Testimonials

What is your story? I came from Colombia looking for a better future, leaving many things behind, fleeing from conflicts. I arrived in Spain and a few months later I was pregnant and planning. I decided to have my baby girl and now we are moving forward.

Have you found it difficult to resume your professional career after pregnancy? If so, how have you managed? Yes, it has been a bit difficult for me to get back to work because of childcare, childminding, etc. But everything has been flowing.

What did you learn about yourself during and after pregnancy? During pregnancy you can always find the light at some point, although there are situations that are very difficult, you do your best to get through it, especially when you have a little person in your belly.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after pregnancy? No matter how difficult you think a situation is, keep in mind that there will always be a way out. She will always find a door, someone to help her, someone who will listen to her.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work, have your goals changed? I thought a lot about my future before, but when the pregnancy came along I thought about how I would pick up everything. In the end everything has been flowing. The baby started nursery school, she started to feel comfortable and I changed profession.

Do you think it is possible to realise the dreams you had before? I changed my profession for the better, now I do something I like, I have time with my baby and we have moved forward.

What’s your story? My name is Sofia and I’m 37, I had my first daughter when I was 23 and I’m an artisan. I wasn’t surprised, I didn’t have much of a reaction because I wasn’t expecting it.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage? As I wasn’t working at the time, I wasn’t expecting to start training.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? I didn’t learn much. But the main focus for me and my daughter is to try as much as possible not to listen to the opinions of rubbishy people.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after pregnancy? Never give up. If you don’t succeed because of someone else, try small personal projects. But don’t give up any more.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? Have your goals changed? I imagined taking a course in conservation and restoration. But faced with life situations. I prefer to do what I like and what gives me encouragement. Being an artisan, which I discovered after having my second child.

Do you think it’s possible to realise the dreams you had before? Not the one I had before the pregnancy, because it’s not something I want anymore. But anything is possible when you have the willpower and don’t give up.

What’s your story? My name is Diana, I’m 42 years old, and I found out I was pregnant with my first child when I was 21. At the time it was a shock for me, because I was alone, I had ended my relationship with my son’s father, I didn’t have a job and I didn’t know what to do or think. I had my mum’s support to get me back on my feet and think about the future, mine and my son’s.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage? Yes, it was very difficult to find a job with a small baby. During my pregnancy, I managed to find a job with great difficulty, but during my maternity leave they didn’t renew my contract and made me redundant. After my leave I started looking for a job, but it was complicated. There were rotating shifts, no places in the crèche and if my son got sick I had to be absent, something that wasn’t very well accepted by the companies. But after a bad experience, I managed to find a company that would accept me and a place in a crèche, which allowed me to re-enter the labour market. At the same time, I decided that I wanted to complete my degree in Educational Sciences and re-enrolled at university.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? My pregnancy was a mixture of emotions, both positive and negative. But today I know how hard-working and obstinate I am. That when I want something, I fight until I achieve it and there’s nothing that can make me give up. I discovered how strong and resilient I am, that regardless of the obstacles, for myself and for my son I was able to overcome them all and go further.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after pregnancy? Never give up and fight for your dreams and a better future for you and your child. No matter how many obstacles come in your way, don’t give up and know that you are strong and that you and your baby will go further.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? Have your goals changed? Before I knew I was pregnant, my dream was to finish university, work in my field and be a successful professional. To have my own home and not depend on anyone emotionally or financially. And today I have all this because I didn’t give up. Because my children (I currently have 3) have never been an obstacle, on the contrary, they have been my strength and my hope for a better future.

Do you think it’s possible to realise the dreams you had before? Yes, of course, by not giving up and always fighting, everything can be achieved!

What’s your story? I was 24 and studying for my MSc in Biomedical Engineering when I found out I was pregnant with twins. It was completely unexpected, and I was overwhelmed because my lifelong dream was to build a career in academic research. Having to postpone my studies felt like I was stepping away from everything I had worked so hard for.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage? In the beginning, it was tough. I had to move back to my hometown for family support, which was a difficult adjustment. I had imagined a career in a big city, so I felt like I was putting my dreams on hold. But having the support of my family allowed me to get back on track. Now I’m finishing my MSc and teaching, and it feels great to be moving forward again, even if it’s in a different way than I originally planned.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? I learned that I’m stronger than I thought. The experience taught me to adapt, to be patient, and to accept that it’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned. With time, I found that I could still pursue my goals, just with a new perspective.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after pregnancy? Give yourself grace. It’s okay to take things slowly and ask for help. Surround yourself with people who support you, and don’t feel pressured to follow the same timeline you had before. Your journey may take longer, but you can still get to where you want to be.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? Before the pregnancy, I imagined myself completing my MSc and diving straight into research and academia. I didn’t expect to start a family so soon. My plan was to focus entirely on my career and build something solid before thinking about motherhood.

Have your goals changed? My goals haven’t changed, but my approach to achieving them has. I’ve learned to balance my professional aspirations with my responsibilities as a mother. While I still aim to have a fulfilling career in research, I also prioritize spending time with my children and making sure they feel supported.

Do you think it’s possible to realize the dreams you had before? Absolutely. I believe that with determination, flexibility, and a supportive network, it’s possible to achieve the dreams I had before. The path may look different, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful or attainable.

What’s your story? My name is Hellen, I’m 27 years old, and I work in marketing. When I found out I was pregnant, I was in the process of trying to get a promotion at work. The news took me by surprise and changed a lot of things, both in my personal and professional life.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage?
Yes, I struggled to get my career back on track. When I returned to work, I felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities both at home and at work. I learned to manage my time better, asking for more support from my family and colleagues. I also accepted that I didn’t have to do everything on my own.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy?
I learned that I am much more resilient than I thought. During pregnancy and after my child was born, I discovered an inner strength I didn’t know I had. I became more patient and learned to prioritize what’s truly important.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after a pregnancy?
I would tell her not to be afraid to ask for help and to take the time to adjust to the new reality. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t do everything right away—it’s normal. Take things one step at a time, and you’ll find your balance.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work?
Before I got pregnant, I imagined my career would keep moving forward without many pauses. I thought work would be my top priority for the next few years.

Have your goals changed?
Yes, my goals have changed. Now, my main goal is to find a balance between family and career without sacrificing one for the other.

Do you think it’s possible to realize the dreams you had before?
Yes, I think it’s still possible, but the timing is different. My dreams haven’t changed, but I’ve learned to be more flexible and not to rush the results.

What’s your story? I’m a 21-year-old single mum with one child. I got pregnant at 19 and it was very difficult because I was hospitalised several times and I had to find accommodation quite quickly because I was going to end up on the streets.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? I learnt that I was a strong woman who was able to overcome a lot, whether I was alone or accompanied.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? Yes, I’d already thought about my future in terms of the job I was aiming for (in administration) but I didn’t know in which profession exactly.

Have your goals changed? No, my goals haven’t changed, but they have evolved quite a bit.

Do you think it’s possible to realise the dreams you had before? Yes, because I’m extremely determined to succeed and give the best of myself.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after a pregnancy? Never get discouraged, your determination and ambitions will always be your strength.

What’s your story? I was born in Guatemala, but I’ve lived in several countries since I was a child. I decided to pursue a career in fashion. When I arrived in France, I got a master’s degree in luxury management, but my professional experience was mainly in ready-to-wear sales. I managed to get an internship in events management, but fashion has always remained my real passion. Then I got a job as a sales assistant when a premium boutique opened. I was in the process of climbing the ladder to become shop manager when I became pregnant with my first child. I decided to take a year’s break to look after him.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage? The period of reflection I took after my pregnancy led me to give up my career in ready-to-wear and to start studying again. I chose to do an apprenticeship in dressmaking. It was just after the COVID-19, so it was difficult to find an employer for an apprenticeship contract. I needed to get back into the professional world after looking after my son, so going back to school with teenagers was a bit strange at first, but I managed to get back into a calmer professional rhythm thanks to the sandwich course. At the end of my training, I was offered further training in retouching and sales, which I decided to do while changing employer. At the end of this new course, I was offered a permanent contract, and that’s when I became pregnant with my second child.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? For my first pregnancy, learning about my new role as a mother was a huge upheaval. I had to learn to love myself again after giving birth, to accept that my body had changed, and to overcome the baby blues. The constant fear of not making the right decisions was omnipresent. However, for my second pregnancy, what surprised me most was breastfeeding. I benefited so much from the experience, it was a very special moment, something I hadn’t felt in the same way during my first pregnancy.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after a pregnancy? I think that any change requires time to adapt and that asking for help from those close to you without hesitation is essential. Personally, going to the park and meeting other mums to share our experiences has really helped me not to feel alone.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? As far as family is concerned, I always thought I’d have two children, and that’s actually the case. As for my career, it’s not at all what I had originally envisaged. My initial plan was to succeed in the fashion industry, in particular as a Visual Merchandiser, my basic degree, and to run a business or manage a large company.

Have your goals changed? Taking a break to look after my eldest son and leaving my job as a manager definitely closed certain doors in the career I wanted to pursue. I don’t regret it, because I like change so much that it didn’t bother me. After that, I did two years of training with different employers. I grew up with the need to adapt and change regularly, and I think that’s what enabled me to reintegrate into the professional world without difficulty after my pregnancies.

Do you think it’s possible to realise the dreams you had before? I think my dreams have now merged with those of my husband and children. I don’t want to sacrifice the precious time of my children’s childhood for work. I do take time out for myself sometimes, but I know that time with my children goes quickly, so for now I’m enjoying every moment with them and putting my professional plans on standby.

What’s your story? I’ve been sharing my life with my partner since 2017, a beautiful encounter that happened when I was in my final year of a Masters at university. After four years together, we were surprised to learn that we were going to become parents, I was 28 at the time. In August 2022, we welcomed our first child, an unforgettable moment at my 29th birthday.

Have you struggled to get your career back on track after your pregnancy? If so, how did you manage? When I became pregnant, I was in charge of a training department in the sports and entertainment sector, on a fixed-term contract. The job demanded rigour, as I was responsible for accrediting training bodies at regional level. My integration into the team went smoothly, but I gradually had to establish my legitimacy over the months. Ironically, it was in the year of my pregnancy that I really found my place in the team. So I was dreading my return, keen to rediscover what I had built up with my colleagues and partners over time. However, bodies and organisations are changing. During my maternity leave, which was extended by a period of sick leave, I was absent for a total of seven months. When I returned, conditions had changed: I wasn’t able to pick up the projects I’d left behind, my responsibilities had been redistributed and I no longer had the same visibility over the management of the department. Although frustrated by the loss of visibility due to my position, I decided to turn this situation into an opportunity. This enabled me to find a better balance between my professional and family life, and to plan for a new position.

What did you learn about yourself during and after your pregnancy? My ability to adapt and be resilient.

What advice would you give to a young mother who is struggling to get her career back on track after a pregnancy? I think the most important thing is to listen to yourself. If your organisation is taking you off your projects, preventing you from making the most of your work, it’s important to talk about it. Surround yourself with the right people, people who will listen to you and support you. I’d also like to stress that you should never devalue yourself or doubt your skills.

If you thought about your future before you knew you were pregnant, how did you imagine it? What about work? In my family, the value of work is essential. So I wanted to get a Master’s degree so that I could move into management positions. But I soon realised that a 25-year-old woman’s CV wasn’t enough to run a department. So I developed strategies to enhance my career path. Having a child was not a priority: I wanted to progress, settle down and become stable before becoming a mother.

Have your goals changed? My objectives remain unchanged: to achieve professional fulfilment while taking time to enjoy my family and friends. I put a lot of myself into my work, but I also know how to prioritise when it comes to spending time with my family.

Do you think it’s possible to realise the dreams you had before? I’ve always believed that life is about choices. With determination and overcoming stereotypes linked to gender, skin colour or age, it’s possible to achieve the goals you set yourself.