The Cost of Working: North Yorkshire mum returns to work four weeks after giving birth

A North Yorkshire mum is telling us how she had to return to work four weeks after giving birth, because she couldn't afford not to.

Danielle Cooper runs a pottery shop in Tadcaster and is self-employed.

This means she isn't entitled to statutory maternity pay, instead getting access to a maternity allowance.

But Danielle says with two other children to feed, the money available simply wasn't enough to cover all the bills, and going back to work just four weeks after giving birth was the only option.

She delivered her baby boy Wilder by C-section. You're advised to at least take six weeks rest afterwards.

We've been speaking to Danielle as part of our 'Cost of Working' series, where we're exploring some of the reason why work can be a financial and mental burden.

Getting childcare for Wilder wasn't an option either. A recent survey by Coram found the average cost of putting a child in a nursery part-time is just under £8,000 in 2023.

It means that Danielle has to bring him to work with her, juggling her business and customers, whilst looking after her baby at the same time.

'I've felt a lot of guilt about it, feeling like I'm not giving him as much time as I did with my two other children.

'But at the same time, I don't want to lose my business. Being a small business owner right now, is literally the more difficult thing ever, especially if you're female.

'I'm scraping by here, and I came to the realisation, that I could only afford to take four weeks over.

'There are no provisions for small business owners, particularly women, who have small children.'

A government spokesperson said:

“The cost of living payments have provided a significant financial boost to millions of households - just one part of the record £94 billion support package we have provided to help with the rising cost of bills.

“This includes an increase to the National Living Wage, the biggest ever expansion of free childcare for working parents worth an average £6,500 a year for a working family.

"We’re also investing £3.5 billion to help thousands into jobs – the best way to secure financial security in the long-term."

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