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New Study by Dagher and Hofferth Investigates Links Between Maternity Leave, Pregnancy Intention, and Postpartum Depression

Mothers with unintended pregnancies take shorter maternity leaves

Mothers in the United States who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth than mothers whose pregnancy was intended, according to a study led by MPRC Faculty Associates Rada Dagher and Sandra Hofferth. Compared to mothers with an intended pregnancy, mothers with an unintended pregnancy are not as emotionally and financially prepared and are less likely to receive paid maternity leave, suggesting that economic reasons may have forced them to return to paid work sooner, Dagher explains. Shorter maternity leaves are linked to a higher risk of postpartum depression.

This study highlights the need for policies that enable women to take longer maternity leaves, and that ensure that women have access to appropriate methods for delaying pregnancy until they are ready for a baby. "The Affordable Care Act requirement for health plans to cover contraceptives at no cost to the consumer is an important part of the strategy to reduce unintended pregnancies," Dr. Dagher said. She also recommends that health care providers counsel all women and men who are at risk for unintended pregnancy about the most effective contraceptive methods.

Only 41% of women in the study had access to paid maternity leave. The average duration of leave taken was 7.64 weeks, compared to the six months of leave that current research shows to be optimal for mothers’ mental and emotional health. There is no national paid-leave policy in the United States, and while the Family and Medical Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to eligible employees, many women are not covered. Women in the U.S. return to paid work quickly after birth, with 69 percent of those surveyed returning within six months.

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