Today, on International Women's Day, the nonprofit, nonpartisan group MomsRising is encouraging all moms -- and dads -- to tell the leading presidential candidates that moms in America need paid family leave. A nursing mother shouldn't have to work long hours, feel pressured to get back to work quickly, or wonder
how to make ends meet if she doesn't return to work quickly because she has no paid time
off. Those early early days with a newborn are critical to successful breastfeeding.
The following information is taken both from the MomsRising Web site and from its email about the need for a national paid family leave policy.
MomsRising is working to bring together millions of people who share
a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly
America. Started in May of 2006, MomsRising has gained over 140,000
citizen members and is rapidly growing. More than 85 national and state
organizations have signed on to be aligned with MomsRising.
Our members are bringing important motherhood and family issues to
the forefront of the country's awareness. We are working to create both
cultural and legislative change. It is time to break the logjam that
has been holding back family-friendly legislation for decades and to
advance workplace policies that will support families.
MomsRising offers easy entry into citizen advocacy and is bringing
the power of online organizing to motherhood and family issues.
The MomsRising Email
Did you know it takes eight to 10 hours per day to breastfeed a newborn?[1] How can a mother be
successful in those early make-or-break days if she's working long hours,
feeling pressured to get back to work quickly, or wondering how to make ends
meet if she doesn't return fast because she has no paid time off?
The presidential candidates talk about bringing new ideas and leadership to
this country. Some of them even have plans in place to enact paid family leave,
but none of those promises will become policy unless the candidates
know that moms are paying attention -- and what we want is action.
According to a new study just released by the U.S. Census Bureau[2], 49% of
American mothers cobble together some sort of paid leave following childbirth
by using a combination of sick days, vacation days, disability leave, and
employer-provided maternity leave. A full 51% of new mothers lack any paid
leave, so some take unpaid leave, some quit, some even lose their jobs.
A joint Harvard and McGill University study of over 170 countries found that
the U.S. is one of only four countries that doesn't have any paid leave for new
mothers.[3] This is a national disgrace.
The next president has a chance to right this wrong. But we need to get on
their radar now, while they are courting the "mom" vote. Send an
email to the presidential candidates asking them, upon taking office, to make
it a priority to pass national paid family leave.
Please pass along this information to other moms, dads, and grandparents who want
to see a more family-friendly America. We appreciate it and so do our
babies!
-- The
MomsRising Team
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[1] The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by the La Leche League, contains
a treasure trove of advice for new moms.
[2 ] U.S. Census Bureau, Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns: 1961-2003
Mom Topics 
