The hidden work of new mothers exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic
See all news![A mother lies on a bed alongside her young baby](/-/media/uwe/images/news/motherhood-pandemic-adobestock-850x500.jpg?la=en&h=498&w=847&mw=847&hash=5AD0DF1142C5F0852668C75C2F8A81FE)
Research undertaken by academics at UWE Bristol has found that the shutdown of support services and support networks during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the hidden work that mothers have been performing (and continue to perform) during maternity leave and beyond.
The study, by Dr Jenna Pandeli, Dr Chloe Tarrabain and Dr Mahwish Khan at the university’s Leadership and Change Centre, highlighted how the restrictions imposed significantly limited access to ‘the village’ – the vital networks that new mothers rely on, such as healthcare professionals and childcare groups, friends and family.
They uncovered three invisible issues, which were pushed to an unbearable extreme during this time: physical work, emotional strain, and mental load.
The data suggests that in the face of abandonment by policy makers, limitations on social networks, lack of contact with healthcare professionals and closure of childcare facilities, women plugged the gap themselves, internalising responsibility. The result often being an increase in the physical and emotional work that women were expected to perform throughout the pre-natal to post-natal journey.
Overall, these factors led to intense feelings of anxiety, stress, guilt, and shame for some mothers, with no outlet to get help or support. Balancing the risks posed by the pandemic with their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing became a complex challenge.
The report calls for a range of improvements to maternal support and healthcare. It makes recommendations to charities, organisations and the government to reinstate ‘the village’, including the introduction of free, universal mother and baby groups, and bringing back baby clinics and support on a more informal basis.
“There needs to be a societal shift in the way mothers are viewed and supported,” says Dr Jenna Pandeli, “not just practically – like universal, free mother and baby groups – but in how mothers are seen. These issues didn’t start with the pandemic, the pandemic simply intensified them, allowing us to see more clearly the additional layers of work mothers are doing during their maternity leave. We intend to continue this research and develop it further.”
The research used a unique method of study called ‘autoethnography’ which incorporates the experiences of the researchers themselves. All three of the academics gave birth during 2020 and, alongside 13 other women, their experiences were collected too.
Dr Chloe Tarrabain commented: “During conversations following our maternity leave, we felt like coming back to work was a ‘holiday’... and that was when we realised that exhausting, all-consuming labour had taken place during our maternity leave.
“We wanted to find out what that labour looks like during maternity leave, and how the pandemic exacerbated this work and brought these issues to light.”
Dr Mahwish Khan added: “There’s an urgent need to move beyond the narratives of ‘ideal worker’ and ‘perfect mother’ that mothers must navigate. We hope our research and suggestions can foster a more inclusive and non-judgemental culture in both our workplaces and broader society.”
Helen Robson, founder of The Bloom Project, added: "The team’s research and final report have uncovered vital lessons that need to be considered by policy makers, employers, and the wider networks who support mothers, parents, and carers. I became a mum during the pandemic, and the report gave me, personally, confidence that I was not alone in how my experience of motherhood was impacted upon. The repercussions of what happened are ongoing and there is still work to be done. An important piece of research with clear messages. The physical work, emotional strain, and mental load continues."
The full report can be viewed on the UWE Bristol website.
Related news
![Someone holds the world in their hands in a pool of water](/-/media/uwe/images/news/climate-theatre-project-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=671411EFE5D11C702F789A85526F61DF)
26 June 2024
Water security and climate action to be explored through theatre with communities
UWE Bristol will support an international research project that will embed theatre practice to work with less heard communities who face water insecurity.
![A photo of a sign which says general election 2024 with Big Ben in the background](/-/media/uwe/images/news/general-election-adobestock-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=32EF3AB7949BAEE17613D57B04C55384)
17 June 2024
Opinion: Stats, leaflets, and claims - how to navigate the political battlefield
As political leaflets begin to clog the letterboxes of homes across the UK, how can you discern the truth amidst the claims made by the political parties?
![Members of the Centre for Appearance Research standing for a group photo, with balloons in the background](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/car-anniversary-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=DB550ACB3604EBA25099B9C3D3944EDC)
24 May 2024
Impact of world-leading Centre for Appearance Research celebrated on 30th anniversary
It has grown from two researchers and a PhD student to become what is considered the largest research centre in the world focussed on appearance and body image. Now the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) has celebrated its 30th anniversary.
![Centre for Appearance Research logo in front of a backdrop of the city docks in Bristol](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/appearance-matters-banner-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=12AF26A023C1FCD612FF8DC455319B40)
22 May 2024
Psychology researchers set to stage world’s only international conference on appearance and body image
Researchers from UWE Bristol are getting ready to stage the world’s only international conference focused on issues around appearance and body image.
![A photographer using an old-fashioned camera to take an photo of Stonehenge, with a backdrop of a blue sky](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/stonehenge-photography-main-image-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=82D3AA342D3552BF0055E5180A7BFE8E)
22 May 2024
Academic retraces footsteps of Victorian photography pioneer behind Led Zeppelin album cover
A UWE Bristol researcher has used old-fashioned photography methods to recreate images by a Victorian photographer noted for taking an iconic photo that became a Led Zeppelin album cover.
![A choir, dressed in black, singing](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/sing-for-happiness-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=93348AAAB0FE92C6F3A08BF25933D518)
22 May 2024
Singers brought together by happiness research to take to the stage
The event is the grand finale of ground-breaking research by UWE Bristol and St George's Bristol exploring the links between singing and wellbeing.
![A sign with branding of the Future Space lab at UWE's Frenchay campus](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/future-space-expansion-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=EA4ACD0587C4C09E99C8DB97E1D4F4F4)
21 May 2024
Growth for tech innovation in Bristol as Future Space expands
UWE Bristol’s award-winning innovation centre, Future Space, has opened its doors to 10,000 square feet of brand-new office and laboratory facilities.
![Female with long fair hair with her back to camera holding a small brown dog in her arms, with the dog facing the camera over her shoulder](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/dog-theft-research-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=6B48D7A7D4C02FE382B0A4E65E6B75E4)
26 April 2024
Study reveals emotional turmoil experienced after dog theft is like that of a caregiver losing a child
A new study led by a UWE Bristol researcher has revealed that emotional turmoil experienced by dog owners after their pet has been stolen is like/ akin to that of losing a loved one such as a caregiver losing their child.
![A billboard in St Werbughs in Bristol shows children's illustrations and the words if racism vanished for day I'd wear my hair like this](/-/media/uwe/images/news/billboard-racism-vanished-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=AEF138B778B4ABA3532A6C5D2630EE94)
26 April 2024
New billboard to encourage conversations about what life might be like without racism
The billboard displays an illustration from the book ‘If Racism Vanished for a Day’, which explores the impact of racism on children's wellbeing.
![A female researcher dressed in protective clothing and safety goggles holding a pipette in a science laboratory](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-items/research-concordat-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=C75E382A18894215622DD829F01C0DEC)
25 April 2024
UWE Bristol among first organisations to sign agreement to reduce environmental impacts of conducting research
UWE Bristol is among the first organisations to commit to a new national voluntary agreement to progressively embed environmental sustainability into all research and innovation practices.
![Representatives from UWE Bristol join Woodland Heritage and Forest Research with PhD student Alice Dibley](/-/media/uwe/images/news/woodland-heritage-phd-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=45F19ADF3D96E7D660DDA620AEB3F667)
15 March 2024
UWE Bristol announces partnership PhD with Woodland Heritage
A Partnership PhD will research the effects of management practices on Acute Oak Decline and the rhizosphere microbiome of parkland oak trees.
![The River Severn wends its way through open countryside Adobe Stock image under licence](/-/media/uwe/images/news/river-severn-adobe-stock-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=C0F216FCB39E902E7A60126D3A0D45AF)
13 March 2024
Funding awarded to UWE Bristol to monitor the health of UK rivers
UWE Bristol is to receive a share of an initial £7 million investment to improve capability for monitoring the natural environment.
You may also be interested in
![Media enquiries](/-/media/uwe/images/news/media-enquiries-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=DEC2ADF76427D486E3F096155E2569C0)
Media enquiries
Enquiries related to news releases and press and contacts for the media team.
![Lecturer with students](/-/media/uwe/images/news/news-experts-findanexpert-410x230.jpg?h=230&w=410&la=en&hash=F991F840D7340AF990327391B1A7F10E)
Find an expert
Media contacts are invited to check out the vast range of subjects where UWE Bristol can offer up expert commentary.