Adoption Maternity Leave
There can be many unexpected twists that life may throw at you. You may have a specific routine that you are adjusted to, whether it’s the people in your life, your job, your living situation, etc. However, having an unexpected pregnancy can seemingly throw all of that off. You may have not accounted for all the life changes that will come with having a child, and this is where you may consider adoption. Still, even while considering adoption, you will be carrying the child which may bring about life changes, especially when it comes to your livelihood and workplace.
Adoption Choices of Kansas is here to offer you support and advice on Adoption maternity leave in an unplanned pregnancy, or when adopting a child.
Maternity Leave for the Birth Mother
When you are a birth mother in an unplanned pregnancy, you may feel anxiety due to what this may mean for you in your workplace. It may even cause feelings of resentment if you feel that this causes you extra hardship and must leave work for a bit during or after your pregnancy, not knowing whether this will affect your ability to provide for yourself or other people if you are doing so. Though these feelings are valid, there are options for you to still get support and be able to provide for yourself while preparing for childbirth and taking care of your body.
One of these options is maternity leave. Though you will not be taking care of the baby if you are placing them with their adoptive family right away, you still have the right to take maternity leave during a time in your pregnancy. As a pregnant birth mother, you can receive up to four weeks of disability insurance before your expected due date. You can also receive up to six weeks for normal delivery, or eight weeks for a cesarean section of disability benefits after your delivery to recover from childbirth.
Maternity Leave for the Adoptive Parents
When thinking of maternity leave, it seems rare to think of it in terms of adopting a child, as the widely perceived stigma is that it is for mothers who are pregnant. As an adoptive parent anticipating a newborn baby, all the hardship and necessary attention the baby needs is going to be the same as if you just gave birth to your own baby. Although it may not be at the forefront of people’s minds when thinking of maternity leave and the adoption process, it is no different in terms of care the baby needs, other than the fact that your body may not need as much time to physically recover since you will not be carrying the baby.
Maternity leave for an adoptive mother expecting a newborn baby is called Statutory Adoption Leave and lasts for up to 52 weeks. This is the same as for maternity leave. You have the right to adoption leave from the first day of your employment.
Maternity leave for Gay Adoptive Parents
Another stigma surrounding adoption maternity leave is that it is mostly heterosexual couples that deal with this. This is not the case at all, as many gay couples are looking to adopt and also need to take leave to be able to care for their baby. This heterosexual stereotype can even be more extreme when it comes to a male gay couple, as people usually think of the female being the one to take maternity leave to take care of her newborn. However, since there is no female in this type of relationship, gay men have just as much of a right to paternity leave as anyone else. The same laws apply to gay couples, which is that stated above.
Equal Rights for Everyone
Although the laws in the United States were not always so forgiving, times are changing. There are many ways that you may receive support during this time, and Adoption Choices of Kansas is here as an outlet to guide you and advise you on the support you need. Families come in all shapes and sizes with different variations. There is no specific image of what a family should be, as they all have positives in different ways. Every family who is taking care of a baby deserves and will receive equal treatment, so they can nourish their newborn and help them grow into a healthy and well-rounded individual.
Adoption Choices of Kansas urges you to reach out if you have any further questions, need advice, or want to be supported in any way. Please feel free to call us anytime!
Adoption Choices of Kansas serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more!
Call Us 877-903-4488 or Text Us 316-209-2071
Meet the Author: Tatiana Kelly is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California, where she completed a degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing. She first discovered her passion for journalism in high school when she joined Yearbook, allowing her to interview others and learn their intricacies, ultimately giving them a voice. Her empathetic nature motivates her to write about others and be interested in the details of each individual and their story. Tatiana’s passion for writing deepened when she took a college journalism class which allowed her to write various types of content consisting of Feature Story, Review, and Profile pieces. She went on to hone her writing and marketing skills through her position as a Marketing Associate at the Lesher Arts Center in Walnut Creek, CA, where she managed social media content and advertising assets. In her free time, Tatiana enjoys writing poetry and her thoughts about philosophy. She explores her creative and musical side through instruments, singing, and nature.