Why returning to work after having twins can be a financial challenge

For many families, returning to work after having twins is not just an emotional challenge—it brings a significant financial burden. Carmen, a mother of twins, found that after paying for childcare, she was left with just £200 from her monthly wages. This is a common scenario for many parents, as Twins Trust research shows that while 17% of families worked part-time before pregnancy, that number rises to 40% after having children.

Carmen and her husband James had planned carefully for parenthood. “The twins were very wanted, we waited quite a long time. It wasn’t until we got married that we decided to start a family. We both tried to progress in our careers and make sure we got to a financial position where we could start a family,” Carmen explained.

After trying to conceive for two years without success, they turned to IVF, eventually undergoing NHS treatment. Their first round of IVF failed, but the second round led to a “happy accident” when doctors implanted two embryos to increase their chances of success. “It was a rather short-lived pregnancy as I gave birth five-and-a-half months later at 24 weeks in September 2023. Jude weighed 560g and Lara was 610g,” Carmen said.

The struggles of premature birth and neonatal care

The twins were born prematurely and spent four-and-a-half months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This was a challenging time for the family, as they navigated the emotional and physical toll of having two premature babies.

“I don’t think people know much of the world of NICU until they fall into it. The time was really tough. Overall we were very lucky but it hasn’t been an easy ride for either of the twins,” Carmen reflected.

During this period, Carmen had to make difficult decisions about her work. “I had to drop work at the last second. We knew with twins there was a risk of premature birth. I was trying to delay my maternity leave at that point, so I took two months unpaid leave. I wanted to make sure I had as much maternity leave as I could with them at home, not when in hospital.”

At the time of the twins' birth, the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act had not yet been passed. This new legislation, which came into effect in April 2025, provides parents with up to 12 weeks of paid leave when their baby is in neonatal care for seven days or more. Carmen did not benefit from this law, adding to the challenges she faced. She started her maternity leave in December 2023 but returned to work in March 2025, after adding holiday and unpaid leave to extend her time at home.

Navigating the return to work

When Carmen returned to work, she transitioned to a part-time, flexible role after working for the same company for 16 years. “I met my boss and said I was struggling to see what capacity I could come back to work in. I asked to go back, working two days a week. They wanted me back, in any capacity and it was always an open conversation,” Carmen said. Despite her long tenure and flexible work arrangement, the financial strain was evident. With childcare costing £374 a week, Carmen’s wages barely covered the expense.

“Financially it didn’t make any sense for me to go back to work. In an ideal world, I would have stayed at home until the twins were two. The reason I went back is because I’ve worked for the company for 16 years and I enjoy working there,” Carmen explained. After paying for childcare, her salary left her with less than £200 to cover the rest of her living expenses. “My salary covered the childcare but that leaves me less than £200 surplus, which is why I say it’s not financially feasible for me to work. We’re not struggling, but we aren’t able to save the way we used to save or do the things we used to do.”

The government's role in supporting working parents

Carmen’s experience highlights a key issue: while the government encourages women to return to work, it does little to address the financial barriers they face. “It’s frustrating to see that the government always puts an emphasis on wanting women to go back to work but they don’t do anything to help you to go back to work. It’s a constant worry about finances. We are just treading water at the moment,” Carmen said.