In October 2013, my husband, a high school teacher, and I, a freelance writer, welcomed our third child into the world. Just a week and a half later, my husband returned to work, leaving me alone to care for three kids under four. Fortunately, he worked at a company with over 50 employees, making him eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). As a contract worker, I received no compensation at all. This meant that after just a short time, he had to go back to work. The reality was that we needed money for essentials like food and electricity.
If you’ve had a job and then a baby, you’re likely all too familiar with family leave policies in the U.S. The FMLA guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but according to Think Progress, less than half of women benefit from it. Additionally, a quarter of women either leave their jobs or are fired upon becoming mothers. Many others dip into savings, borrow money, or rely on public assistance. Some states have implemented paid leave or adjusted the number of employees needed for companies to offer leave, but for the most part, parents in America are left scrambling for whatever benefits their employers can provide. Many hoard vacation and sick days just to make ends meet when a child arrives.
As Forbes notes, the United States is one of only two countries in the world that does not mandate paid maternity leave, the other being Papua New Guinea.
A Glimpse at Better Systems
Now, picture this instead: You’ve just given birth, and you’re not charged a dime for it. Nurses visit you for up to 28 days postpartum, including your first day back home. If you encounter any issues, you can simply call the on-call midwife. You’re granted a generous 40 weeks of paid maternity leave, with six weeks at 90% wages, followed by a fixed rate that varies by country. Fathers receive two weeks of paid leave and can share 26 more weeks as well. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the pro-family, pro-woman maternity system in the United Kingdom.
Or consider this scenario: You’ve just had a baby and are placed in a semi-private room at no cost to you. In many provinces, postpartum nurses provide visits to monitor for conditions like jaundice or postpartum depression. You’re entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave at 55% pay, which can be split with your spouse for up to 35 weeks, also paid. Low-income families may receive up to 80% of their full salary. This is the reality for women living just north of the U.S. border who benefit from socialized medicine and government-funded maternity leave.
Not every country has fully socialized medicine, and many require some out-of-pocket expenses for childbirth. In China, prenatal care is mostly free, but women typically only receive one ultrasound, with a C-section rate skyrocketing to 60%-70%. Costs can vary from $292 to $1,022. However, following Chinese tradition, women enjoy a month of rest called “sitting the month,” where they are taken care of during recovery. This is made possible by the government offering 98 days of paid maternity leave, with additional leave available depending on the province. Paternity leave is generally 15 paid days.
Estonia, however, takes the lead with an astounding 435 days of paid parental benefits for mothers. Their monthly stipend ranges from $507 to three times their previous salary, reaching up to $3,138. Childbirth and pregnancy are free, and parents receive various allowances. Honestly, I’m considering moving to Estonia.
In Slovakia, women are entitled to 34 weeks of maternity leave, with six to eight weeks taken before birth. No working until your water breaks here! If you have twins or are a single parent, your leave extends. You receive 65% of your daily earnings calculated from the previous year. While there’s no qualification for paternity leave, there is paternal leave lasting until the child turns three, or longer if the child has a disability. A compassionate provision allows mothers of stillborn babies to take 14 weeks of maternity leave.
The U.S. Reality
When you compare the U.S. to other countries, it’s evident that our maternity and paternity leave policies are severely lacking. Unless you live in California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, or New York, you won’t find any guaranteed paid leave. Many families go broke after having a baby, with about 15% of women relying on public assistance programs like WIC. Women lose their jobs and often find themselves isolated with newborns before they can fully care for themselves.
In September, Donald Trump proposed a plan for six weeks of paid maternity leave for every working woman. Should this promise be fulfilled, it would mark the first national law ensuring pay for postpartum working mothers. While it’s a small step forward, it doesn’t include paternity leave or the comprehensive benefits found in other nations. But it’s all we can expect from the current administration.
So, women, be thankful for the minimal benefits you receive. Don’t hold out hope for a world where postpartum women and their babies receive the support they need to recover and bond without financial strain. Or, you could always consider relocating to Estonia. For more on home insemination options, check out this informative article about the Cryobaby home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo. And if you’re struggling with feeding a baby, there are great insights available on how to make it easier from an expert source. For more information on family planning, see this excellent resource.
Conclusion
In summary, the U.S. maternity leave policies pale in comparison to those of other countries, leaving many women and families to struggle financially during a critical time. While there are proposals for improvement, the current system remains inadequate for supporting new parents.