So I found myself out of work just when I needed it the most.

But three months later I got a very interesting phone call. Turns out they were unable to find another writer with my technical qualifications and in desperation they outsourced everything I’d been doing to a professional writing company. The new company, upon learning about me, simply called me and asked it I’d like to come work for them doing the same job I was doing before, but for a 30% raise!

This new media company was made up of of a small group of women who had founded their business model on the idea that people have lives outside of work and a good employee can usually work around personal obstacles if given the proper supports. The woman who offered me the job just laughed when I asked her if she was concerned about my pregnancy interfering with work. She said “We’ve got another pregnant woman as well as a man whose wife is pregnant, plus a woman going through menopause, several parents of young children, a guy recovering from a heart bypass, and a newly engaged 20-something who spends every waking moment preparing for her upcoming wedding — don’t worry, you’ll fit right in!”

I was able to complete my work on time AND have a beautiful baby girl. But the original corporation ended up paying twice as much for my work just because they were afraid of a pregnancy.