Moms who have just given birth and hold a full-time job are often put in a position to have to choose between caring for their baby and going back to work.
Some companies offer generous leave policies, while some moms barely take a week off before they head back to work.
But expecting moms to just “suck it up” and get back to work, after they’ve just given birth to a new human being, their precious baby, isn’t realistic.
In fact, it’s downright cruel.
It’s a natural desire for a mother to want time to bond with her baby.
Other countries get this and give robust leave policies like the Czech Republic which offers a whopping 28 weeks of paid leave.
And the reality is, many moms who are breadwinners or dual-breadwinners can’t afford to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work – so they head back.
But studies now show forcing moms to head back to work too soon could be a major contributing factor to Postpartum depression.
And while some wrongly play down the reality and seriousness of postpartum depression, it is real, and it’s killing moms.
In fact, AMA Psychiatry revealed 21.9% of postpartum women were depressed during the first year.
What if these moms had more time to spend at home with their baby?
And what about dads taking some time off too?
Experts believe giving new dads the chance to help relieve their wife (so she can actually sleep and rest) is extremely beneficial.
Parents reported:
“Allowing the mother to get some sleep is one of the benefits of giving fathers flexible, paid family leave. Harvey Karp, M.D., a pediatrician and children’s environmental health advocate, agrees, emphasizing the importance of postpartum support for mothers. He believes exhaustion is the main trigger for PPD.”
It’s wonderful to support women when they are pregnant, but we must not abandon them after they give birth.
Postpartum depression is real – and it happens to women of all socioeconomic statuses.
And while moms are ever so in love with their newborn – but they are also sleep-deprived, exhausted, and often sore from breastfeeding.
Not to mention the altered hormones and physical symptoms of giving birth.
Being a mom is one of the greatest gifts God gave women, but it is a lot of work!
Allowing moms to take a decent amount of paid time off work should be the standard across the board.
A mother shouldn’t be forced to choose between her career and her baby.
Let’s hope the United States gets on the bandwagon and offers more generous paid leave for new moms – it just might save their life.
How long do you think a new mom should be able to take off work and get paid?
Do you agree companies should do more to support new moms?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
To stay current on the latest Mommy Underground stories, subscribe to our YouTube channel. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and be sure to like and share our posts!