America could learn from other countries that prioritize mothers in the workplace, some places allowing moms maternity leave up to 1-2 years. American moms in some areas get 6 weeks with their newborns. At 6 weeks postpartum, a woman’s body is still healing from birth, sometimes still bleeding, rips/tears still mending, hormones still unbalanced, and precious time with the baby necessary for bonding & healthy development. Additionally, breastfeeding moms are still solidifying a breastfeeding or pumping schedule, and pushing them back into work prematurely can be detrimental to this effort, sometimes causing the baby’s food supply to plummet. Women often face severe depression & anxiety upon being separated from their newborn because of the need for them to return to work so soon after birth.
We separate human babies from the only comfort they’ve known for the last 9 months, at only 6 weeks old? This should be a crime.
I propose a maternity leave MINIMUM of 6 months paid, with an additional 6 months unpaid.
Women, mothers, and babies are valuable in a thriving society & should be prioritized accordingly.