Maternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Front Line of Maternity Leave

Brought to you by Penguin.

The essential companion for every mother embarking on maternity leave

'In one important sense maternity leave is a misnomer, as it involves no actual leave. You are constantly on, even when your offspring is having a nap. There is nothing restful about it. In another sense maternity leave is aptly named, because it’s a period of leave from all you know: taking leave of one’s mind, body, job, and relationships'

When Emma Barnett began her second maternity leave, she realised that despite having been there before, as soon as her first leave had finished, the rose-tinted lenses descended and she had immediately forgotten what the experience was actually like when you’re in it. This collective forgetting, which leads to well-meaning comments such as: ‘enjoy every minute’ and ‘treasure this special time’, is doing a disservice to women, leaving them unprepared for the more complicated reality.

In Maternity Service she sets out to capture this reality, in real time. Emma isn’t offering advice on sleep-training or weaning or helping your baby reach milestones. Instead, her book is a celebration and acknowledgement of the work of being on maternity leave, with its soaring highs and challenging lows and its impact on how women feel about themselves and their purpose.

© Emma Barnett 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025