Stay at Work Mums

Season Two Starts Here: I Need Your Voice

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.

Ep 3 • Can 12 Minutes a Day Make Work Feel Better? The Science of Micro Job Crafting

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.12273 [https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12273] https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/abs/pii/S1362043623000077 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/abs/pii/S1362043623000077] https://www.cipd.org/globalassets/media/comms/get-involved/events/micro-job-crafting_tcm18-59082.pdf [https://www.cipd.org/globalassets/media/comms/get-involved/events/micro-job-crafting_tcm18-59082.pdf] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284432756_Job_Crafting_and_Cultivating_Positive_Meaning_and_Identity_in_Work [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284432756_Job_Crafting_and_Cultivating_Positive_Meaning_and_Identity_in_Work] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373449085_Mothers'_job_crafting_and_work-to-family_enrichment_a_self-concept_perspective [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373449085_Mothers'_job_crafting_and_work-to-family_enrichment_a_self-concept_perspective]

Ep 03: Birth Trauma at Work: A Midwife Explains Why It Matters for Every Employer

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/

MTMG • EP 2: The Science of Becoming a Modern Parent: What No One Tells You

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 Highlights 00:00 — Introduction 00:56 — Fatherhood as a Biological Transition Dads experience real hormonal and neurological changes, just different from mums. 02:45 — Hormonal Shifts in New Fathers Testosterone ↓, oxytocin ↑, prolactin ↑, cortisol ↑ around birth. 04:08 — Brain Changes: Mum vs. Dad Mums: emotional circuits (amygdala). Dads: social‑understanding circuits (STS). Caregiving reshapes both. 05:41 — The Abraham et al. Study How 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 Time Dads rely more on social‑cognitive processing; involvement accelerates adaptation. 08:57 — Why This Matters Reduces mums’ invisible load, challenges myths about “natural” parenting, and supports equal caregiving. 10:31 — Workplace Implications Fatherhood is a biological transition. Early bonding time boosts retention, wellbeing, and family stability. 11:30 — Practical Tips for Mums Invite hands‑on care, step back from “I’ll just do it,” and give partners space to learn. 12:54 — Practical Tips for Workplaces Parenting passports, parenting groups, inclusive leave policies, and reducing stigma around shared parental leave. 16:24 — Share & Follow Spread the word about the partner transition. Follow @stayatworkmums for more insights.

Ep 01: The Return. What Really Happens When Mums Go Back To Work

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 easier This 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.