Seven AFL commentator Abbey Holmes responds to backlash following return-to-work announcement

7NEWS

2 days ago

Much-loved AFL commentator Abbey Holmes has responded to the online backlash she received after announcing she would be returning to work seven weeks after giving birth.
Holmes, 34, and her husband, Keegan Brooksby, welcomed their son Brax into the world on June 6.
The ex-AFLW star announced she would be returning to Seven's AFL coverage on July 25, working just two days a week while she navigated being a new mum.
Holmes' news stirred public opinion, with some online trolls calling her selfish for coming back to work less than a month after her son was born.
Speaking to exclusively 7NEWS.com.au, Holmes said her decision to come back was largely due to how well Brax was doing.
'I think that if he didn't take a bottle or was really unsettled and only slept on me, or whatever it might have been, then I certainly would have been hamstrung and certainly not come back seven weeks after having him,' she said.
Holmes said while most of the comments she received were supportive, a small minority of people felt they had the right to tell her how she should be juggling motherhood and a career.
She said she loves her job and being busy and that there was no reason why the goals of starting a family and chasing a career couldn't be achieved at the same time.
'I think my work for me, it's so important. I genuinely love what I do. It doesn't feel like work in any way shape or form,' Holmes said.
'There's certainly a small minority of people out there that feel that they have the right to tell you what you should be doing and how things are to be done, which is never the case.'
Holmes said one of the comments that annoyed her the most related to her husband Keegan, who Holmes refers to as a 'super dad'.
'(Someone said) 'oh dad's on babysitting duty'. I'm sorry, but dads don't babysit their own children, they're 50 per cent of the parenting duo.
'That's one thing that really gets to me.'
Holmes' obstetrician, Dr Scott Shemer, told 7NEWS.com.au there was no recommended time frame for when a woman should return to work, and that postpartum care was completely individualised.
He said the two most important factors guiding a mother's decision should be how she's recovering both physically and emotionally.
'Everyone has a very different physical recovery,' Shemer said.
'They can differ between a vaginal birth and a cesarean section. If you've had a vaginal birth, have you had a tear … have you had any issues with your bladder afterwards?
'Then there's also the emotional side of things. So, you know, some women find it difficult leaving their newborn and again, it depends on what sort of support network you've got around you.
'A lot of people say, 'I'm not ready to put my child in childcare', but they've got grandparents or a partner who can take extended leave.'
Holmes said she had a relatively 'textbook' pregnancy.
After only finding out she was pregnant at 12 weeks and missing the entire first trimester, she felt mostly normal and energised during the remainder of her pregnancy, working right up until Brax was born.
'Abbey obviously was keen to get back in some capacity quite soon,' Shemer said.
'But given that her recovery had been so excellent, I don't have an issue with that at all. And I always support what a patient wants to do as long as it feels, you know, safe to do.'
Holmes said she was happy with her decision and that she has mostly received support from other women and mothers.
'I've had so many people message me saying, you're such an inspiration,' she said.
'Everybody's situation and circumstances are different and I think that (having) a career and wanting a family and having children, they can certainly coexist. I'm certainly kind of living that at the moment.'
As well as jumping back into her role on Seven, Holmes is also returning to her hosting duties, this time acting as the face of skincare company QV's upcoming Care Awards.
In celebration of their 50th birthday, QV will recognise Australians whose caring acts have made a lasting impact on either an individual, community or a cause.
The award ceremony will be held in Melbourne on August 13 with Australian tennis champion Jelena Dokic leading the judging panel.
'QV was created to care for all Australians and for 50 years, we've been doing just that. But now, we want to recognise the people who make caring their way of life,' Ego Pharmaceuticals chief executive Alan Oppenheim said.
'We're honoured to partner with Jelena and Abbey – two inspiring women who represent resilience, compassion and strength.
'The QV Care Awards is about recognising the everyday heroes among us whose stories also deserve to be seen and shared'.