The Maternity Leave Review

Co-Authored By Em (Client) and Kate Love (Registered Psychotherapist at Yoga Mamas)

Maternity leave is often framed as a time for mothers to bond with their babies and recover from childbirth. In reality, it is much more complex.

I have been working with my client, Em, right before she gave birth. I witnessed her grapple with the complexity of her mat leave, ranging from experiences of beauty, chaos, unexpected events, boredom, creativity, and many more. As the end of her mat leave approached, at Em’s request, we decided to create an activity to process and create a record of her experience to look back on. We were able to process the range of her experiences and obtain some closure before she returned to (paid) work. 

Em has generously shared her story, using a pseudonym, below: 

EM: This was it. My last baby. My final maternity leave. The countdown of six short weeks before returning to paid work.

I struggled to find a way to encapsulate this chapter. I wanted to acknowledge the small triumphs, like our first successful outing as a duo. Yet, alongside these joys, I found myself wrestling with guilt—the weight of dishwashers unloaded instead of towers built from blocks, the unopened can of chickpeas still awaiting its transformation into aqua faba foam, and all the Pinterest projects that stayed firmly pinned to my Baby Process Art board.

During this reflective period, I came across the concept of a Life Review—a therapeutic practice developed in the 1960s designed to help individuals nearing the end of their lives find peace and meaning in their personal histories.

Though I wasn't at life's end, I sensed the closing of a significant chapter and thought a similar approach might help. So, I approached my therapist, Kate, with the idea of conducting a Maternity Leave Review. She thoughtfully prepared a set of questions (included below), and we dedicated an hour to discussing them together.

After our conversation, I felt immense relief. It was true—some parts of this past year were incredibly fulfilling and joyous. Equally true was the acknowledgment of experiences I wouldn't necessarily wish to repeat. Expressing these reflections aloud provided the closure I sought.

The best way I can describe this feeling is like watching a rare season finale—the kind that wraps up loose threads, reminds you why you loved the characters and their journey, and leaves you excited for what's next.
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Here’s the set of maternity leave review questions, in case you’d like to try it yourself:

If you’d like extra support for your emotional well-being, explore our counselling services.