Corporate Maternity Coaching
Benefits for Employees
Benefits for Employers
Programme Content
The programme consists of six coaching sessions; two during pregnancy and four after the baby is born. The programme is flexible in that the sessions can be booked to suit the needs of both the employee and employer.
Session 1 - Being Pregnant in the Workplace
Some women really struggle in early pregnancy and may benefit from having their first session then and others may sail through and choose to have their first session midway through their pregnancy. Meg's experience as a midwife comes together with her coaching skills to encourage the client to think about how to have the best pregnancy whilst remaining professional in the workplace. The increase of self awareness around characteristics and emotional intelligence may encourage a high level of professionalism as the pregnancy develops, enabling the client to be professionally 'present' until commencing maternity leave. This session may also explore how to get the best from the midwife and consultant appointments, the timing of those appointments and how to feel ready for a positive birth experience.
Session 2 - Going on Maternity Leave
The second session is recommended close to commencing maternity leave and focuses on making sure everything is in place prior to leaving. It explores issues around control and the benefits of having clear handovers so that the client can go on maternity leave with a clear head, safe in the knowledge that everything will be ok at work whilst she is absent. In addition, Meg offers a recap on the employee's preparation for the birth and postnatal period.
Session 3 - Birth Debrief
The third session is during the first two months following the birth, when everything can seem a bit overwhelming and is offered to the client and her partner together. Women are better able to embrace their return to work if they are holistically well. The opportunity to chat through the birth and gain a full understanding of what happened and why, plays a vital role in securing a woman's emotional recovery and helps with stabilising her mental well being. Issues around mental health often underpin a woman's reason for quitting work following childbirth, so the chance to debrief in a supportive and sensitive space is invaluable.
Session 4 - Motherhood and a New Identity
This session is offered midway between the birth and going back to work. It gives the client an opportunity to explore how she is adapting to motherhood and how she is feeling about her new identity. The session would encourage the client to think about engaging in 'keeping in touch' days which are proven to build confidence and make the return to work far less daunting than it otherwise might be.
Session 5 - Returning to Work
The fifth session will be towards the end of maternity leave, to explore the practicalities of returning to work and ensuring that everything is in place for a smooth transition back into the workplace. This is a classic time for a new mother to experience a drop in confidence around returning to work and this period of heightened anxiety can lead to the premature resignation from professional posts. This session encourages the client to feel confident in her ability to juggle motherhood and career and will endorse her sense of worth.
Session 6 - The Working Mother
The final session is recommended within the first three months of returning to work to see how the client is settling into life as a working mother. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that this is the crucial time in determining whether or not the new working arrangements are appropriate for her needs and so this session is key when considering workforce retention.