed their leadership styles, stress levels, and sense of what actually matters.23:11 — Why the Workday Isn’t Built for ParentsSchool pick‑ups at 3pm, clubs that don’t align with working hours, and the “military operation” of daily logistics.23:55 — What Would Actually Make Working Parenthood EasierFlexibility, culture, parental leave, and leaders who parent out loud.Key Themes: ​Co‑parenting requires constant communication and a shared definition of “good enough.”​The mental load is real, and partners can play a huge role in reducing it.​Flexible working isn’t a perk; it’s essential for modern families.​Culture matters more than policy, especially when senior leaders model boundaries.​Parental leave for all parents transforms bonding, wellbeing, and equity. Have a story about navigating work and parenthood, as a mum, partner, employer, or friend? Emily would love to hear from you.Follow @stayatworkmums on Instagram and connect with Emily Napora on LinkedIn for updates, behind‑the‑scenes content, and future episode topics.

In this mini episode of Mind the Mum Gap, Emily dives into Matrescence, the huge identity shift that happens when someone becomes a mum. Pregnancy and birth get all the attention, but the mother’s transformation is rarely named, let alone supported. Once you understand Matrescence, everything about early motherhood suddenly makes more sense.Emily breaks down how this transition reshapes your body, brain, confidence, priorities and sense of self, and why returning to work feels so much bigger than logistics. She shares simple ways to navigate the shift with more compassion, and why reframing the question from “How do I get back to who I was” to “Who am I becoming” can change everything.This episode is also a call to action for leaders and workplaces. Supporting mums isn’t about fragility. It’s about recognising a major developmental transition and creating space for real conversations, real needs and real choice.If you’ve ever felt like you were changing in ways you couldn’t explain, you’re not imagining it. You’re going through Matrescence. And it deserves understanding.

Welcome to Stay at Work Mums.In this short intro episode, I share the story behind the podcast, why I started it, what I’ve learnt from becoming a mum, and what I hope to achieve. Why is it still so hard for mums to stay in work after having kids? And what can we do to change that?!It isn’t about ‘fixing mums’ but bringing the whole network together. Mums, businesses, support systems, and networks together to understand what’s happening and to start to reimagine how it actually works. New episodes every two weeks, including real stories, honest conversations and ideas on what could change. MIND THE MUM GAP (MTMG) minisodes alternate weeks, providing quick insights from psychology. Remember to like and subscribe for more! Follow me @stayatworkmums on Instagram to join the conversation