“I wanted to take the amount of leave that I am federally entitled to under law” states Dr. Jennifer Anderson who addresses her struggles with taking FMLA for maternity leave. She also discusses the often-untold experiences mothers face after childbirth (e.g., breastfeeding, postpartum depression, 4th trimester for mothers) and how we—as a society—focus primarily on the baby and not the mother’s health. For example, a mother’s checkup is 6 weeks post-delivery versus a baby’s checkup a few days after delivery. Somber statistics reveal that the U.S. has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, and, even more surprisingly, 60% of maternal deaths are preventable (CDC 2018 report). What advice does Dr. Anderson offer podcast listeners? Obtain and read the health-related HR policies for your organization, talk to your physician early regarding their philosophy and practices regarding maternal health, and be an active citizen regarding local, state and federal health policies.
The Podcast & Blog of Nicole Defenbaugh