Your Guide to Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is a leave of absence from work before and after the birth of your baby. This is a period for birth recovery, bonding, breastfeeding, and adjusting to the learning curve that comes with having a newborn. The terms of your maternity leave depend mainly on the time you can take away from your job and whether your employer pays you during your absence. These factors vary widely based on your country, state, employer, and financial situation.   Planning for maternity leave is a big project. For many moms, it can be stressful to think about taking time off or returning to work after you have your baby. Planning is the key to maximizing the time you can take and minimizing the effects on your income and career. This episode covers navigating job protections, coordinating federal, state, and employer benefits, assessing your financial capacity for time off and planning for a smooth transition back to work.   Thank you to our sponsors   10% off Epic Will with the code PREGNANCYPODCAST. Epic Will is an inexpensive and easy way to ensure your family is protected. Get the building blocks of an early estate plan, including a last will and testament, healthcare power of attorney, an advance directive, and a financial power of attorney. I know we don't want to think about not being there for our kids. Secure your future in as little as five minutes and have peace of mind that your family's future is safe with legally binding documents built by an attorney.   Save 20% off your Simply Magnetic Me order with the code PREGNANCY. Simply Magnetic Me clothing is crafted with 100% organic cotton and sew-safe magnetic closures that connect quickly and quietly. All you do is line up the fabric, and it magically closes. This means you spend less time fussing with snaps, and zippers and more time connecting with your baby.   FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase of AG1. With one delicious scoop of AG1, you’re absorbing 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, whole-food sourced superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens to help you start your day right. This special blend of ingredients supports your gut health, nervous system, immune system, energy, recovery, focus, and aging. As a friendly reminder, pregnant or nursing women should seek professional medical advice before taking this or any other dietary supplement.   Read the full article and resources that accompany this episode.   Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium to access the entire back catalog, listen to all episodes ad-free, get a copy of the Your Birth Plan Book, and more.   Check out the 40 Weeks podcast to find out how your baby is growing each week and learn what is happening in your body. Plus, get a heads up on what to expect at your prenatal appointments and a tip for dads and partners.   For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.