What you may feel
Excitement mixed with worry about health, finances, how work will react, and what your role will become.
These feelings are common. You don't have to sort them out alone.
Second Wind
Your career and your motherhood, both supported.
Mental health support for working women through pregnancy, early motherhood and the return to work.
Because coming back to work shouldn't mean choosing between your career and your wellbeing.
I'm a mother or expecting
Support through pregnancy, the first months and going back to work.
See your support
I'm an employer or HR
The business case, pricing and a 12-month pilot plan.
See the business case
Built on psychology research. Designed with ethics first.
For mothers and mothers-to-be
Support at every stage of your journey.
Choose the stage you're in. You'll see what you might be feeling, how we can help, and the thinking behind it.
How we help
- Antenatal counselling sessionsTime to talk through your hopes and worries before your baby arrives.
- Anxiety and stress supportSimple, practical ways to calm a busy mind and sleep a little better.
- A planning session for leave and returnWe work through questions like "How do I talk to my manager?" together.
Psychology behind it
Anticipatory stress and the transition to motherhood. Preparing early reduces the shock later.
What you may feel
Exhaustion, mood swings, guilt, loneliness, and a changing sense of who you are.
These feelings are common. You don't have to sort them out alone.
How we help
- Short-term counsellingA few focused sessions for when things feel heavy.
- A gentle well-being check-inA short, well-tested questionnaire that helps us guide you to the right care. It's a check-in, not a diagnosis.
- Peer support circlesSmall groups of mothers who are going through the same thing.
- Referral to a psychiatrist or doctorWhen you need more than counselling, we help you get there.
Psychology behind it
Maternal identity and role strain. Many new mothers feel low for a while, and support makes a difference.
What you may feel
Guilt about leaving your baby, worry about being judged at work, doubts about your skills, and childcare stress.
These feelings are common. You don't have to sort them out alone.
How we help
- A 12-week "Return-to-Work" programWeekly group sessions, with optional 1:1 sessions if you'd like them.
- Re-entry confidence buildingRebuild trust in your skills before your first day back.
- Boundary-setting and time-management skillsPractical ways to protect your time and energy at work and at home.
- A guide to your maternity rightsKnow what the law gives you, including up to 26 weeks of paid leave.
Psychology behind it
Work-family conflict (Greenhaus and Beutell, 1985) and Conservation of Resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989). When demands rise and energy drops, support protects your resources.
Myth vs reality
Things you might have heard
Tap a card to turn it over.
Not sure where to start?
A free intro chat is a short, no-pressure conversation about what you need right now. You can stop at any time.
If you ever feel unsafe or think about harming yourself, please call Tele-MANAS on 14416. It's free and open 24/7.
For employers and HR
Keep the talent you've already invested in.
Many women step back from work after childbirth, and replacing an experienced employee costs time and money. Second Wind helps you keep them.
26weeksPaid maternity leave under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017
50+Employees: the size at which a creche becomes a legal requirement
50–100%Of annual salary to replace an experienced employeeAssumption
12weeksReturn-to-Work program with weekly group sessions
What it costs you if unsupported
- Stress
- Absenteeism
- Uncertainty about the return
What Second Wind offers
- Planning sessions for leave and returnA clear plan agreed before leave starts.
- Manager guidanceHow to hold the leave conversation well.
What it costs you if unsupported
- Disengagement
- A lower chance of returning
What Second Wind offers
- Counselling accessConfidential sessions during leave.
- Peer circlesConnection with other new mothers.
- Only aggregate data shared with youNever individual sessions or scores.
What it costs you if unsupported
- Early exit
- Lost experience
- Rehiring cost
What Second Wind offers
- 12-week Return-to-Work programWeekly group sessions with optional 1:1 support.
- Manager sensitisation workshopsSo the first weeks back go well on both sides.
Compare all three stages in one table
| Stage | What it costs you if unsupported | What Second Wind offers |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Stress, absenteeism, and uncertainty about the return | Planning sessions for leave and return, and manager guidance |
| First months | Disengagement and a lower chance of returning | Counselling access and peer circles, with only aggregate data shared with you |
| Return to work | Early exit, lost experience, and rehiring cost | 12-week Return-to-Work program and manager sensitisation workshops |
Why it pays
Support costs less than turnover
Retention
Replacing an employee often costs a large share of their annual salary.
AssumptionWe assume 50 to 100 percent of annual salary for an experienced role.
Smoother re-entry
Faster return to full productivity, because the worries that slow people down are dealt with early.
Compliance and culture
Supports your obligations under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017, which provides 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and requires a creche in establishments with 50 or more employees. It also supports your inclusion and diversity goals.
One exit versus one program place
Illustrative example≈ 66
program places for the cost of one exit
What you get
What you get as an employer
A "Returning Parent" program for your staff
Counselling, peer circles and the 12-week Return-to-Work program, from pregnancy to the first months back.
Manager and HR sensitisation workshops
Practical training for the conversations around leave, return and flexible work.
A policy review
We review your leave, flexibility and return-planning policies and suggest changes.
Aggregate reports only
Number of participants, return rate and average well-being trend. Never individual details.
Pricing
Three ways in
All figures on this page are illustrative and shown in Indian rupees.
Employer plan
₹150–₹300per employee per month
A per-employee monthly subscription, or a per-cohort program fee instead. Manager and HR workshops are paid separately.
Individual plan
≈ ₹6,000per 12-week program
A paid Return-to-Work cohort for women who book directly, without going through an employer.
Subsidised access
20%of places, free or reduced cost
Funded by employer cross-subsidy, CSR or grants, for lower-income and informal sector women.
A hybrid model: employer contracts keep the service running, and subsidised places keep it fair.
Pilot roadmap
A 12-month pilot, then a decision
-
Months 0 to 3Set up
Finalise the program, sign one hospital or OB-GYN clinic and one company, and set up consent and referral processes.
-
Months 4 to 9Pilot
Run with a small group of mothers, for example 30 to 50.
-
Months 10 to 12Evaluate
Look at return rate, retention at 6 months, aggregate well-being scores and satisfaction.
-
Year 2Expand
Add more employers, hospital partners and insurer partnerships based on results.
Revenue channels
Who pays for the service
- Employers
- Hospitals and clinics
- Direct to individuals
- Insurers or TPAs
- Grants or CSR
Start with one team.
We'll walk you through the pilot plan, the consent process, and what your aggregate reports would look like.
Ethics & Care
Your privacy and safety come first.
These commitments hold in both views, for every mother and every employer we work with.
Informed consent
You are told what the service involves before you begin, and you can stop at any time.
Confidentiality
Your employer never sees your individual sessions or scores. They receive aggregate, anonymised data only.
Data protection
Information is handled in line with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, with encrypted storage and limited access.
Screening, not diagnosis
Screening tools such as the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) help us decide when you need more support. They do not give a diagnosis.
Crisis protocol
If someone is at risk, we follow a clear emergency plan and connect them to urgent care. Tele-MANAS (14416), the national mental health helpline, is shown on every view of this site.
Practising within competence
Severe conditions such as postpartum psychosis or serious depression are referred to a psychiatrist.
Online practice ethics
A secure teletherapy platform, verified identity, clear boundaries on social media, and psychoeducation posts that never offer therapy.
Documentation
- Consent forms
- Encrypted case notes in SOAP format
- Session records with retention rules
- Anonymised aggregate reports for employers
SSubjective
OObjective
AAssessment
PPlan
Referral and collaborative care
We don't work alone
Counselling is one part of care. When you need more, we connect you to the right people, with your consent.
Second Wind
Counselling, groups and check-ins
OB-GYNsPregnancy and birth care
PsychiatristsSevere or complex conditions
Lactation consultantsFeeding support
PediatriciansYour baby's health
Legal aidMaternity rights at work
Crisis helplinesTele-MANAS 14416