Mum's the word

Allegra Stratton, now with ITV News, writes in the Mail about Serena Williams and the pressures on new mothers returning to work:

"I was BBC Newsnight’s political editor when I became pregnant with my first child – now a lively boy aged four. Eight months into the pregnancy, just before I went on maternity leave, my BBC editors made it clear I would have to fight for my position when I came back.

After one particularly fraught meeting, I had my last antenatal appointment before my due date but the stress of the meeting had caused my baby’s heartbeat to rocket. Unless it calmed down, the midwife told me, she would have to induce it. Thankfully the heart rate did return to normal – but that was the point when I gave up fighting my bosses.

"When I returned to work after six months, my (male) editor said to me: ‘But the question is, Allegra, are you hungry?’ Yes, I was hungry. And tired. And terrified that I would never be the same journalist again. I was desperate to prove I was up to my job."

Who were these horrible Newsnight editors ? Ian Katz (Mr Mumsnet) started in September 2013; Allegra left on maternity leave in January 2014, returning in July 2014.