'I lost my baby girl and my maternity leave was taken away. I'm forever changed as a person.'

This story mentions infant loss.

Five days after losing her six-week-old daughter Priya, a grieving mother contacted her employer of 11 years. Her work cancelled her three months of pre-approved paid parental leave. After months of advocacy by Priya's parents, Baby Priya's Bill has been passed into Australian law, to stop employers from cancelling parental leave when families lose a baby.

Priya's mother has shared how this experience has changed her with Mamamia, as told to Rachel Toyer.

Her name is Priya. She was born in June 2024. She lived for just six weeks.

And I am her mother.

My baby's name means 'Beloved' in Sanskrit.

Since November 2025, her name has been immortalised in Australian legislation as "Baby Priya's Law".

In honour of Priya, the Fair Work Act has been changed to prohibit an employer from refusing or cancelling employer-funded paid parental leave for an employee because that employee's child is stillborn or dies.

Priya only lived for 42 days, but part of her legacy is providing dignity and support for grieving Australian families. Priya has changed the future for so many families — but she has also changed me.

Watch: The reality of parents who are living through the grief of child loss. Post continues after video.

Before Priya was born, I was a people-pleaser. For years, I prioritised others' — particularly, my employer — over myself. I took work-related calls after hours, when I was not being paid.

Even while I was on long service leave, from my Maternity Ward bed. I did what so many Australians do: I went above and beyond, in the name of "building my career" and "getting ready for when I become a mum."

But the moment I became a mother, my daughter became the most important part of my existence. Suddenly, nothing else compared.

In the 42 beautiful days she was here, she gave me more love than I ever imagined possible.

She made me a mother.

Even as a tiny baby born at 24 weeks and six days, she knew my voice. When she heard me speak, she would turn her head, searching for me, even though she could barely see. Her cries would ease when she heard my voice or when I touched or cuddled her.

Those moments, holding her perfect hands as she grasped my finger so tightly, reading to her, singing to her, telling her how much I loved her and how proud I was of her, are the memories I hold closest to my heart.

When she was born, for the first time, I was no longer just a woman, and an aunty: I was also a mum.

Baby Priya. Image: Supplied.

Mother's Day used to be painful for me, before Priya. I envied other mothers, longing to be one of them. But now, even through tears, I can accept my husband's "Happy Mother's Day" wish with pride and love. Because I am a mother. I am Priya's Mum.

This is why Baby Priya's Bill is so important: it acknowledges, in law, that a baby born stillborn or who dies in infancy is still a baby. Still a human with a mum, a dad, or both. And still someone deserving the dignity afforded to those who live longer.

Her life gave me strength. And her life will give strength to other families in the future who, like my husband and I, must farewell their baby too soon. When her existence wasn't validated and when I felt that she'd been disrespected, something in me changed. I knew I needed to act. My motherly instincts kicked in.

Priya truly mattered, and I felt like shouting it out to the world. In Priya's name, I wanted to make sure no other grieving parent would have to go through what I did. Through her, I learnt what true, unconditional love is.

'What I once tolerated, I no longer will.'

What I once tolerated, I no longer can. To hurt or disrespect me feels like hurting her memory, her existence, and my right to grieve and love her. Even though she's not physically here, I still deserve the time, space, and compassion to love her.

Being Priya's mum gave me the strength and perseverance to pursue my cause — to have Australian law amended to prevent maternity leave from being cancelled when a baby is stillborn or lost in infancy. From the very beginning, I knew this was not just my story, nor just the story of a grieving mother.

It is the story of all grieving parents. It is our story about being heard, being treated with fairness, compassion and care. It is also a story about women's rights. As women, we instinctively empathise with one another. We can recognise that this could have been our story, and we know deep within that it is not right. Women deserve to be treated better.

The support I've received from both women and men, coming from all situations, has been extraordinary. Their kindness, empathy and support have been a source of immense comfort and strength to me.

The pain of losing Priya still runs deep, less than two years on, and I'm still learning how to live with that pain. Nothing will ever be the same again.  But, despite this suffering, if I could see her just one more time, I would do it all over again, without hesitation. 

When my maternity leave was cancelled, I could have turned inward, felt ashamed for expecting it when it was not law. I could have grieved quietly, gone back to the workplace, and let it go.

But Priya's love gave me the strength to share my story until the law was changed, to prevent this from happening to anyone else. Being Priya's mum has changed how I see the world. I've witnessed incredible acts of kindness and compassion, often from people who barely knew me but still reached out, even while going through their own struggles.

Their humanity has reminded me how beautiful people can be. 

'Everything I do, I want to make her proud.'

This experience has not broken me — it has made me stronger in some ways.

Thankfully, justice has prevailed, with Priya's Law.

Baby Priya's Law not only honours Priya, but it honours every baby who has passed and, sadly, will pass in the future, in Australia. 

Priya may no longer be here in my arms, but my love and responsibility toward her remains. I am still her mum. I still love her, honour her, and live each day with her memory in my heart. Everything I do, every action, every word, I want to make her proud.

Because at the end of the day, I am, and will always be, Priya's mum.

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24-hour support line on 1300 072 637.

Feature image: Getty.