Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Feb 28;47(1):e67-e76.
doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae312.

Early employment after childbirth: a cross-sectional analysis using data from a national maternity survey in England

Rose Wyatt  1 , Gracia Fellmeth  1 , Maria A Quigley  2 , Fiona Alderdice  2 , Sian Harrison  2
Affiliations

Early employment after childbirth: a cross-sectional analysis using data from a national maternity survey in England

Rose Wyatt et al. J Public Health (Oxf). .

Abstract

Background: Participation in paid work after childbirth may have important health and socioeconomic impacts on women and their families. We investigated women's employment patterns at six months postpartum and the factors that influence them.

Methods: Using data from a 2018 population-based national maternity survey in England, employment status at six months postpartum was assessed. Logistic regression was used to explore sociodemographic and pregnancy- and birth-related factors associated with being in paid work by six months postpartum. Descriptive analysis was used to explore employment characteristics and motivations of women in paid work.

Results: Of the 4313 participants included, 7.7% were in paid work by six months postpartum. Factors associated with being in paid work were age ≥35 years [(adjusted odd ratios (aOR):1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.02-1.84], not living with a partner (aOR:0.50, 95%CI:0.28-0.90), and pre-term birth (aOR:0.38, 95%CI:0.20-0.69). The most frequently reported motivation was financial need (76%), followed by wanting to work (41%). Financial need was associated with younger age, living in a more socioeconomically disadvantaged area, not living with a partner, and lower education level.

Conclusion: Postpartum employment patterns and motivations for working vary according to sociodemographic characteristics. These findings have important implications for parental leave and childcare policies, which should be equitable across different groups.

Keywords: Education; employment and skills; public health; women’s health.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Childcare arrangements and motivations for (re)entering employment for women in paid work within six months of childbirth.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Primary motivations for (re)entering paid work according to different sociodemographic factors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Harkness S, Borkowska M, Pelikh A. Employment Pathways and Occupational Change after Childbirth. London: Government Equalities Office, 2019. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-pathways-and-occup... (accessed 27 September 2024).
    1. Andrew A, Bandiera O, Costa Dias M et al. The Careers and Time Use of Mothers and Fathers. London: Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), 2021. Available from: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/careers-and-time-use-mothers-and-fathers (accessed 27 September 2024).
    1. Heshmati A, Honkaniemi H, Juárez SP. The effect of parental leave on parents’ mental health: a systematic review. Lancet Public Health 2023;8:e57–75. - PubMed
    1. Andres E, Baird S, Bingenheimer JB. et al. Maternity leave access and health: a systematic narrative review and conceptual framework development. Matern Child Health J 2016;20:1178–92. - PubMed
    1. McCardel RE, Loedding EH, Padilla HM. Examining the relationship between return to work after giving birth and maternal mental health: a systematic review. Matern Child Health J 2022;26:1917–43. - PubMed