Are Babies Getting the Short End of the Stick?

In 2015, just under 4 million babies were born. A number that has been on the decline since 2007. People are having fewer babies, if they choose to have babies at all, and are waiting longer to have babies than in the past. There are several reported reasons for the decrease and the delay, but a big one is the cost to have a baby. Medical bills pile up before the baby is even born and peak at their birth. Babies need so much, for lack of a better word, stuff! Did we mention how expensive daycare is? A huge contribution to the money stress is that most pregnant people are not likely to receive paid maternity leave after their baby is born. Even unpaid maternity leave is a stretch. Many women are forced to leave their brand-new baby after only six weeks, if they get to wait that long, to head back to work and make money. The knowledge that they have been missing out on half the household income, or in some cases the entire income, since the baby has been born can be a huge stressor on a family.

Around 60% of companies offer maternity leave of up to 12 weeks. Only 33% of companies offer more than 12 weeks. A study in 2016 surveyed companies and it showed that only 12% of those companies offer fully paid leave. Because of the unreliability of maternity leave straight from the employer, many people rely on FMLA or the Family and Medical Leave Act which is enacted at the federal level. This basically ensures the employee's job will still be there for them for up to 12 weeks on leave without penalty. However, this does not mean the employee will receive pay while on leave and the employee/company must meet certain requirements to even qualify.

When we bring other countries into the equation, we quickly see how our leave benefits are truly poor. Eastern Europe is excellent at providing maternity leave. Ranked #1 is Bulgaria with 59 weeks of paid leave. Tied for tenth are Estonia and Poland with 20 weeks of paid leave. If those countries are too far for you to care what they offer, let’s consider Canada. Canada offers up to a year of leave with at least partial pay.

Maybe you’re wondering what, if any, benefits there are to parents having paid leave to be home with their baby. Studies show that paid maternity leave results in a lower infant mortality rate, increases likelihood babies will meet their vaccination schedule, makes breastfeeding easier which increases overall health for baby, and even makes kids less likely to drop out of school in the future. Benefits for parents? Women have lower rates of post-partum depression, as well as decreased rates of depression in later years, and increases family bonding. As for companies, paid leave increases employee retention, and good employees at that. Companies that offer leave policies have happier workers which equal more productive workers. Studies have even shown that paid leave reduces the likelihood a family will need government assistance and helps women stay in the workforce.

Overall, paid maternity leave is beneficial for everyone involved and makes for a happier future. Parents deserve to be home with their babies without the stress of money. Babies deserve to spend at least some of their first year of life with their parents. The benefits are wide and lasting and it’s something the government ought to dedicate some reform towards.