Maternity Leave and Family Pregnancy - Essay Example

Your full April 7, Maternity Leave According to the American Pregnancy Association (para.1), “Maternity leave refers to the period of time that a new mother takes off from work following the birth of her baby.” It is similar to paternity leave being offered in many companies. Planning a maternity leave is very important for mother-to-be, because it saves them from unexpected financial pressures and burden of family responsibilities. Many companies include benefits of short-term disability and sick leave in maternity leave, so that the mother gets the benefit of paid leave.

In other words, mothers are offered to use up their vacations or other personal days, as the maternity leave, in order to make the leave paid. Mothers plan to start their maternity leave a few weeks prior to delivery, so that they get enough time to make preparations for the new baby. Maternity leave can also be started just before the expected date of delivery so that mothers can spend most of their leave with the baby. However, it is important, according to FMLA (The Family and Medical Leave Act) to provide a notice to the manager, 30 days prior to the delivery (“Maternity Leave”).

This will be unpaid leave. The maximum leave that a mother can get is a leave of 12 months in a year. The FMLA leave applies both to the mother and the father, who can utilize this leave in the same period like overlapping each other’s leaves, or in consecutive periods, so that one of the two parents is available to the child and the rest of the family. Family Pregnancy Pregnancy and parenting bring new joys to the whole family. A new addition is very exciting for all members of the family.

Although, the 9-month pregnancy demands much patience and care from the mother-to-be, the rest of the family must play their role in comforting the mother, and preparing for the new comer. For example, the dad-to-be should try to spend extra time with his wife to soothe her, and should take care of her if she is in pain or any sort of discomfort that may come with pregnancy. If there are other children, parents should inform them about the new baby, and should mentally prepare them so that they accept him when he arrives at home.

This time should be enjoyed at its fullest. The mother-to-be should take care of her diet because she is not only feeding herself, but is also feeding the life nurturing inside her. If it is possible, and if this is her first pregnancy, then she should start taking parenting classes with her husband, so that both of them are equipped with sufficient knowledge before the baby arrives. She should also arrange for a caregiver, like her mom or sister, who should be present with her on the day of delivery and after the baby is born.

This is because she will not be able to handle the challenges of motherhood without the help of a female. Hence, involving whole of the family in the daunting task of preparation for baby will make it a family pregnancy. Works Cited American Pregnancy Association. Maternity Leave. American Pregnancy Association, 2012. Web. 7 Apr 2012. . “Maternity Leave.” Pregnancyinfo.net. N.p., 2012. Web. 7 Apr 2012. .