Ciara Doherty said it will be “heartwrenching” returning to work but she loves her job on Ireland AM.
The gorgeous broadcaster feels lucky that she has been able to take extended leave away from the breakfast show, but she is looking forward to rejoining her colleagues this month.
She told RSVP Live: “It is a wrench leaving your baby, but I am lucky that I love the job that I have. I love Ireland AM, my colleagues and I get great fun from the viewers and that makes the adjustment much easier.
“If I hated what I did, it would be 10 times harder.”
Unlike many others in the media, including Maura Derrane, Jennifer Zamparelli and Miriam O’Callaghan, Ciara dismissed any pressure to return to work soon after giving birth.
The new mum felt that her position was secure and she was entitled to spend time with her baby.
The Virgin Media Ireland presenter explained: “I took my six months maternity leave, I took some unpaid leave and I had built up a lot of holidays.
“She arrived a little bit last so she would have been quite young if I came back to work when I was supposed to. The truth of the matter is, you would love to stay off with them for years but that is just not practical.”
“I never felt like that for a moment. I started working in the media when I was 21 and hopefully I will be still going until I am 70, but if I am judged for taking nine months off to have a baby and bring life into the world then so be it.
“I needed that time off so thankfully my employers respected that. I never felt under pressure to come back and I don’t think women should feel like that.”
Ciara admitted that the first few weeks of motherhood were a shock to the system but it was incredible at the same time: “It can be overwhelming and under whelming at times, but something clicks to make it the best thing I have ever done. I adore being a mother.”
Asked how the little one was doing, Ciara went on to say: “I have been told that she is a very good child but I don’t know for sure because I have nothing else to compare it to.
“I don’t want to sound like one of those boring parents but she is good humoured and she does sleep. That has made a real difference to me and that is what makes being a mother so enjoyable.”
