The United States policy on maternity leave can be a touchy subject among families, and especially women. Unlike all other wealthy countries, many of which mandate weeks and months of paid leave for natural and adoptive mothers and fathers, the U.S. mandates no such thing.
In fact, the last movement toward maternity fairness in the U.S., the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), included a provision mandating 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually for mothers of newborn or newly adopted children. Twelve weeks doesn’t sound so bad, but that unpaid part can sure sting.
Bundle of Bills?
We all know that babies are expensive, but it isn’t just the cost of diapers that adds up. It’s also the cost of maternity business attire while you continue to work, your health insurance deductible for the delivery, the cost of bottles and formula, and the crippling bills associated with quality healthcare once that baby is born. When you consider all of those expenses together, it becomes quite clear how easily having a baby can end up being a four- or five-figure investment.