FIRST-TIME mothers are calling for more support and flexible hours for women heading back to work after giving birth.

It comes as a report revealed women earn a third less than their male counterparts when they go back to work after having their first baby, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said.

Kay Ali, who works as a head of development at a media non-governmental organisation, said before giving birth to her 11-month-old son, she experienced negative attitudes towards mothers in the workplace.

The 35-year-old from Walthamstow, who is married to Rob, a service development manager, said: “A previous manager of mine once asked why should she have to pay for a woman’s maternity leave and at the time I was in my 20s and it really had quite a big effect on my psychology.

“In another job, a few weeks after starting, the boss asked me if I would be going on maternity leave just because I was a woman in my 30s.

“It made me feel awful because it had nothing to do with me doing my job.

“It is extremely stressful worrying about your career and knowing that as a woman I am seen differently.

“There are psychological barriers and I think a lot of women are concerned about how they are perceived.”

Today, women in the UK earn 18 per cent less than men, an improvement from the pay gap of 23 per cent in 2003.

The difference in pay balloons after women give birth to their first child, with employment rates dropping 33 per cent in the year after the child is born.

Rebecca Malhomme, who works as an environment scientist in Westminster, said her home country, Australia, has adapted better to the needs of working mothers than the UK has.

The 36-year-old who lives in Walthamstow gave birth to her first child Charlotte nine months ago.

She said: “In Australia there is more flexibility and there’s a better attitude towards working from home.

“If you don’t need to be in the office you could do some work at 10pm when the kids are in bed.

“I am really lucky because my boss had a baby a couple of years ago herself and she said I can work from home one day a week and I am not going back full-time.

“As long as you get the work done and in good quality that is the main thing.

“It is bitter sweet really because you want to build a career but you also want to be a good mum.”

Melissa Donovan, from Walthamstow, said because she cannot afford to pay for childcare for her son Henry, seven months, she is forced to work part-time from home.

The 27-year-old, who holds a degree in criminology and criminal law and a masters in politics , runs her own marketing company.

She said: “It is just sad really because I feel my business cannot fly.

“I cannot charge clients as much as I did before because I am working only two and a half days.

“I feel pressure from some family and my dad is a bit disappointed because I paid a lot of money for my degree and my masters.

“But it is hard because I am self-employed so I am not entitled to maternity leave.

The mother-of-one said she was quoted £1250 for a month’s childcare which was not an option for her and her boyfriend, who is a financial accountant.

She said: “By the time all our bills and the mortgage and nappies and milk are paid for it just wouldn’t be worth it.

“I am just sad that I can’t have a career and a baby. I have to choose one.

“But men can still go to work and it is just automatic that the woman should stay home with the baby.

“I just want more help to be available for working mums.”