Why Maternity Leave Matters

At a time of economic uncertainty, it may be tempting to cut your maternity leave short in order to assure you have an income. For many women maternity leave is a luxury, but it is far more than that – it is a necessity for both mother and child

- Loren Stow

Most African and other ancient tribal customs dictate a period of confinement for a new mother, yet somewhere along the way maternity leave has become considered as just a little ‘time off’ – a kind of holiday if you will. But the truth couldn’t be more polarised from this ill-conceived notion. Becoming a mother and nurturing a new life is a monumental task and life-changing event with lifelong repercussions. Simply put, maternity leave matters because it makes better mothers, who in turn raise healthier and happier children.

The fact of the matter is a newborn baby needs its mother as much as it needs oxygen to breathe, warmth in which to feel secure, and nourishment to survive. But in order for this mother-child dyad to flourish, the mother needs precious time – uninterrupted by work, financial strain and other stresses. Of course, a newborn baby left in the care of another may survive, but certain essential ingredients to its long-term possibilities and development that only a mother can provide will be forever missing. And now that research is providing us with a way to see inside a baby’s brain as it grows and develops, it becomes more important to raise awareness around the impact of care in the first three years, which essentially forms the foundation and sets the development trajectory for the rest of that human being’s life.

BENEFITS OF TAKING MATERNITY LEAVE