When you’re a mum, things happening outside your control is par for the course, but that doesn’t have to mean people thinking poorly of you if you have to make adjustments at work.

Emma Spitz, Parental Transition Coach and Director of Clients & Programme Management at the Executive Coaching Consultancy, advises being open with your colleagues when this happens to save yourself the stress and potential burnout of working twice as hard to cover the issue.

“If you’re going through a tough time outside of work, it’s important to share this with your manager and team,” she says. “Communicate any help or support you might need to ensure you can continue to perform effectively.

“We are all human, and there are times when we might struggle emotionally or physically, particularly after having a baby. A big part of authenticity is being honest with ourselves about what is and isn’t working at work. It’s about being proactive in sharing these perspectives constructively with your manager, which in turn is helpful for the manager and the team – they can’t support things they are not aware of.

“A good employer, manager and colleague will want to support you during these moments. Be clear about what might make a difference for you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help and show vulnerability. In my experience, you will be pleasantly surprised by the response.

“Also, consider being a role model for other working parents. Your honesty and authenticity will give others permission to show up as themselves too.”

Shefali Davda-Bhanot, Head of Talent at Doccla, also vouches for transparency as it can pave the way for practical solutions, saying: “I recommend sharing relevant information about your responsibilities as a parent, such as pregnancy, sleepless nights, or other challenges. This transparency can foster understanding and support.”

6 career experts on how to ease the emotional load of being a working mum