Yasmin Karsan is a registered pharmacist and mother of four. In this story, she shares with us some of the feelings and experiences she felt throughout her maternity journey and strategies she put in place to look after her wellbeing.  

As pharmacists we tend to be very good at keeping busy and juggling multiple eventualities.  

However, the introduction of children can be daunting and challenging, especially in the early days. The first time I went on maternity leave, I had no idea what to expect. To be honest, it was quite difficult to navigate the ‘information and legal wormhole’ that is associated with maternity/paternity leave and pay. I had my first child during my PhD and was unbelievably supported throughout this time by my supervisors and peers (sadly, something I understand not everybody in the pharmacy sector experiences). 

I was fortunate to be able to work till the end of my pregnancy. As D-day was approaching, I remember feeling very excited but also nervous at the prospect of becoming a mum (not to mention the birth itself). Up until that point I had always worked at least two jobs, whether locuming and academia or another iteration, so I did wonder how that would translate when I had the baby, but I thought I’d at least be able to write some of my thesis postpartum and take my baby around with me.   

Little did I know that the lack of sleep required much more mental preparation to do most daily things like make dinner, do the laundry etc. Suffice to say, I had a tremendous amount of help during this time, which allowed me to recover and bond. However, out of all my maternity leaves, I found the first one the hardest.  

Each maternity leave I experienced had its own unique journey of growth.   

The second one was difficult in the sense of us transitioning from a family of three to a family of four. I could no longer try to slow down as I had my first child to keep occupied on top of looking after a newborn. To add another layer of complexity, this was during covid and where we were based was under a very long lockdown protocol. We bonded as a family, but the outside world was very different post lockdown.  

I’ve never taken the full maternity year. As someone who has consistently worked since qualifying it was difficult for me to completely let go. From 6 months onwards I would locum a few evenings to gain that interaction with other adults, exercise my clinical acumen and allow my husband to have quality time with the kid(s).  

By the third and fourth child, I had my own business and therefore taking maternity leave would impact my ability to contribute to household expenses, such as nursery fees etc. In many ways, I was and still am in a constant flux of providing for my family and feeling guilty of sending my kids to nursery. However, it is not one size fits all and I have been very fortunate to be able to mould my work around my children. I have very clear boundaries set, for example when the children are at home I do not work, unless there are very exceptional circumstances for example a conference. I have a great support network of friends, mum-friends and colleagues. I also use social media as a way to cathartically navigate being a mum and a clinician.  

Being a mum to a newborn can be very isolating.  

Maternity leave is hard, and feelings of isolation can be difficult to navigate, especially with social media and coming from a very interactive profession. Cultural norms also require staying inside for a certain period of time, and surges in hormones and the lack of sleep can wreak havoc with patience and mood – I definitely felt this at points. 

With my first baby, the lack of adult interaction was difficult. To combat this, I made a conscious effort to stay connected with people in small ways. I became active on social media and I am fortunate to have friends across many time-zones, so somebody was awake at some point, which helped me feel less isolated. Being able to share stories, laugh and vent about the sleepless nights felt cathartic and allowed me to connect with other mums on social media going through similar things.  

When I felt ready, I reintroduced locuming at a local community pharmacy, starting with evening shifts a few hours a week. Companies I have worked for have been so supportive in allowing me to manoeuvre hours to suit myself in addition to training when I needed it. This helped immensely as returning to work post maternity leave can be very daunting.  

Another key thing that helped me was establishing a routine that included “me time.” Something as simple as a face mask or having a cup of tea in silence while the baby napped gave me a sense of calm. Those moments helped balance the endless nappy changes and take stock. 

Each maternity leave brought different experiences, challenges, and lessons, but the most important takeaway for me was to embrace the journey. I wouldn’t change any of my experiences because I feel they have made me who I am today. When I look at my children, I see the growth we have been through together and the start of our unique journey. 

My top 5 tips for parents, old and new! 

We all have our ups and downs, so here are a few strategies that helped me stay on top of my wellbeing:  

1. Exit expectation mode 

 We are all at fault of having high expectations of ourselves. Try not to pressure yourself to do everything perfectly. Some days will feel like you’re just getting through, and that’s okay. A win is having a shower, eating a healthy meal or getting outside for a bit. 

2. The support system 

Social interaction is so important, whether that is through social media or over the telephone. There is a meme I see all the time, where a thread with a best friend or sibling is just sharing memes to each other. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be words it can just be little things which are relatable or make us laugh, but continuing that interaction is key. Having said this, there can also be an overwhelming-ness about having a new baby and being flooded with messages, and the pressure to reply can sometimes be too much. I would set your boundaries; nobody is going to get upset if you don’t reply for a while. Creating a safe space for you to share your thoughts can also make you feel lighter – whether this is in your notes app or to a friend.  

3. Communication 

Communication is critical. When a new baby arrives, it can be a very stressful but joyous time. Having open lines of communication with your partner and/or family (even if they don’t like what you are about to say) is critical to working in unison and destressing situations. It is true ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’.  

4. Time for yourself 

Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, try to do something just for you. Whether that’s reading a book, doing yoga, or simply sitting quietly, prioritising self-care is crucial for your mental health. My new favourite tool is a Gua Sha, which takes 10 minutes and leaves me feeling so calm after. 

5. Be kind to yourself 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed but remember that you are doing an amazing job. Parenting is a hard but fun learning process, and no one has it all figured out. Celebrate the small victories and remind yourself that taking care of your mental and physical health is just as important as caring for your baby. 

For those of you who might be struggling, know that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, isolated or unsure. With time, things do get easier. You’re not alone, and reaching out—whether for a conversation, a bit of advice, or just some solidarity—can make the world of a difference. Feel free to connect with me (@theclinicalcoder) and we can navigate this continuous journey together. 

Maternity, paternity and adoption rights for pharmacy professionals

At Pharmacist Support, we understand that your rights can often be confusing. We’ve teamed up with our Specialist Advice service at Citizens Advice Manchester to highlight your key maternity, paternity and adoption rights:

Pregnant employees have four legal rights at work regardless of how long they have worked:

• paid time off for antenatal care
• maternity leave
• maternity pay or maternity allowance
• protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal.

Fathers who are employees are entitled to paternity leave and this may include if you are adopting a child. Depending on the situation fathers may also be entitled to maternity pay.

If you’re a working parent who has been matched with a child for adoption or if you have had a child placed with you for adoption, you may be entitled to adoption leave. If you can take adoption leave it’s likely you’ll also be entitled to statutory adoption pay.

Another option for parents is shared parental leave. If you or your partner is expecting a baby (or having a child placed with you for adoption), you might be able to turn the maternity (or adoption) leave and pay into shared parental leave and pay.

For more information on these and other maternity, paternity and adoption work and leave rights, see the Citizens Advice website. If you would like advice on your parental rights at work and are a member of a trade union such as the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) or the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP/Unite), you can contact your union for legal advice. Pharmacists, students and trainees who are not a member of a trade union can access free specialist employment advice from Pharmacist Support through our Specialist Advice service.