[00:00:00] Knowledge is power and we are all about empowering the mamas of the world. In each episode, we will unravel and interpret the latest research and evidence based practices for pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood. As mums and researchers ourselves, we have experienced firsthand the overwhelming complexity of information, myths and those classic old wives tales.

[00:00:27] I'm Dr. Renee White and this is The Science of Motherhood. Hello and welcome to episode 157. I am your host, Dr. Renee White. Thank you so much for joining us today. It is one of our Check In Tuesday episodes and I think that this particular topic Could not come at a better time. It's the beginning of the year. I think a lot of parents, um, in particular mums will be thinking about this particular topic.

[00:00:58] But before we dive in there, I just wanted to give everyone a little reminder, a little shout out. If you hadn't seen already, we have expanded our doula village here at Fill Your Cup so when I am not sitting in front of the microphone, I am leading the charge at Australia's first doula village. And we currently have doulas already in Melbourne and Geelong, Sydney and Newcastle and Hobart, but we have expanded our network all the way up to sunny Queensland, which is so, so exciting. We have the beautiful Natasha who has joined our team. She is going to be looking after sleep deprived and overwhelmed mamas in Brissy. And so if you are interested in feeling nurtured and nourished after the birth of your baby. If you are concerned about how you are going to juggle it all with a toddler or you've got a small business that you are running or your partner's running and you're not sure how they're going to take time off and you're all going to be well supported after the birth of your baby, then maybe you might consider having a postpartum doula and that entails having someone come to your house.

[00:02:16] Normally weekly for three hours and you get to choose from our beautiful FYC mama menu and we make delicious nutritious meals for you each week. Main meals and snacks, plenty, plenty of leftovers after the session. So you can pop them in the freezer, stock up your snack, your snack jars, and so yeah, having a postpartum doula is something that's going to really set you up for not only those first 40 days, but they say anecdotally the next 40 years of your life because recovering properly after pregnancy and birth is pivotal to women's health and what better than having a postpartum doula.

[00:03:02] So if you are interested in having a look at our offerings for our postpartum doula services, whether you're in Brisbane or somewhere else on the east coast of Australia, pop over to our website, ifillyourcup.com, and you can have a look at our doula offerings there. And PS, we also offer birth doula support as well.

[00:03:26] So not just after the bubby has arrived. So let's dive into today's episode. As I said, I think it's a really timely episode and topic that we discuss, and it is all about returning to work after mat leave. Now. The topic more specifically is how workplaces can support employees returning from parental leave.

[00:03:52] Now let's face it, coming back to work after parental leave can feel like, I don't know, stepping off a roller coaster onto a treadmill that's set at max speed. But here's how smart workplaces can make the transition smoother, more supportive, and dare I say, even empowering. I've got some top five tips for you.

[00:04:16] Here we go. Number one, reimagine flexibility, it's not just about remote work. Flexibility is more than letting someone work from home twice a week. It's about understanding that productivity doesn't fit neatly into a nine to five box when you are managing, daycare pickups, teething toddlers and surprise, sick days. Now here's my pro tip. Offer flexible start and finish times, part time return options, or compressed work weeks. There's nothing better than a four day work week. These micro adjustments can help parents juggle work and home without sacrificing their sanity or their career ambitions. So, flexibility isn't just a perk, it's table stakes for a workplace that claims to care about its people.

[00:05:14] Number two, provide lactation rooms that don't resemble a storage closet. Now supporting breastfeeding parents isn't just about saying, sure, you can pump at work. It's about providing comfortable private space where they can actually do it without balancing a pump on top of their lunch bag, okay. So here's my pro tip.

[00:05:39] Invest in clean lockable lactation rooms with comfy chairs, outlets, and a mini fridge. And please don't make them book it like it's a boardroom, okay? If your office has a game room for team bonding, it can have a proper lactation room. Let's look at the priorities, people.

[00:06:01] Number three, normalise parental leave for everyone. Newsflash, parental leave isn't just for mums. When workplaces encourage dads and non birthing parents to take leave too, it helps shift cultural norms, reducing the stigma and it promotes gender equity. So my pro tip here is offer inclusive leave policies that encourage all parents to take time off without guilt or career repercussions. You want to change the gender gap at work? Start by closing the nappy gap at home.

[00:06:39] Number four, this one I'm very passionate about. Offer doula support or postpartum wellness services as part of your employee benefit schemes. Now the early postpartum period is a whirlwind of physical recovery, emotional adjustments, and let's be real, sleep deprivation. So providing access to services like postpartum doulas, mental health counselling, meal delivery, can really help your employees feel truly cared for. My pro tip, and this is a shameful plug, partner with companies like Fill Your Cup to add doula services to your employee wellness programs. We value you, hits differently when it comes with a side of lactation support and a lasagna delivery.

[00:07:37] Now, number five, create a culture of understanding, not eye rolling. Let's ditch the outdated notion that parenting and professionalism are at odds. Managers should approach returning parents with empathy. Understanding that sleepless nights and school drop offs don't negate their ability to absolutely crush it at work. So here's my pro tip. Train managers to have open, supportive conversations about workloads, priorities, and performance expectations. Supporting parents isn't a burden, it's a brilliant way to retain talent, and build loyalty.

[00:08:20] So my final thoughts, supporting employees returning from parental leave isn't just a nice thing to do. It's smart business. Happy, supported parents are productive, employee who sticks around. So go ahead and redefine your workplace culture. You will be the envy of every office on the block. After all, when you support the person behind the parent, everybody wins. All right, guys, until next week, I will see you. Bye.

[00:08:55] If you loved this episode, please hit the subscribe button and leave a review. If you know someone out there who would also love to listen to this episode, please hit the share button so that you can benefit from it as well.

[00:09:10] You've just listened to another episode of the science of motherhood proudly presented by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, head to our website, ifillyourcup.com to learn more about our birth and postpartum doula offerings where every mother we pledge to be the steady hand that guides you back to yourself. Ensuring you feel nurtured, informed and empowered so you can fully embrace the joy of motherhood with confidence. Until next time, bye!