Mums are opening up about the impact of the UK's paternity leave system on their postpartum recovery. Just two weeks after having an emergency c-section, Izzy was left alone at home with her baby. Her husband’s statutory paternity leave was over. He was a teacher, and couldn’t take any more time off during term. As he headed back to work, Izzy remained at home, recovering from major surgery while trying to care for their new baby.“The day my husband went back to work after paternity leave was horrific,” she said.“I was still in agony from my emergency c-section and couldn’t pick up my baby without pain, let alone walk to the kitchen cupboard to get myself a glass of water.”She was still learning to breastfeed her child as well, which was “challenging”, especially as all the feeding positions meant contorting her body in a way that strained her c-section wound. “I was ravenous as my body was recovering from the physical trauma of giving birth and also providing all the nutrients my baby needed to survive; yet I was unable to get myself the food or water I needed as I was either under my baby or pumping,” she said. Physical recovery from a C-section usually takes around six weeks, during which rest is essential. Three months after giving birth, Izzy’s c-section wound ruptured and became infected. “I belie