If you’ve ever felt like returning to work after having a baby broke something in you or that the system simply isn’t built for mothers, this episode is for you.

Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, joins me to talk about the truth so many of us live but rarely say out loud – how hard, lonely and overwhelming it can be to return to work after having a baby.

Joeli started Pregnant Then Screwed from her kitchen table while bouncing her baby on her knee. What began as a blog for women to share their stories of discrimination became a decade-long campaign that changed government policy and the national conversation around motherhood and work

But it came at a huge personal cost. Joeli shares honestly about the burnout, the pressure, and the toll of fighting for change while raising two young children. It’s a powerful reminder that even the strongest women need rest, support and community.

Now she’s channelling everything she’s learned into her new project, Growth Spurt — helping mothers navigate one of the most forgotten transitions of all: returning to work.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the return to work is one of the hardest and least supported parts of motherhood


• What good employers do differently to support parents truly


• How to protect your mental health and spot the signs of burnout early


• Simple ways to share the load more equally at homeWhy connection and community are the antidote to loneliness

Joeli’s story is both heartbreaking and full of hope. It’s a conversation about what it really means to care for others, for the system, and for ourselves.

Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.

Need a hand managing the mental load? Download your FREE cheat sheet.

If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Work Series: The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Return Post-Maternity - the proven formula that's helped thousands, with Jessica Chivers

Connect with Zoe:

• Follow Zoe on Instagram 
  


• Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’
  

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:

• Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.


• For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind
  


• Explore thefamilysuite.co.uk and discover luxury hotels around the world that truly welcome families, without compromise.

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