Latest news with #PregnantThenScrewed
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
After 'Shocking' Police Abortion Guidance, Here's What Campaigners Want To Happen Next
Following the release of new police guidance detailing how to seize phones and search for medications used to terminate pregnancies in the homes of women after unexpected pregnancy loss, campaigners and doctors are urgently calling for abortion to be decriminalised. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has branded the guidance on child death investigation, which comes from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and was updated earlier this year, as 'truly shocking'. If someone is suspected of terminating a pregnancy outside of the legally permitted circumstances, the guidance suggests police could seize phones to examine internet search history, messages and health apps such as menstrual cycle and fertility trackers to 'establish a woman's knowledge and intention in relation to the pregnancy'. It also offers advice on searching for abortifacients (medications used to terminate pregnancies) as well as packaging, documentation and empty medication blister packs. Now, campaigners and doctors are calling for abortion to be decriminalised, with Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, urging people to write to their MPs to ask them to support it. Labour and Co-op MP Stella Creasy has also urged her followers to take action. The NPCC told HuffPost UK: 'Unexpected pregnancy loss is not something which is routinely investigated by police as potential illegal abortion, and these are very rare. 'We recognise how traumatic the experience of losing a child is, with many complexities involved, and any investigation of this nature will always be treated with the utmost sensitivity and compassion.' The council added an investigation would only be initiated 'where there is credible information to suggest criminal activity' and this would often be as a result of concerns raised from medical professionals. 'It is important to stress that due to the individuality of each case, there is no standardised policy to investigate illegal abortions and that police will always work closely with health partners, prioritising the welfare of everyone involved,' said the NPCC. But against a backdrop of reproductive rights being rolled back in the US, campaigners are concerned by the update to police guidance. Over the past two years, six women have appeared in UK courts charged with ending their own pregnancy. Since the introduction of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (written before women could vote in the UK), only three other convictions of illegal abortion have been reported, the BMJ said. 'Abortion providers have reported that in recent years they have received c.50requests for women's medical records from the police in relation to suspected abortion offence,' a cross-party amendment briefing on the topic said. Abortion is technically still a criminal offence in England and Wales. It is only 'de facto' legal until 24 weeks because of the Abortion Act 1967, which allows people to circumvent the law by meeting certain conditions (getting the sign-off from two doctors, taking place in a hospital or premises approved by the Secretary of State for Health, and meeting one of the seven criteria that allows abortion). According to the briefing, that means that technically 'any woman who undergoes an abortion without the permission of two doctors – for example by ordering pills online – can be prosecuted and receive a life sentence as her abortion takes place outside of the provisions of the Act'. This is not usually enforced, but the law seems to be getting stricter. Nicola Packer was only cleared of illegally terminating a pregnancy after taking abortion pills during Covid this month, for instance. She had used a registered provider and was covered by emergency lockdown rule changes that allowed people to order abortion pills online up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy (this stayed in place after the lockdown). Earlier this month, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 'welcomed' an amendment which is currently making its way through parliament and calls for abortion to be decriminalised. At the time, Dr Ranee Thakar, president of RCOG, said: 'Abortion that happens outside of the current law generally involves very vulnerable women – including those facing domestic abuse, mental health challenges or barriers to accessing NHS care. 'Yet alarmingly, prosecutions of women have been increasing in recent years.' Stating that abortion is a form of healthcare, Dr Thakar added: 'Parliamentarians now have an unmissable opportunity to decriminalise abortion, to ensure women can access abortion safely, confidentially and free from the threat of investigation and prosecution. 'We urge MPs to support this amendment to ensure that women and girls in England and Wales will have the same protections as their counterparts in countries such as Northern Ireland, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.' The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has also been campaigning for abortion law reform. Spokesperson Katie Saxon said the recent police guidance change 'is the clearest sign yet that women cannot rely on the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, or the courts to protect them'. She added: 'The only way to stop this is to remove women from the criminal law on abortion.' Joeli Brearley, campaigner and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, has now urged people to write to their MPs to ask them to support the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. 'This is not the time for caution,' she wrote on social media. 'We need to go hard or go home. Let's make sure the future of reproductive rights in this country is secure and that no woman who experiences pregnancy loss is ever investigated as a potential criminal.' On Sunday, Stella Creasy took to Instagram to 'beg' her followers to not 'ignore the warning signs that abortion access is under threat on our shores'. 'For the sake of the 250,000 women who have one every year here ask your MP to sign our cross party amendment and vote for it,' she said. 'We only have a few weeks to win this vital fight for our freedoms ... The stakes could not be higher but with your help and all our voices we can do this.' Abortion Law Could Radically Change As MPs Propose Decriminalising Abortion Up To 24 Weeks Lesbians Have Always Stood With Trans Women – Our Safe Spaces Should Too Former Minister Calls Out 'Sexist' No.10 Briefings Against Women In Starmer's Cabinet
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Better paternity leave wouldn't just help Daddy
I'm so pleased that paternity leave is getting some air time and there is a campaign to increase it (The Guardian view on paternity leave: campaigners are right to demand more, 5 May). Probably in part because I follow the Pregnant Then Screwed campaigns, my husband and I have discussed this in depth. He is now due to be taking a full six months of shared parental leave from his workplace this year. With our first baby, he was at home but working self‑employed, so had no benefits. I suffered with postnatal depression, and struggled with breastfeeding and the anxiety of trying to do it all right. This time, we are so looking forward to having six months off together as a family. My husband will be able to bond with the baby and be the supportive father to our toddler, with no mental pressure to have to be doing something else. It's going to be so different! We know we are the outliers – none of our friends have done this or seem inclined to. A big part is the women still want 12 months and worry that they have to go back early if they share the time. The men also maybe haven't understood all their rights. I will be taking 12 months, but it is a matter of juggling workplace policies and is not very easy to navigate. I just wanted to share that this is possible. You can have it all. You can take 12 months as the woman, and you can have your partner with you for longer than two weeks. And it could be wonderful for you FroudBath • I'm so very sorry to hear that fathers are finding it unattractive to take two weeks of paternity leave when compensated at the statutory £187.18 a week. Do let me remind you that this is the same country which pays a woman a mere £6.38 an hour (six weeks of pay at 90% of her salary, which on average in the UK is roughly £700 a week, plus 33 weeks of maternity pay at that princely £187.18/week), half of the national minimum wage, for giving up her career for 39 weeks to instead work at delivering and nurturing a future taxpayer. This is not to mention the physical and emotional cost of working 'as normal' through the previous 40 weeks of her pregnancy, the soft impact on her career of taking nine months of leave, and the financial cost to the family of putting that child into nursery at eight or nine months old so the mother can return to her £700-a-week job. And this is before we factor in the weeks of unpaid leave or holiday she will take to cover illnesses, and the impact on her career of needing the flexibility to work around inflexible nursery hours. Perhaps if we paid women properly for their labour, men would find it easier to sacrifice their full earnings for two short weeks in order to become more fully engaged SmithLondon • I read your article on the proposed 'dad strike' regarding the pathetic paternity entitlement in the UK while visiting my son, partner and kids in Oslo (British men urged to join 'Dad strike' calling for more paternity leave, 1 May). My son is on four months' paid paternity leave and his partner has recently returned to work after eight months' paid maternity leave. Yes, let me repeat, four months, paid. On taking one of my grandchildren to the barnehage (nursery), I am struck by the number of young men having responsibility for their young kids. This is how it should be. It's really wonderful and it also enables many women to work full time. The Labour government is clearly unpopular, as confirmed by the local elections, and a second term is unlikely unless a radical change of direction occurs. This should include significant improvements in paternity MiskinSheffield
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Better paternity leave wouldn't just help Daddy
I'm so pleased that paternity leave is getting some air time and there is a campaign to increase it (The Guardian view on paternity leave: campaigners are right to demand more, 5 May). Probably in part because I follow the Pregnant Then Screwed campaigns, my husband and I have discussed this in depth. He is now due to be taking a full six months of shared parental leave from his workplace this year. With our first baby, he was at home but working self‑employed, so had no benefits. I suffered with postnatal depression, and struggled with breastfeeding and the anxiety of trying to do it all right. This time, we are so looking forward to having six months off together as a family. My husband will be able to bond with the baby and be the supportive father to our toddler, with no mental pressure to have to be doing something else. It's going to be so different! We know we are the outliers – none of our friends have done this or seem inclined to. A big part is the women still want 12 months and worry that they have to go back early if they share the time. The men also maybe haven't understood all their rights. I will be taking 12 months, but it is a matter of juggling workplace policies and is not very easy to navigate. I just wanted to share that this is possible. You can have it all. You can take 12 months as the woman, and you can have your partner with you for longer than two weeks. And it could be wonderful for you FroudBath I'm so very sorry to hear that fathers are finding it unattractive to take two weeks of paternity leave when compensated at the statutory £187.18 a week. Do let me remind you that this is the same country which pays a woman a mere £6.38 an hour (six weeks of pay at 90% of her salary, which on average in the UK is roughly £700 a week, plus 33 weeks of maternity pay at that princely £187.18/week), half of the national minimum wage, for giving up her career for 39 weeks to instead work at delivering and nurturing a future taxpayer. This is not to mention the physical and emotional cost of working 'as normal' through the previous 40 weeks of her pregnancy, the soft impact on her career of taking nine months of leave, and the financial cost to the family of putting that child into nursery at eight or nine months old so the mother can return to her £700-a-week job. And this is before we factor in the weeks of unpaid leave or holiday she will take to cover illnesses, and the impact on her career of needing the flexibility to work around inflexible nursery hours. Perhaps if we paid women properly for their labour, men would find it easier to sacrifice their full earnings for two short weeks in order to become more fully engaged SmithLondon I read your article on the proposed 'dad strike' regarding the pathetic paternity entitlement in the UK while visiting my son, partner and kids in Oslo (British men urged to join 'Dad strike' calling for more paternity leave, 1 May). My son is on four months' paid paternity leave and his partner has recently returned to work after eight months' paid maternity leave. Yes, let me repeat, four months, paid. On taking one of my grandchildren to the barnehage (nursery), I am struck by the number of young men having responsibility for their young kids. This is how it should be. It's really wonderful and it also enables many women to work full time. The Labour government is clearly unpopular, as confirmed by the local elections, and a second term is unlikely unless a radical change of direction occurs. This should include significant improvements in paternity MiskinSheffield Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How inadequate maternity leave harms mothers' wellbeing
Returning to work after having a baby isn't easy. On the one hand, the opportunity to gain some independence and earn money may be a welcome change after the routine of night feeds and nappies. On the other, looking after a baby while getting back into the swing of work can be overwhelming — especially if you don't feel ready. One mother, Laura from North Yorkshire, had to return to work after three months because she couldn't afford her mortgage repayments while on low maternity pay. 'I feel guilty because I've had to miss out on bonding time with my child,' she says. 'There has been no time to recover from pregnancy or the birth. I'm tired and stressed, but I have no choice.' Around 40% of mothers are forced to go back to work within four months of having a baby because they simply can't afford to stop working for longer, according to data from Pregnant then Screwed. Both statutory maternity pay, aimed at employed women, and maternity allowance — for those who are self-employed — are now worth less than half of the weekly National Living Wage. Amid the rising cost of living, many new mums are missing out on meals because they can't afford food. Read more: How to speak to your boss about a women's health issue For many, the only option is to head back to work sooner than they would like. Yet cutting short the important postnatal period can have a detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of new mothers. 'Societal expectations on women often infer that they should be 'recovered' from pregnancy and childbirth by six weeks after a baby's arrival, when in reality the physical, hormonal, and psychological shifts resulting from pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a new baby take anywhere from six to 18 months to settle down,' says Dr Hannah Nearney, consultant psychiatrist and UK medical director at Flow Neuroscience. When you factor in sleep deprivation, the constant demands of feeding, the mental load of caring for a newborn, and the struggle to secure reliable childcare, the reality is that it can take even longer to adjust. 'It becomes quickly apparent that returning to work too soon after maternity leave can result in enormous additional external stress for women and their whole family system,' says Nearney. The postpartum period isn't just about giving mums time to care for a new baby — it's a time for recovery and adjustment. Pregnancy and childbirth exact a physical and psychological toll on women, who may be healing from a traumatic birth or recovering from major surgery after a caesarean. On top of that, they're adjusting to life as a new parent; not just the sleepless nights, but also the profound shift in their sense of identity. When women are able to take adequately paid maternity leave, it can have a protective effect on their mental health. A systematic review of 45 studies, published in The Lancet in 2023, found that taking longer leave is associated with reduced risk of depression, distress and burnout among mothers. But when financial circumstances force women back to work before they're ready, the psychological, emotional and physical effects can be far-reaching. 'There's often a profound sense of guilt and shame twinned with the overwhelm they experience linked to a sense of personal failure, both at home and at work,' says psychotherapist Alex Iga Golabek. 'Mothers I have worked with who are in this situation often fear that they are the main reason why the child's wellbeing may be affected, and conclude that they're 'not a good enough parent' when, in reality, the system they're a part of lacks adequate support measures." Read more: Could child-friendly co-working spaces fix the childcare crisis? The guilt women experience can be twofold. They may feel like they're failing their child, but they're also unlikely to feel like they're able to work to the best of their abilities. Out of 1,000 mothers surveyed by Tena, 31% said they found it harder than expected to return to their job after 10 months' maternity leave — let alone just a few weeks. Lucy Kemp, a future of work expert and employee experience expert, says there can be a constant sense of not doing anything properly, at home or at work. 'That's not a sustainable way to work, and it's certainly not how you retain brilliant women in your business,' she says. It's also important to note that the reasons for returning to work too early can be complex. Money may be the main reason, but counselling psychologist Dr Nivedita Nayak adds that there is additional societal pressure for women to seamlessly juggle multiple roles as mothers, professionals and more. 'While the economic necessity, especially for the self-employed, is undeniable and frankly a societal failing, I also believe there's a less visible layer of performative motherhood at play,' says Nayak. 'Women might feel pressured to project an image of coping and competence, minimising their struggles to avoid appearing less dedicated to either their career or their family. Read more: How 'mum brain' stigma is holding women back at work 'This internal pressure, though rarely discussed openly, can be incredibly damaging. Also, this pressure is amplified by subtle societal narratives that still often frame the ideal mother as effortlessly balancing all roles.' Inadequate maternity pay and the pressure to return to work to "prove" your worth reflect deep-rooted, harmful narratives that devalue motherhood as a legitimate and meaningful role. These expectations send a message that caregiving is secondary to paid labour, forcing many women to choose between financial stability and their own recovery and bonding time with their child. A complete overhaul of the maternity system is essential, alongside a fundamental shift in how society values and supports mothers. 'Employers should better support mothers during and after maternity leave - and can start by actually listening to what mothers need,' says Kemp. 'Enhanced maternity pay is a game changer. So is proper handover support, phased returns, coaching, and flexibility that works in real life, not just on paper. 'And it shouldn't stop the moment someone returns. Employers should be checking in regularly, making sure progression doesn't stall, and offering support without making it feel like a favour.' Read more: Five questions you shouldn't be asked in a job interview How to manage 'time blindness' at work if you have ADHD Can body doubling make us more productive at work?Sign in to access your portfolio
Metro
22-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
The six companies in the UK that give dads 52 weeks paid paternity leave
Maternity leave in the UK is pretty dire (you try living off £187.18 a week with a small human and rising bills). But we're not the only ones being screwed. While mums can claim statutory maternity pay at 90% of their salary for six weeks, then £187.18 for the next 33 weeks, dads typically get just two paid weeks off work. Statutory paternity pay is set at £187.18 per week or 90% of men's average weekly earnings (whichever is the lower amount) for two weeks, making it one of the least generous entitlements in Europe. Same sex couples face the same low payments (for example, a birth-mother will be entitled to maternity pay while her partner – regardless of gender – can claim statutory paternity pay for a fortnight). Some companies do boost paid leave for their employees, but the latest Working Families Benchmark report found UK companies gave just five weeks of paid paternity leave on average in 2024. The result? Dads and partners are forced back to work early, missing out on valuable bonding time with their babies. Meanwhile mums are thrown in at the deep end caring for a newborn solo, often having barely recovered from childbirth themselves. It's why Pregnant Then Screwed has launched Let's Talk About Six, a campaign calling for fathers and same sex parents to have at least six weeks of paid paternity leave in the UK. There are a few companies who are ahead of the game though, giving new dads an entire year of paternity leave. So, if you're someone who wants to start a family or add to your brood, you might want to see if these businesses have any vacancies going. In 2019, Bain & Company, which is a global consultancy firm, decided to offer equal parental leave for all its employees in the UK. Honestly, we love to see it. This means that new parents, regardless of gender or how they became parents, are eligible for 52 weeks of leave. Essentially, whether you've given birth or your partner has, you've adopted or welcomed your little one via surrogacy, you're still eligible. Here, the first 29 weeks of that leave are fully paid, with it dropping after seven months (though still paid). In 2020, alcohol producer Diageo also introduced 52 weeks paternity leave for all parents. The first 26 weeks of this paternity leave are fully paid with it dropping after six months. If you've worked for Mars UK for more than a year you can also get your hands on 52 weeks of pat leave. You may have been stuffing your face with chocolate, but you can cash in on another sweet offering too. While the deal isn't quite as generous as its competitors, you still get 26 weeks paid at 90% of your yearly salary before it decreases further. When it comes to insurance, it's not just something you want in case of an accident, you want it when bringing a baby into the world, too. Knowing you won't need to return to work before you're ready shouldn't be a luxury, but here we are. And Aviva allows you to take 52 weeks of paternity leave, with 26 weeks at full pay. This is the case even if you and your partner both work there – no need to share the time off. Manifest is a marketing company and it's also got a pretty decent deal on the table for new dads. More Trending Fathers will get 52 weeks off – all at 90% pay, so you don't need to worry about your funds getting smaller and smaller. We're manifesting this for our future selves too. Shared Parental Leave (SPL) was introduced 10 years ago with the aim of giving dads an equal opportunity to engage in parenthood – but campaign groups say it hasn't helped. The scheme allows parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay after the birth (effectively allowing the mother to transfer her maternity leave to the father after the first two weeks). Just 2% of couples take this up though, with Maternity Action calling for the 'failing' scheme to be scrapped. 'It's poorly paid, complex, and many working parents aren't even eligible,' the charity said. Another insurance company on the list also gives new dads a full year off. If you work here, you'll be entitled to 16 weeks at full pay, a little bit stingier than its competitors but much better than the UK average. Pay the drops to 90% pay for the remainder of your time off. abrdn: 40 weeks Finimize: 38 weeks Accenture: 30 weeks Edrington: 30 weeks Deloitte: 26 weeks Oliver Wyman: 26 weeks Starbucks EMEA Ltd: 26 weeks University of the Arts London: 26 weeks FSCS: 26 weeks LGT Wealth Management: 26 weeks Baring: 26 weeks Phoenix Group: 26 weeks S&P Global: 26 weeks Fidelity International: 26 weeks Goldman Sachs: 26 weeks M and G: 26 weeks London Stock Exchange Group: 26 weeks MOD: 26 weeks Ferring Pharmaceuticals: 26 weeks Norvartis: 26 weeks Ashurst: 26 weeks Havas helia: 26 weeks Childrens Investment Fund Foundation: 26 weeks British Land: 26 weeks Knight Frank: 26 weeks JLL: 24 weeks 22 weeks Standard Chartered: 20 weeks UBS: 20 weeks Hodge: 20 weeks Financial Times: 20 weeks Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Two words from a stranger made my baby's meltdown feel so much worse MORE: Drayton Manor is offering free entry – you'll need to grab tickets fast MORE: Parents handed £35,000,000 after NHS errors left baby with severe brain damage
