When I welcomed my first child, I was employed by a small physical therapy practice that offered me absolutely no maternity leave. I was aware of this policy when I became pregnant. However, about three months into my pregnancy, I decided to inquire with my supervisor about the possibility of taking 12 weeks off, even if it meant unpaid leave. To my surprise, she laughed—yes, laughed—at the notion.
Ultimately, I resigned from my position the day I went into labor. This choice meant I had to manage not only the challenges of caring for a newborn but also the financial strain of relying solely on my husband’s income for three months. To top it off, I had to search for a new job. Great, right? I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t even notice the onset of postpartum anxiety until my baby was nearly a year old. It felt like my body was saying, “Hold on, hormones; we need to sort this out later.”
In the U.S., if you work for a company with less than 50 employees, your employer has complete discretion over whether or not you receive paid maternity leave. They are not even obligated to ensure your job is waiting for you when you return. Because, of course, giving birth and caring for a newborn isn’t stressful enough.
While America prides itself on being a global leader, we lag far behind in supporting new parents. A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that 178 nations guarantee paid maternity leave, and 54 offer paid leave for fathers. In stark contrast, the U.S. does not mandate paid maternity leave for any employer. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but only half of women qualify, and many simply cannot afford to stop working.
Comparing to Canada
Let’s look at Canada for a moment. Depending on the length of employment, mothers there can take up to 52 weeks off after giving birth, with job protection guaranteed by law. Additionally, new parents receive government-funded paid leave for 15 weeks. Imagine how transformative that would be in the U.S.! Just take a moment to envision my experience under those circumstances:
- Instead of quitting my job due to job insecurity, I could have entered labor with far less stress, benefiting both me and my baby.
- I would have enjoyed 15 paid weeks to bond with my newborn, establish routines, and build our new family dynamic.
- I wouldn’t have had to face the daunting task of job hunting, allowing for a more stable family environment.
- My baby, at 12 weeks, was far from sleeping through the night. I struggled with exhaustion and often cried from the overwhelming fatigue upon returning to work.
- I was given only three 15-minute pumping breaks during my 10-hour shifts, which severely impacted my milk supply and added to my guilt as I left my small bottles of breast milk at daycare.
- The constant worry about my fatigue affecting my performance in a physically demanding job would have been alleviated.
- I wouldn’t have watched a significant portion of my paycheck vanish to daycare costs, leaving me questioning the worth of my efforts.
- Perhaps I would have experienced much less postpartum anxiety because I was in a happier and calmer state of mind.
I returned to work at just 12 weeks postpartum because we needed to make ends meet. Was I ready? Absolutely not. Was I sleeping? Not at all. Was I performing at my best? No way.
What’s Wrong, America?
The ILO states that effective maternity leave “contributes to the health and well-being of mothers and their babies and thus to the achievement of major development goals, including the reduction of child and maternal mortality.” This is a matter of life and death. Keep this in mind as you head to the voting booth, because as the ILO also points out, “Equality for women represents progress for all.”
This article originally appeared on September 9, 2016.
In conclusion, the disparity in maternity leave policies in the United States compared to other countries is glaring and deeply concerning. The impact on mothers, babies, and families can be profound, affecting mental health, financial stability, and overall well-being.