Recommended Maternity Leave

The recommended maternity leave varies from person to person depending upon health, family and circumstances.

What is the recommended average maternity leave granted to a person?

As such there is no particular time period or recommended maternity leave for pregnancy and childbirth but then the maternity leave laws stated by the FMLA grants twelve weeks of unpaid leave for its employees if and only if your company covered under the FMLA law.

If you don’t suffer from any morning sickness and have no pregnancy related complications you can work even while you are pregnant or as long as your feel comfortable and good.

There have been instances where women have been working till a couple of weeks before childbirth while some have worked till the due date. But taking a week off before childbirth is best recommended as you will have time to rest and prepare yourself for labor, taking care of your newborn as well as for childbirth.

Work safely

If you are working somewhere where you have to handle materials that can prove to be dangerous than you need to get yourself transferred to a desk job or some other job in the company so that you can have a safe pregnancy with the risk of being affected by hazardous materials. Companies do have rules where in they transfer or accommodate pregnant women to safer jobs.

Things to avoid during pregnancy

Certain things can be harmful not only to you but also to your baby and the need to take ample precautions is of utmost importance if you can avoid doing such jobs it is in the best interest of your baby other wise you can always ask for a change in the job or take an early maternity leave.

Things that you need to beware of are rodents especially if you are working in a pet shop or research related field, lifting heavy things regularly, coming in close contact with harmful chemicals and toxic fumes as this can affect the growth and development of your fetus, in spite of wearing a safety mask and protective gears.

Inhaling fumes of mercury and burning coal should be avoided as they tend to leave harmful effect on the body. Standing all day long should be avoided so take a few minutes break every few hours.

Leave related to medical problems

Though there is no recommended maternity leave for women as the leave depends upon her health but then high risk pregnancy leave can be got provided your care taker gives complete medical documents to support your problems. There are some pregnancy problems that require an average leave and some of these problems are:

In case of premature birth, infection, threatened miscarriage, anemia, gestational diabetes, bleeding, placenta previa, amount of average amniotic fluid, hypertension etc.

You can also take an extra week off in case you have to tend to older children or have old parents to take care off.

Recommended maternity leave after childbirth

Physical and emotional aspects of the body should be taken into consideration as you need to develop a bonding with your new born; you need to establish a breastfeeding schedule.

U.S government grants around six weeks of maternity leave for taking care of the baby. If your company grants you more leave and even if you can afford unpaid leave. Some companies ask for a care provider’s letter so as to resume work. You can also take up part time work after childbirth or you may also work four or five days instead of the regular six days a week.