When to go on Maternity Leave
Old history books relate that pregnant Chinese women who used to work in rice fields in China many years ago, would deliver their babies via a squatting position in the fields and go right back to work with the babies strapped to their bodies.
Maybe, just maybe, women were physically stronger then. On the other hand, since it was a part of the custom, it did not matter. Of course we have no data on maternal or fetal morbidity and mortality to use for comparisons. What we do know is that over the many decades there have been vast improvements at the workplace for pregnant women globally.
Many thanks to Researchers, Obstetricians, Gynecologists, Nurses and Midwives for advocating on behalf of pregnant women thus causing laws to be enacted to protect the rights of these women at the workplace.
Over the past 50 – 70 years there have been a growing number of women in paid employment. Young married women increase these statistics. These women, in child-bearing age, may remain in the workforce for 15 – 20 years. The working mother may work at 2 jobs in addition to her domestic chores.
In different cultures there are certain sociological factors regarding the pregnant woman to consider. Consider the unmarried or unsupported mother, the divorcee, widow, or one whose partner is in prison or has deserted her. Single mothers face social and emotional isolation, problems finding employment with convenient working hours that enable them to monitor their children when they get home from school. They face financial hardships, problems with housing, religion, and marriage. All these factors act as stressors.
In some countries there are Government social services that pregnant women can access. The benefits may be monetary or non-monetary. The employer may operate a scheme for pregnant women and she may have a group health insurance with maternity benefit . However conditions will apply.
In addition to the benefits, the pregnant woman in paid employment has rights under the law. She has a right to time-off for ante-natal care, the right to retain her job ( she cannot be fired when pregnant), and the right to return to work following her delivery.
In addition to the sociological stressors she has the stress of pregnancy to cope with. A woman may have an illness prior to her becoming pregnant.
It is then an individual decision as to when she should proceed on maternity leave. Each case has to be assessed on its own merit.
Some women are fit and healthy throughout pregnancy and can work right up to their expected date of delivery. Doctors will however request that she rests 2 weeks prior to her delivery date. Usually for economic reasons and to be able to remain at home a little longer with the baby, she will continue to work.
Other women who go into pregnancy with underlying illnesses such as Sickle cell disease or trait, hypertension, diabetes or heart disease may find that they are so sick early in pregnancy that they have to proceed on maternity leave as early as 16 weeks gestation.
A pregnant woman with anemia may find that she becomes breathless after slight exertion and may have to be hospitalized before her due date.
Women with multiple pregnancies, that is, twins or triplets, feel the weight of the uterus so much that they may be unable to move around at work.
A woman may not be able to fit around her steering wheel or may experience leg cramps on pressing the gas pedal. If she takes public transportation she may be uncomfortable at the crowd, noise, smoke , and she may experience frequent urination on a long ride. The various odors outside her home may contribute to making her sick and nauseated.
The kind of work that she does has to be taken into consideration. Take a woman who works as a waitress and suffers from ptyalism (excessive uncontrollable spitting ). She will have to go on leave if another position cannot be found for her. She should not be handling food or serving clients.
Sometimes women suffer from backache due to the weight of the uterus pulling the spine forward. In addition if the nerve is compressed she may experience severe leg pains. These women are comfortable only when resting on their side. Will the supervisor accommodate her?
The Obstetrician will request a pregnant woman to go on maternity leave to enable hospitalization in certain cases among which are bleeding disorders and frequent miscarriages, hypertension, diabetes, jaundice, heart disease, fetal death, kidney problems.
The decision to proceed on maternity leave depends on the Obstetrician, the way the woman feels and the kind of tasks she performs at work.
The most important element is keeping mother and fetus healthy.
REFERENCE :Myles, Margaret: Textbook for midwives
