A Time to Value - Media Pack

A Time to Value - Proposal for a National Paid Maternity Leave Scheme

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The contribution of paid maternity leave to the health and wellbeing of mothers and newborn children

The health and wellbeing of new mothers and babies is a fundamental argument for paid maternity leave. While income support measures may be designed to achieve a variety of outcomes, the need to ensure that women can afford to spend the first weeks of a child's life recovering from the birth and nurturing the baby requires a measure designed to provide this. The 14 weeks leave recommended by the International Labour Organization and the 16 weeks leave recommended by the World Health Organization are premised on this argument. [1]

Recovery from childbirth and maternal health

Recovery from childbirth will vary according to a woman's individual experience. A number of studies cited in A Time to Value confirm that post partum recovery takes time and rest. Sleep deprivation is also experienced by adoptive parents since many adopted children suffer sleeping problems.

A recent (1997) study of women in the ACT found that exhaustion and backache were the most common health complaints amongst new mothers, not surprisingly, but other problems included bowel disorders, haemorrhoids, perineal pain, excessive or prolonged bleeding, urinary incontinence, other urinary tract problems and mastitis. The study found as time passed, more time off work was associated with better health outcomes. Clinical depression rates also fall over the first twenty-four weeks after confinement. The compounding effects of Caesarian section births, which are expected to rise with the increasing number of women over the age of thirty five giving birth further support the need for a period of paid leave.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is well recognised medically as of major benefit to the health of the child in addition to its importance for parent-child bonding. The World Health Organization, Australian Government publications and community and professional groups in Australia, including the AMA, advocate breastfeeding as an important contributor to infant health, including improved growth, immunity and development. In addition to this it is of some health benefit to the woman herself. However breastfeeding rates in Australia have leveled off over the last decade, especially in lower socio-economic groups. Bottle-fed babies are significantly more likely to be hospitalised than breastfed babies, suffer more health problems and are 12-31 per cent more likely to suffer chronic illness when fed by formula for at least three months. Paid maternity leave is likely to extend the length of time for which mothers are able to feed.

Child bonding and development

Medical and child development professionals agree that attachment in the early weeks after birth is essential to the child's overall capacity for emotional bonding and cognitive development. During the first few weeks mimicry, symbiosis, breastfeeding, a familiar heart-beat and voice, the health and contentment of the mother all contribute significantly to the child's development.

1. Health aspects of maternity leave and maternity protection are discussed in a statement by the World Health Organization to the International Labour Conference 2 June 2000 www.who.int/reproductive-health/publicatins/French_FPP_93_3/Health_aspe… ; Maternity Protection Convention 2000 (No. 183) and Maternity Protection Recommendation 2000 (No. 191).