How long should the ideal maternity leave for mother and baby be?

The length of time for maternity leave as regulated by law is three months. One and a half months leave before giving birth and another one and a half months after you give birth. However, is three months ideal enough for the health and well-being of the mother and baby? Here comes the opinion of experts from various studies.

The majority of employees take time off only briefly

Although in Indonesia there are clear rules for taking maternity leave, in reality many employees and companies do not follow these rules. You may have taken only one to two weeks of leave before your due date. Then you will return to work to the office in just a month after giving birth.

This phenomenon is very common, especially in companies that do not provide allowances for employees who take maternity leave. This is also often encountered in various companies that override gender equality. As a result, the family and newborn will lose a lot of valuable time.

The ideal length of leave for maternity leave

If one to two months of maternity leave is not ideal for both mother and baby, how long should it take? Experts have different opinions about the ideal length of maternity leave.

According to a public policy expert from the University of Virginia, Christopher J. Ruhm, mothers and babies will be healthier and avoid complications if they take leave for 40 weeks or about ten months. This is evidenced in his research published in the journal National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Working Papers.

Meanwhile, another study by experts from Columbia University in the Economic Journal noted that three months of leave after giving birth (when combined with pre-natal leave means a total of four months) is sufficient to ensure the health of both mother and baby even in the long term.

Similar results are also evidenced by a study in the Journal of Health, Politics, Policy, and Laws in 2013. Three months of maternity leave after delivery reduces the risk of postpartum depression and other health effects on mother and baby.

Summarized from other research around the world, the ideal length of maternity leave is minimum of four months. That is one month before giving birth and three months afterward. However, parents and babies will reap more benefits if the leave is extended. Especially if you are prone to postpartum complications or depression.

Impact of too short leave for mother and baby

If the mother only takes a leave of two months or even less, these are the various negative effects that may occur.

1. Postpartum depression

A number of studies have shown that mothers who return to work immediately after giving birth are more prone to experiencing postpartum depression. The depression that attacked new mothers did not only affect the mental condition of the mother. Your baby will also be affected. For example, babies are not being cared for optimally. Mother and baby will also have difficulty building strong enough bonds.

2. Decreased breast milk intake

Maternity leave that is too short will have an impact on the intake of breast milk (ASI) for the baby. Either because the baby cannot get breast milk when needed or because milk production is hampered because the mother is depressed. This can be overcome, for example, by pumping breast milk or finding a breast milk donor.

3. Did not have time to recover

According to experts, after childbirth mothers need at least six weeks to completely recover from the birth process. However, after that your body still has to rest.

If after delivery you immediately return to work, postpartum complaints such as fatigue, back pain, breast pain, headaches, constipation, and torn vaginal sutures can persist even after a year. This is why the ideal length of maternity leave is so important for the health of both mother and baby.