| Q: |
My manager said I can't have time off for my prenatal doctor visit, is this true?
| | A: |
There are many arrangements that employers can use to solve the
problem of time off for health-care visits. Not many states have laws
addressing this issue but there are some pending that would allow
parents-to-be to get to prenatal visits.
Check with
your union representative, human resources manager, or meet with your
boss to discuss arranging time for these 10–15 visits. Ask your doctor's
receptionist if he or she will save you the spots at the beginning or
end of the day and ask them if evening hours are available. Some
employers have “paid time off” or PTO plans, by which employees accrue
days off in a single account and spend them more or less as they wish.
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| Q: |
When is the best time to tell my employer that I'm pregnant?
| | A: |
As soon as your employer knows that you are pregnant, the
employment laws that protect you will apply, so it's a good idea to tell
them right away. It is recommended that you inform your employer in
writing with details of your expected due date. Any risks identified
should be removed or, if this is not possible, alternative arrangements
should be made for you. Prolonged standing (more than four hours at a
time) and a high-stress work environment have been associated with
preterm labor. Ask your midwife or doctor to write you a note if your
employer declines to offer appropriate arrangements. You can also
discuss when your maternity leave will start, and when you can take any
outstanding vacation days. If your baby is born early or your maternity
leave starts earlier than planned due to illness, the arrangements can
be altered. Your employer should respect your right to confidentiality,
so by telling them, this should not mean that everyone else at work will
know. If you wish the issue to remain confidential until a certain
date, you could add this to your letter.
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| Q: |
What programs are available to me if I can't afford to pay for care and delivery of my baby?
| | A: |
There are government-sponsored “safety-net” facilities that
provide medical care for those in need, even if they have no insurance
or money. Safety-net facilities include community health centers, public
hospitals, school-based centers, public housing primary care centers,
migrant health centers, and special needs facilities. To find a facility
near you, contact your local or state health department or visit the
website womenshealth.gov.
WIC (Women, Infants,
Children) provides grants to states for supplemental foods, health care
referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant,
breast-feeding, and nonbreast-feeding postpartum women, and to infants
and children up to age five. WIC referrals are available through your
clinic or hospital. Faith-based organizations such as B'nai B'rith,
Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Service, or American Friends Service
Committee have services or can refer women to assistance organizations.
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| Q: |
My back hurts all the time. Is there anything I can do?
| | A: |
Most women do suffer from some degree of back discomfort during
their pregnancy. Placental hormones work on your joints to soften
ligaments in preparation for birth. Also, your center of gravity changes
with the advancing months, centering it more in front which puts stress
on muscles and ligaments. Some women notice that the lower back curves
inward to a greater extent than prior to pregnancy; this puts stress on
the lumbar vertebrae.
As your baby gains
weight, more pressure is applied downward and back and baby's firmer
head can apply pressure to nerves in the back, down the buttocks and
into the legs. This “sciatica” can cause great pain and may impair your
mobility.
Back pain seems to be
accentuated when you rise from a sitting position or from bed, after a
long car ride, or when lying on your back. This is why midwives and
doctors recommend stretching exercises when in a plane or car, lying on
your side with a pillow between the legs, and keeping feet elevated when
relaxing.
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| Q: |
What helps?
| | A: |
Avoid bending over at the waist and lifting. If you have a little
one at home, have her climb into your lap before you stand. Maintain a
straight back when lifting. Squat to pick things up rather than bending
over at the waist.
It also helps to
maintain an active lifestyle. Plan a 30–45 minute walk into each day.
Warm up by stretching or slow walking. Hold each stretch for 20 seconds,
and repeat 2–3 times; always avoid “bouncing” with stretching.
Initially, you may experience pain but it will work itself out after a
few minutes.
When sitting, move
around, put your feet up and rock your pelvis back and forth. Ask your
partner to give you a massage or if available, visit a massage therapist
on a regular basis. Friends and family might offer a gift certificate
for massage as a shower gift. Warm baths, ice, and/or acetaminophen may
be helpful.
Some women may benefit
from arch supports in shoes and avoiding shoes with a greater than one
inch heel. Support for the abdomen can help too. A belt or light weight
abdominal support garment may be beneficial.
A daily regimen
of back strengthening exercises serve to make the muscles less prone to
injury. A browser search for “back exercises in pregnancy” will yield
many excellent pages of suggestions. If back pain is sudden in onset or
associated with burning on urination or if the pain seems to be located
on the right or left side, near your kidneys, consult your midwife or
doctor right away. Kidney infections can cause back pain.
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| Q: |
My boss is interviewing my replacement. Can't I have my old job back after I return to work?
| | A: |
If you are eligible for benefits under the Family and Medical
Leave Act (FMLA), you do have the right to return to your old or an
equivalent job. Eligible FMLA employees are entitled to 12 weeks of
unpaid FMLA leave in a 12 month period; continuation of group health
benefits during FMLA leave; restoration to the same or an equivalent job
upon return to work; retention of accrued benefits; and protection from
discrimination as a result of taking FMLA leave. Unfortunately, many
workers are not covered under FMLA. In this circumstance, it is wise to
inform your employer early in your pregnancy and ask him to keep in mind
that you are a valuable employee and see what can be arranged for your
return.
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| Q: |
The worker at the next desk is sick. Should I stay home or stay away from her?
| | A: |
It would be best to avoid direct contact with anyone you know is
ill. You would not want to share a soda or shake hands but it is
probably safe to work in the same room. Always wash your hands after
using the facilities and before and after eating. Unless you have proven
immunity, pregnant women should stay away from fellow employees who
have cytomegalo virus (CMV), fifths disease, rubella, chicken pox, and
those who are just plain sick.
CMV is the most
common congenital viral infection in the US and the most common
infectious cause of mental retardation in the country. Almost 40,000
babies are infected before birth in the US, transmitted from mother to
baby. Most women have protection against transmission from immunity in
childhood. Young children, day care centers, and schools are sources of
CMV virus. Most children and adults who catch the flulike illness suffer
little from its effects and build up antibodies. Immune mothers pass on
the antibodies through breast-feeding. The danger comes when a mother
with no antibodies contracts the illness during pregnancy. Her baby may
suffer brain damage from the effects of the virus.
Exposure to
small children before pregnancy is the best source of prevention as it
is estimated that up to 80 percent of toddlers are shedding CMV at any
given time. Once pregnant, if a woman works with small children, she
should be aware that the virus lives in urine, saliva, mucus and feces
of those infected and good hand washing is imperative. If you feel you
are at risk for exposure, a CMV blood titer can be run to check your
immunity or exposure.
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| Q: |
Since I told my boss I'm pregnant he has been really dismissive—what should I do?
| | A: |
The law protects you from being unfairly treated as a result of
you being pregnant. This includes dismissal on the grounds of being
pregnant or a reason that is connected to pregnancy. If you feel that
your boss is treating you unfairly, try to resolve this with him first.
To protect
yourself, it is advisable that you keep your manager informed of your
maternity leave, return date, and prenatal appointments. Always confirm
appointments in writing or provide official documents that show
appointment times. You should also ask your employer about any
additional benefits the company may have and when you will have your
risk assessment. If your employer does not respond satisfactorily to
these requests, seek advice from your human resources department, a
senior member of staff, or trade union representative.
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| Q: |
I want to work part time after my baby is born—is that okay?
| | A: |
After a vaginal birth, you will need about 6 weeks (12 weeks for a
cesarean) to recover from the birth and be ready to take on
responsibilities outside the home. Much depends upon your baby's feeding
pattern, growth and well-being, support at home, your childbirth
experience, and your general state of physical and psychological health.
Some mothers return to work part time finding this essential to pay
bills, pay for insurance, get back into touch with their profession, or
have some diversion outside the home.
If you are
breast-feeding, try to arrange ahead for a clean safe place to pump
milk. Working or attending school for 4 hours a day after 4–6 weeks
following a normal birth might be appropriate for some new mothers.
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| Q: |
Am I entitled to a certain amount of time off after a baby?
| | A: |
There are no universal laws that pertain to all postpartum
mothers. There is, however, The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
which entitles you to take up to 12 weeks of leave after your baby is
born. Employees are eligible to take FMLA leave if they have worked for
their employer for at least 12 months, and have worked for at least
1,250 hours over the previous 12 months, and work at a location where at
least 50 employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles.
Smaller private sector jobs are not covered by the act but your employer
may have its own guidelines.
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| Q: |
Will I get paid leave after my baby is born? Will they hold my job?
| | A: |
Check with your employer about your particular status and salary
during your leave. In general, laws do not specify a particular payment
due you after your baby is born. The FMLA only provides for unpaid
leave. Often, women take advantage of accrued sick leave and vacation
time and may be eligible for short-term disability for the 6–12 week
postpartum period. The FMLA requires that your employer restore you to
the same or an equivalent position and that the leave not be counted
against you for seniority or for bonuses.
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| Q: |
I want to work right up to the birth—is that allowed?
| | A: |
Yes, you can do this, but you may need a doctor's medical
certificate to confirm that you are healthy enough to do so. You should
tell your employer when you want to start your maternity leave at least
15 weeks before your baby is due. It's important to think carefully
before making this decision. Late pregnancy can be extremely tiring and,
if your job is mentally and/or physically taxing, it may be better to
begin your leave a few weeks before your due date. You will also need
time to prepare for the arrival of your baby.
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| Q: |
I want to go back to work very quickly—how soon can I start?
| | A: |
Legally, you can return to work anytime from two weeks after the
birth, or four weeks if you work in a factory. However, on a practical
and emotional level, returning so soon may not be a good solution. Most
women find that it takes around six weeks to recover after the birth.
Breast-feeding takes around six weeks to become established too. Even if
you bottle-feed, it is probable that your hormones, together with the
natural exhaustion that follows having a baby, prevent you from
concentrating fully. You may find that it is hard to be apart from your
baby for long periods.
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Paternity leave Rights for fathers
Paternity
leave is a relatively new concept in the US with other European
countries far ahead in how much time a father can take off work after
the birth of a baby.
The US Family &
Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows for leave in certain instances. If you
have worked for your employer for 12 previous months, if you work for a
public agency, if you are an elementary or secondary school (public or
private) employee, or if your company employs 50 or more employees, the
FMLA may apply to you. Under its guidelines, you are entitled to 480
hours of unpaid time off to use to care for your wife (check with your
employer as domestic partners are sometimes included), your family if
the mother is on bed rest or to use after the baby arrives. Your job
will be protected if you give appropriate notice and follow the
guidelines set out by your employer.
NOTE
Have the confidence to find out about your rights and talk to your employer about what you think will work best for you
NOTE
Some mothers have a change of heart about work when their baby arrives. Don't be afraid to change your mind
NOTE
Deciding exactly
when you should return to work is hard. Try not to feel pressured and
just do whatever feels right for you and your family. Every choice is
different
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