I would like to discuss one very important topic: how new moms and their babies are protected in the USA. There are so many wonderful things in the USA, one of the richest countries on the globe. There are so many laws protecting this or that. Are new mothers protected as well in the USA?
The reason why I decided to talk about it, is because after having my first baby, I realized how difficult and challenging it is to be a working new Mom here in the USA. Just thinking that in 6 or 8 weeks after your baby is born, you have to go back to work and leave your baby with a care giver, would make you feel inadequate, guilty and depressed.
There is another reason why I decided to discuss this topic. Lately, on TV and other media sources, you may have heard reports that in most countries, new mothers have a lot longer maternity leave than in America. For example, in Russia, a pregnant woman has the right to leave her work for a maternity leave as early as after her 6th month of pregnancy. It is a well known fact that there is a possibility that a woman can have a baby earlier than her due date. It is also known that the last trimester in pregnancy is very difficult on a woman physically. She cannot sit for a prolonged time, her sleep at night is interrupted, and she has to eat or drink more frequently. There are some other important medical factors that a pregnant woman should consider to make sure she is safe. That is why, in some countries, women are allowed to leave their work and stay home during their last trimester. Caring? Yes! Thoughtful? Yes! Logical? Yes!
Let's continue about Russia. So, a women had a baby. How long can she stay home with her baby without worrying that she has to go back to work and leave her newborn child? Are you ready to hear it? 1.5 years! The company she works for, will hold her job for her. During her 1.5 years of maternity leave, she will receive almost the same amount of income she used to make before her pregnancy.
What does it mean for a stay-home new mom to be with a baby during his first year of life? There are countless benefits and some of them are:
1. She can fully devote herself to the baby.
2. She can enjoy motherhood by taking care of her precious baby days and nights.
3. Her baby and her are building a trust by being together all the time.
4. She doesn't need to leave her baby with a babysitter.
5. She can breast-feed her baby anytime during the day.
6. She can take a rest anytime when her baby is asleep if she feels tired or restless.
7. By staying at home, she avoids double-stress of working and worrying about her baby.
So, what is a working new Mom in America to do after giving birth to a new baby?
1. She cannot fully devote herself to the baby.
2. She cannot fully enjoy motherhood.
3. Her baby and her are not building a trust because of being separated.
4. She has to leave her baby with a babysitter.
5. If she breast-feeds her baby, she cannot do it during her work hours.
6. She cannot take a rest during the day after sleepless nights.
7. By working and taking care of the baby after her business hours, she has to deal with extra stress which would make her mental and physical health more vulnerable in the short and long run.
No doubt, it is very beneficial for everybody: a baby, a mother, the family and the society when a new mom stays at home an extended time. A woman wouldn't feel guilty leaving her baby after 6 weeks. It is better for her physical and mental health. It is very healthy for a baby to spend his most precious part of life with his loving mother.
What is the most important thing in life? Most of us would say, it is family. Why aren't new moms and their babies protected in the USA? What has to happen before our lawmakers decide to do something about it? Isn't it time to make some changes and respect new moms by protecting motherhood in the USA as the majority of the world does?
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