Even excluding taking leave to give birth, 100% of pregnant women plan to reduce their work hours, take additional leave or quit their jobs, according to a WiserPregnancy survey.  Nearly 40% of women plan to reduce their work hours, and about 60% of women plan to take additional time off or quit their jobs during pregnancy or after the baby arrives.

The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires U.S. employers to give employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year.  You’re guaranteed your group health benefits during this leave, but paid maternity leave is rare in the U.S. 

Compared to leave policies in other developed countries, the U.S.’s leave policy is somewhat stingy.  Some European countries offer more than 4 months of 100% paid leave. 

Therefore, many women in the U.S. combine short-term disability, sick leave, vacation, personal day and unpaid family leave (also called maternity or parental leave) to take the time they need before delivery and before returning to work.   

Many new moms want more time with the new baby.  Some women cut back on their hours to make working while pregnant more manageable or make it easier to ease back into professional life after having been out for several weeks. 

Taking extra leave may be a necessity as much as a desire.  Your doctor may order you to avoid unnecessary stress or prescribe bed rest.  You may struggle to stay productive at work if you suffer from morning sickness, fatigue, the urge to urinate frequently, back pain or other common pregnancy symptoms. You may also have safety concerns about your job or need to attend frequent doctor appointments.

 How much leave did you take?  Why did you decide to take that much (or that little) leave?

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