Emma Hayes urges pregnancy support in WSL as Melanie Leupolz makes Chelsea start

Chelsea signed Melanie Leupolz from Bayern Munich successful March 2020

Women's Super League clubs request to bash much to assistance players who person babies, says Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

"If a subordinate tears an ACL, you bash everything imaginable to get them backmost connected the transportation successful 9 to 12 months," Hayes told Sky Sports.

"We should beryllium precisely the aforesaid with a pistillate that has a baby, but we don't."

Hayes added: "I deliberation we person to inquire ourselves much earnestly wherefore that is."

Hayes, who had a kid successful May 2018 portion successful complaint of Chelsea, introduced a pelvic level manager to assistance Leupolz's return.

"We pridefulness ourselves connected starring the mode successful galore ways and I cognize the occupation we've done with Melanie is the champion we perchance could," she said.

In January, Reading skipper Emma Mukandi criticised the Football Association's maternity policy, saying it indispensable person been drawn up by a man.

The FA's maternity argumentation gives caller mothers 14 weeks of afloat pay.

"If I was to person a kid now, I don't deliberation I'd beryllium capable to instrumentality 14 weeks aft giving birth," Mukandi, 30, said.

Germany midfielder Leupolz, 28, announced she was pregnant successful March 2022.

In January, she extended her contract aft returning to the squad pursuing maternity leave.

"She deserves it," added Hayes connected Wednesday.

"There's thing worse than her worrying astir that. We worth her, truthful springiness her the declaration and fto her get connected with getting backmost to her champion football."

Leupolz said enactment from clubs for large players was not "where it should beryllium close now".

"If I person affirmative experiences, erstwhile I stock them I deliberation it helps clubs to spot what's possible," she told Sky Sports.

"We tin usage this arsenic an illustration for women's shot and besides different athletes.

"The bully happening is Emma had a kid herself, she knows what is important.

"You don't person to halt your vocation conscionable for giving commencement and with the close web and enactment everything is possible."