When I had my first baby, I was a busy resident trying to complete my residency on time. \u00a0I didn’t\u00a0want to extend my residency even if it meant sacrificing time with my newborn.\u00a0 In order to get my\u00a08 week leave, I banked days whenever I could. \u00a0There was one period I worked 45 days straight (well, not straight, I did get the mandatory 24 hours off between once a week) so I could accumulate my time. \u00a0I worked with my program do research instead during that time right up the end. \u00a0\u00a0I was exhausted and very pregnant but worked up until the day before my due date.\u00a0 I had such a short time home with my baby that when we became pregnant again, I swore I would take more time.\u00a0 Then we decided to take jobs half way across the country and move with our 18 month old, 2 cats and all our possessions.<\/p>\n
Now onto pregnancy number 2. \u00a0I began moonlighting at my new job when I was a newly\u00a0pregnant, but still in transition. \u00a0 Two months later I actually started as a benefited employee. This new job was with a 20 person group staffing a large large trauma center.\u00a0My prior employer was also a larger hospital group. \u00a0At that job I had flexibility and given significant free reign by administration. \u00a0It wasn’t until I announced my pregnancy that I learned what I had really given up.<\/p>\n
My due date with baby #2 was 7 months after my benefited employee<\/em>\u00a0start date. \u00a0Per the benefits office, who was non too helpful in the overall process, because I was not employed for a full year before I became pregnant (not gave birth, but became pregnant), I did not qualify for FMLA time.\u00a0 For the same reason, I also did not qualify for short-term disability. In fact, I qualified for nothing except for\u00a0emergency short term leave (EST) [minimal] and my earned time off (ETO) aka vacation time<\/em>.\u00a0 All in all, that added up to roughly 3 weeks of paid maternity leave.\u00a0 Three.\u00a0 Weeks.<\/p>\n But there was more. They said once I “ran out of time” I wouldn’t qualify for benefits. So, not only would I be unpaid BUT I would have to pay them<\/em> in order to keep my insurance.\u00a0\u00a0I was heart broken.<\/p>\n My husband and I are usually very savvy planners. \u00a0But we didn’t plan for this. My husband had just graduated residency and I had been caught up in all of the to do about moving and settling in a new area.\u00a0 We did not consider my benefits would be this bad. \u00a0My previously employer, who I loved, would have given my much more paid time off for the same amount of time worked.<\/p>\n After I finished crying (and having a mild stroke, wondering how we were going to pay our student loan bills) we decided\u00a0I would take 8 weeks off again; so much for more<\/em> time with this little one.\u00a0 I would work as much as possible prior to my due date to accrue as much time as I could before I delivered. \u00a0So much for time\u00a0with my 18 month old.\u00a0 I again worked up until my due date and was exhausted.\u00a0 The worse part is, this appears to be the \u201cnorm.\u201d<\/p>\n Take as much time as you can. You can never have too much time. \u00a0It\u00a0goes so fast.<\/em> That’s what I was hearing from others that had gone through this. \u00a0The stories of anguish over leaving virtual neonates in the care of others are heart wrenching. How do these women find the emotional strength to return to work so soon after delivery?<\/p>\n Families are being stretched financially in order to maximize their time at home. And without paid leave we are all cobbling together short terms solutions against mounting loans, physical recovery and total exhaustion. \u00a0According to my benefits office, I was \u201centitled\u201d to 6 weeks leave.\u00a0 But, of course, only three of those were paid. \u00a0 They were so generous as to let<\/em>\u00a0me take the rest unpaid. \u00a0As if going without pay is an option for most of us. \u00a0They reminded me I\u00a0was lucky to\u00a0have the time I did.<\/p>\n In the end, we had a good savings built up and I could work the extra hours. \u00a0But this cushion did not come without a cost. \u00a0The extra work amidst all our other life events\u00a0put\u00a0strain on my already stressed family.<\/p>\n We know the\u00a0first few months with our babies are so critically important for everyone involved and we should not have to choose between paying the bills and doing what is right.\u00a0 My experience motivated me even more to raise my voice in protest of unreasonable maternity leave practice. I hope my experience motivates others to do the same.\u00a0 As women physicians we have a unique opportunity to demand better of our politicians and our society. I hope this encourages others who feel the same to also say enough is enough.<\/p>\n Of note, my husband only received 4 days off for his\u00a0\u201cpaternity leave,” otherwise known also vacation days.\u00a0 But that fight is for another essay.<\/p>\n Additional Reading:<\/p>\n