Three in five younger women (61%) would be happy to split their maternity leave with their partner if the option was available, according to a new nationwide survey of 1000 women commissioned by QUINN-healthcare. 49% of mothers over 35 years would also like this opportunity. Mothers in Dublin were among the least willing to split their maternity leave (49%) but more than half of mothers in Ulster, Connaught, and Munster felt it was a good option.

The research, which tested Irish women's attitudes to motherhood and the workplace, found that over two thirds (66%) of Irish women would rather stay at home than go back to work after their baby is born. However younger women are more likely to want to get back to the office and would split their maternity leave with their partner if they could. 50% of women aged 16-24 would prefer to go back to work after having a baby. For women over the age of 35, being a stay at home mum was by far the more attractive option with over 72% saying they would stay at home, if given the choice.

Meanwhile, Irish women gave the thumbs up to breastfeeding with over 76% saying it is healthiest for babies, particularly women over 55 (82%). But when it comes to homebirths, only 20% of women thought it was a safe option for women, with younger women being least favourable (12%).

Of the women surveyed, half said they encountered difficulties reintegrating into the workplace following maternity leave. Women in Dublin and Leinster were the most likely to have problems going back to work (55%/53%), along with those in the 35-44 years age bracket (57%). In Connaught and Ulster, less than half of women (42%) had encountered difficulties reintegrating into the workplace.

Some 60% of Irish women feel that lifestyle factors such as weight, age, smoking and alcohol consumption should be taken into account when considering IVF. QUINN-healthcare is the only Irish health insurance company with an infertility benefit on some of schemes, offering a total of €1,000 towards IUI, ICSI and IVF Infertility treatment for its female members.

Commenting on the survey results, Sarah O'Neill, Occupational Health Advisor (RGN, RM, OHA) with QUINN-healthcare, said:

"All the evidence suggests that it can be a real challenge for women to integrate motherhood and work, but this is most prevalent among older mums. Typically, this age group must often rely solely on crèches and childminders compared to younger mums who can call on family members if they are stuck. The cost of crèches and childminding facilities may also factor in this, particularly in the current economic climate," says Sarah.

However, there are solutions to deal with the issues working mums face, she says, the first being to talk to their employers about their specific needs post-baby.

"Firstly, ensure that you are fully aware of your maternity entitlements before you go on leave, and ask your boss whether they can be flexible in how you take your parental leave on your return to work. For example, you may be able to arrive later than usual, or use a meeting room to breastfeed or express milk in the short term. You should also be very aware of the rules that apply if your child becomes sick," she says.

"Often, re-integrating into work can be made more difficult if your child finds it hard to settle into crèche or childminding, so test the waters in the run-up to your return to work to make it easier both for you and your baby."

Around the country:

-Mothers in the Connaught/Ulster areas were the greatest advocates of breastfeeding (78%) followed closely by Dublin (77%), Munster (76%), and Leinster (73%).

-On IVF and lifestyle factors, views were strongest in Leinster (61%), followed by Munster/Ulster/Connaught (58%) and Dublin (59%).

-Home births were favoured more in Dublin (22%), than in Munster (20%), and Leinster, Connaught and Ulster (18%).

-More women in Leinster, Connaught and Ulster (68%) would prefer to stay at home than women in Dublin (65%) and Munster (64%).

-The preference to split maternity leave with their partner was most prevalent among women in Connaught/Ulster (53%), followed by Leinster (52%), Munster (51%), and Dublin (49%).

-Women in Dublin (55%) had more difficulty reintegrating into the workplace than those in Leinster (53%), Munster (48%), and Connaught/Ulster (42%).

Source:
QUINN-healthcare