I had my baby abroad, and this is what the U.S. is getting wrong
When I first found out I was pregnant, I was living in the UK, far from the familiar comforts of my home in the United States. Like many expectant mothers, I was filled with the usual blend of excitement and anxiety. But being an American woman abroad added another layer of worry—how would I navigate pregnancy and early motherhood so far from my family and everything I knew?
What I didn’t realize at the time was that this distance would not only shape my pregnancy experience but also highlight the stark differences between the way the UK and the U.S. support new parents. And it’s those differences that have stayed with me, prompting me to reflect on what the U.S. might be getting wrong when it comes to caring for new families.
A fundamental difference
One of the first things that struck me in the UK was how seriously parental leave was taken. The UK’s approach to maternity and paternity leave felt like a societal acknowledgment of the profound life change that comes with having a baby. I was eligible for up to a year of maternity leave, with the first 39 weeks paid—time that I used to bond with my baby, recover physically and mentally and find my footing as a new mother.
In contrast, the U.S. offers no federally mandated paid maternity leave. Many American mothers, myself included when I returned to the States, feel pressured to return to work much sooner than they are ready, simply because they can’t afford to take unpaid leave. This lack of support contributes to stress, burnout and can hinder the crucial early bonding period between mother and baby.
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https://www.mother.ly/life/motherly-stories/uk-maternity-leave-vs-us/
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worth a watch! 