There is a way for both parents to ‘have it all’ in terms of paid leave – but it’s a challenge, writes Leila Froud , while Alison Smith says mothers should be better reimbursed. Plus, Jol Miskin on the ‘dad strike’

I’m so pleased that paternity leave is getting some air time and there is a campaign to increase it ( The Guardian view on paternity leave: campaigners are right to demand more, 5 May ). Probably in part because I follow the Pregnant Then Screwed campaigns, my husband and I have discussed this in depth. He is now due to be taking a full six months of shared parental leave from his workplace this year.

With our first baby, he was at home but working self‑employed, so had no benefits. I suffered with postnatal depression, and struggled with breastfeeding and the anxiety of trying to do it all right.