Building Families: How Cisco’s Supportive Policies Made My Motherhood Possible

The amazing support I had for my journey towards motherhood was atypical, and for that, I’m both grateful and wish .

I conceived after over four years of battling infertility. If you aren’t familiar with fertility treatments, we’re talking countless hours, thousands of dollars, and many, many heartbreaks. The biggest heartbreak of all was the realization that even though I was incredibly fortunate, my journey to the birth of my twin girls would’ve been drastically different, maybe even impossible if it weren’t for Cisco.

I suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which typically complicates one’s ability to conceive. My husband also discovered that he has male-factor infertility. With both of our diagnoses, having children required a substantial amount of patience, time, and money, but we were willing to make those sacrifices.

My first eye-opening experience was when my fertility treatment necessitated going to the doctor five days in a single week. After a few failed rounds of medicated assistance, my husband and I opted to try intrauterine insemination (IUI). This required frequent office visits to track my body’s response to a strict medication regimen. In my case, I often needed more time, which meant more monitoring. Three rounds of IUIs and more diagnostic testing resulted in dozens of appointments in a single year.

I ultimately moved on and underwent three rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF), demanding even more time and energy. I had to drop everything and go to the doctor on very specific days, occasionally at very specific times. Adding to that stress was the distance I’d sometimes have to travel, needing to wake up at the crack of dawn and drive nearly three hours round-trip so I could receive care at a certain fertility clinic. I was fortunate, however, because through Cisco, I could still meaningfully contribute to my team by completing important work at times more convenient for me, and I could take my Webex meetings on the go while I traveled. I didn’t have to skip a beat.

For most people in my situation, the impact of needing several rounds of fertility treatment is insurmountable. It either means they lose wages, lose valuable PTO, or can’t pursue treatments at all because their job isn’t remote and flexible. This adds insult to injury when most companies don’t offer financial assistance for these interventions as a single round of IVF costs over $20,000, on average. Thankfully, Cisco was with me every step of the way. Its commitment to workplace flexibility and financial support for employees pursuing their dreams of starting a family allowed me to access the necessary treatments without the additional stress of these daunting hurdles.

Then, I faced a difficult pregnancy. I was pretty much bedridden the entire time, suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). The extreme nausea from HG caused dehydration and I lost a considerable amount of weight during my first trimester. Though I could still do my work, I was struggling mentally and physically. I’m thankful I had the freedom to be open with my team and for their understanding, showing me an immense amount of grace. I’m even grateful that I wasn’t pressured to be on camera during meetings because it took a ton of effort to make myself presentable. However, I’m stricken by what that would’ve looked like if that wasn’t the case. The alternative might’ve meant having to roll out of bed, sit in meetings while nauseous all day, unable to function because I had no food in my system, all while acting like everything was ok. The consequence of not pretending? Possibly losing my job. It wasn’t my reality, but it’s the reality for too many women experiencing a rough pregnancy.

As I recovered from my cesarean section, physically holding myself together as I rolled out of bed to tend to my babies, I spent my days focused on them and my own recovery, thanks to Cisco’s generous child-bonding policy. But I also imagined a life where I had to return to work immediately. What if I had to choose between being able to pay my bills or caring for my newborn children? What if my recovery from major surgery was prolonged or I suffered complications because I didn’t have the time to rest? Far too many don’t have to wonder “what if.”

I write these reflections as someone with the privilege of money, time and support — resources that are often scarce. I can wholeheartedly declare that my precious baby girls would not be here, and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to keep a sense of peace from conception to postpartum, if it weren’t for Cisco’s supportive culture, dedication to employee wellness, workplace flexibility, generous policies, and financial assistance for those wanting to build their families. I’m incredibly fortunate to work for a company where this is typical, and we’re leading the way with an inclusive culture and benefits, but I look forward to a future where my story is no longer unique.

We’re powering an inclusive future for all with a focus on benefits and employee wellbeing. See more in Cisco’s Purpose Report.

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