We still have a long way to go in making new mums feel welcome in and out of the workplace. This is an issue I’ll be raising as soon as I return from maternity leave. My son, Zion, was born in March and I’ve found there’s still a stigma surrounding breastfeeding and too few places to feed or express milk. We must demand changes and take the shame out of feeding babies. And we need more comfortable, sanitary places to express milk – a toilet isn’t good enough.
It’s a military operation to get out of the house with my newborn, and that’s before I’ve worked out where I’ll be able to feed him. In Liverpool, we have the BAMBIS breastfeeding support scheme which puts a purple sticker on the doors of feeding- friendly public places. But in London it’s much harder. I’ve even had people berate me for feeding my baby under a cover – and that’s without me flashing any boob at all.
I’ve been experiencing the same trials and tribulations as every parent. I’ve had sick in my hair and poo all over my clothes. There are days that drift into nights without clear boundaries. I am still writing emails and reading constituents’ letters, but in snatched moments. I’ve also been following the Brexit debates in Parliament closely.
In the middle of the night, when Zion’s awake, I’ve been watching Netflix. Comedy Workin’ Moms has hit a chord with me. It’s about mums who have to pretend not to be mums when they’re at work – and pretend not to be working when they’re doing mum things. It chimes with my experience of having a baby two weeks and a day after I left the Labour Party. The fortnight before I went on leave was the busiest period of my 10 years in Parliament. My priority now is to look after my baby but I have guilty pangs of wanting to be around more for my constituents and Change UK colleagues.
It really matters that MPs on maternity, paternity or adoptive leave can register votes remotely. I’m only the second-ever MP mum to exercise the new proxy system. It’s pure common sense, yet it’s taken over 800 years to achieve and at the moment it’s still just a year-long trial. We have to make sure this is rolled out permanently.
One thing I’m enjoying is being off social media. It’s been a welcome break from the trolling and too often negative messages I receive. I’d recommend a break to everyone