The Pros And Cons Of Maternnity Leave

Women in the United States are being deprived of paid maternity leave that they deserve. Currently, when a mother has a child, she is legally allowed to have twelve weeks of unpaid leave. This twelve week law was passed in 1993, and is federally known as the Family and Medical Leave Act. Some may say that twelve weeks is a generous amount of time off, but the fact that it’s unpaid makes it hard for new mothers to financially support themselves and their baby. Everybody knows the phrase “babies are expensive,” but that becomes a reality for many American women very fast. A delivery in a hospital can cost upwards of $3,500 depending on the health insurance you may or may not have (Women’s Health Magazine). That on top of the costs of preparing

As an example, European countries like France have seen the economic success of extended paid maternity leave. Unlike the U.S., France offers 16 weeks of leave that is 100% paid for (Huffington Post). France is not the only country with similar benefits though; Germany mirrors what France has to offer to mothers and their babies. Yet in the US, women are part of 47% of the total workforce, there are minimal to no signs of support for women needing paid family leave (Women’s Bureau). Surprisingly, the only other country similar to the U.S. in the lack of laws supporting women is the country Papua New Guinea. Research has linked paid maternity leave to better health for mothers and babies–lower rates of postpartum depression and newborn and infant mortality and higher rates of breastfeeding and childhood immunizations.” (Forbes). So, not only does paid maternity leave help mothers and infants, it also helps grow and shape the next generation of Americans in a positive

These important components are all vital to the health of the mother and the child, and 12 weeks does not allow women enough time to comfortably transition from their healing process after birth and bond with their child. Babies brains develop dramatically the first year they’re alive, and the constant care of their mothers is needed. Without the proper amount of time a newborn needs with his/her mother, the baby is put at risk to contract health