Why Returning To Work After Maternity Leave Feels So Much Harder Than You Expected

About this episode

Zoe Blaskey discusses the emotional challenges mothers face when returning to work after maternity leave with guest Joeli Brearley.

Returning to work after having a baby isn't just a practical transition - for many mothers, it can feel like returning as a completely different person.You expected to feel rusty. You didn't expect to question your confidence, your identity, or whether you're still capable of doing the job you once knew so well.In this Moment, Zoe sits down with Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, to unpack one of the most overlooked parts of motherhood: the return-to-work transition.Joeli shares why this period can feel so overwhelming, how matrescence and brain changes can affect our confidence and sense of self, and why so many mothers believe they're failing when, in reality, the systems around them are failing them.This episode is a powerful reminder that if returning to work felt harder than you expected, there was never anything wrong with you. 💡 In this Moment, you'll learn: Why returning to work after maternity leave can feel so emotionally challenging The surprising brain changes of matrescence and how they affect confidence Why do so many mothers struggle socially and professionally after having a baby The hidden leadership skills motherhood develops What better support…

People in this episode

Host: Zoe Blaskey

Guest: Joeli Brearley

Topics covered

• return to work
• maternity leave
• matrescence
• motherhood
• confidence
• identity

Keywords

• maternity leave
• return to work
• motherhood
• confidence
• matrescence
• identity
• support for mothers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pregnant Then Screwed

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