Supporting employees through pregnancy, maternity leave, and return to work
Supporting pregnant employees earlier helps organisations reduce pregnancy-related sickness absence, improve retention, and avoid the significant costs associated with recruitment and staff turnover
The challenge
Pregnancy affects workforce performance and retention
Women make up a significant proportion of the workforce, making pregnancy and maternity support an important organisational issue.
Many organisations lose experienced female talent
Around 1 in 4 women do not return to their jobs after maternity leave or within 12 months of returning (https://www.careersafterbabies.org/careers-after-babies-report).
The cost of unsupported pregnancy is significant
Increased sickness absence, reduced engagement, and poor return-to-work experiences can create substantial organisational impact.
Parenthood is one of the most significant transition points in women’s careers
Without the right support in place:
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Pregnancy-related absence and stress can increase
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Employees may feel unsupported navigating pregnancy at work
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Managers and HR teams often lack specialist maternity knowledge
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Retention can drop after maternity leave, increasing organisational costs
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There is often no clear bridge between maternity care and the workplace
Midwife Connect helps bridge the gap between maternity care and the workplace, providing employees with consistent support while helping organisations better navigate pregnancy and maternity transitions.
The solution
How Midwife Connect supports organisations and employees
Employees have access to:
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Regular 1:1 support from a dedicated registered midwife
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Guidance on navigating NHS care and understanding their choices
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Support with pregnancy symptoms, wellbeing, and workplace adjustments
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Birth preparation and birth reflection
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Ongoing support during maternity leave
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Return-to-work planning and support
Providing continuity, reassurance, and personalised support throughout pregnancy and early parenthood.
Organisations benefit from:
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Reduced pregnancy-related sickness absence through earlier support and intervention
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Improved retention of experienced staff, reducing recruitment and onboarding costs
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Lower disruption to teams and services during pregnancy, maternity leave and the return-to-work period
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Reduced pressure on managers and HR teams navigating pregnancy-related concerns
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More confident workplace conversations around pregnancy and maternity
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Improved employee experience, engagement, and likelihood of returning after maternity leave
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Increased retention of female talent and leadership potential
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Enhanced employer reputation and workplace culture
A simple, low-burden service that works alongside NHS maternity care and existing workplace support.
Why organisations choose Midwife Connect
Midwife Connect is designed to provide meaningful support for employees while remaining simple and sustainable for organisations to implement.
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Specialist non-clinical support throughout pregnancy, maternity and return to work
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Delivered by registered midwives, ensuring guidance is safe, appropriate, and evidence-based
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Independent and confidential support that employees feel comfortable accessing
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Designed to complement NHS maternity care and workplace policies
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We help organisations better support employees through pregnancy and maternity transitions
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Straightforward, low-burden implementation for managers and HR teams
Providing trusted, consistent support during one of the most significant transitions within the workforce.