International Women’s Day: Fed rep reflects on life as a pregnant probationary officer

8 March 2023

To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we caught up with Federation rep Helen Self, as she reflects on her 27-year career, shining a light on what life was like being the first female student officer to have a baby during her probationary period.

Rewind back to 1996, when the now 49-year-old joined Suffolk Constabulary. She was 22 at the time, and during her probationary period, fell pregnant with her first child. 

Nearly three decades later and Helen tells how she and her husband, who is a now retired dog handler, managed to juggle full-time work with a newborn.

“I think my claim to fame is that I was the first officer to fall pregnant during their probationary period and return to work,” said Helen, who had the couple’s second child in 2000. 

“Fortunately, I was really looked after by my colleagues and managers but every day I look back and think, how did we manage? It was really difficult to start with. 

“My husband and I were like ships passing. He would finish in the morning and then I’d go to work, having a quick handover of the kids. 

“Some days, if they desperately needed a dog handler to work on a call-out and I would go home - during my shift - and be with the kids, to sit with them, until my husband returned, then I would go back to work.

“Let’s just say the mum guilt was very real. Those late-night shifts meant I couldn’t do bedtime, or not being able to make the kids’ assembly. It was hard but it definitely made us stronger, as a little unit.”

Helen and husband Nick.

Helen, who was recently elected as the Federation’s third full-time rep, said International Women’s Day is all about celebrating the females across the Force and their accomplishments.

“Every woman has their own story and their own challenge, today is all about them,” continued Helen, who is a member of the local Women in Policing Group and the Carers’ Group at Suffolk, as well as the national Menopause Group.

“The job is very different now to what it was when I joined. As time progresses, I feel there are more opportunities for women. There are certainly more females in senior positions, including our very own Chief Constable.

“But what still needs to be looked at is the challenges that women experience as they get older, especially surrounding menopause.

“I struggle with my fitness, in fact, I failed the fitness test last year and had to work harder to pass which I have now done. As an older woman, I’m not as  physically as fit as my younger colleagues and forces need to adapt.”

Helen says that with her two children both grown adults now, this is her time to focus on her career. 

She ended: “I really enjoy my role as a full-time Fed rep. This is my time now - my husband’s retired and my daughter has just gone off to start her own career. It’s time for me to focus on myself.”