Is There a ‘Right’ Amount of Time to Take Off After Having a Baby?
By: Kourtney Smith
Channel Seven’s AFL commentator Abbey Holmes recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She returned to work seven weeks later, a decision that drew both praise and criticism.
While many supported her, some online commentators questioned whether it was too soon.
Responding to Online Backlash
Abbey is currently working a two-day week under a part-time arrangement. Still, online critics raised concerns about her recovery post-C-section and whether she was prioritising her baby’s needs.
But Abbey responded with calm clarity. “If my baby hadn’t been healthy and settled, I wouldn’t have returned so early,” she explained. She also pointed out that every new mum’s situation is different: “There’s no one-size-fits-all guideline for new mums.”
With strong family support, Abbey felt ready and able to step back into work life even if only for a few days a week.
Parenting is a Team Effort
Critics also took issue with her husband being left on “babysitting duty.” Abbey was quick to shut that down. “Dads don’t babysit their own children. They’re 50% of the parenting duo.”
It’s a timely reminder that parenting is a team effort and one that looks different for every family. Some mums return to work early out of necessity. Others choose to stay home for years. Both choices are valid.
“We shouldn’t be shaming new mums as they try to navigate this. We all come from different walks of life and different stories,” Leah shared.
Other Stories
Sarah shared: “With our first baby, I barely scraped by with six months leave due to planting a church and tight finances. With my second and third, I managed a year off, though I deeply wish I could’ve afforded two.” She added that daycare and grandparent support have made all the difference.
Karen said: “I had three children. I took six months off for all of them. As a single mum, I had to go back to work part-time. I felt bad, but it was what I had to do.”
To that, a heartfelt encouragement – “To all the single parents out there, I honestly don’t know how you do it. You are just amazing.”
No two parenting journeys are the same. Support systems, financial pressure, and personal conviction all play a part in when and how parents return to work.
Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.
Feature image: Canva
