A survey of 2,000 mothers has revealed 51% feel their employers' and colleagues' attitudes changed when they became pregnant, with one in four believing they have been subject to discrimination before or after the birth of their child, and one third stating things had been "difficult" since returning to work and they had been overlooked for promotions because of their new responsibilities.

Yvette Cooper, the first government minister to take maternity leave, also said she felt "cut off" and that she found her department "very unsupportive" when taking maternity leave for the second time.

Do your experiences or your partner's match Cooper's, or have your employers been supportive? Does your workplace support women taking maternity leave, or have you noticed new mothers being overlooked? Share your experiences in the comments below.