Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

Mums BANNED from worked 6 weeks after birth

67 replies

Tortington · 21/11/2008 14:07

was in the MNet news section ( link of home page.)

BANNED! i think this is outragous - what say you

?

OP posts:
MeAndMyMonkey · 21/11/2008 14:41

I think it's a bit prescriptive actually; I was working (self-employed so from home, writing) about 4 weeks after I'd had my baby - I had a deadline and frankly I was happy to take my mind off the nightmare newborn babies can be.
Great if all women could be given full maternity pay etc but what if you are self-employed? Or want to work? Choice shouldn't be denied...

FourArms · 21/11/2008 14:59

I think the compulsory maternity leave is more of a H&S thing.

Mercy · 21/11/2008 15:03

Yes, it's a medical/H&S issue imo.

If you are self-employed then it's up to you.

Portofino · 21/11/2008 15:06

Xenia will be mad!

Scifinerd · 21/11/2008 15:15

Hi I appreciate the motivation behind this proposal, which is important to protect the rights of many women but it is use of terms "banned" and "illegal" that I can't help but have issue with. As you have said, which I did not know, it is already banned for 2 weeks. So where does the line get drawn. History shows us that the removal of civil liberties always begins inoccuosly (can't spell) and is a gradual erosion. We should be very protective of our freedoms.

AtheneNoctua · 21/11/2008 15:39

I will be cheering for Xenia when she shows up. Oh Xenia....... Where are you..... Oh, right, working I presume. (unlike me )

It is outrageous that the government should give one rule to women and another to men. I think men should be banned from work for the same period.

When my first child was born I need the money to eat and pay rent. I was working contract and did not get a penny of maternity leave. I was back at work part time (from home) after two weeks, and in the office full time when she was 4 weeks old. It would have done me any good to keep me from working. It could trigger PND in some women in similar circustances. I am not prone to PND so that would not have been a problem for me, but might be for some.

Outrageous nannystate tactics. Who are they to say they know what's best for me or my child. Chauvenist arrogant Victorianism I say!

There, now that will give you all something to talk to me about tomorrow night.

AtheneNoctua · 21/11/2008 15:40

It would NOT have done me any good to keep me from working.

Dropdeadfred · 21/11/2008 15:43

surely this is about health & safety more than equality...a man hasn't just given birth has he and is not potenally still bleeding heavily for weeks after....?

Mercy · 21/11/2008 16:23

Agree Fred.

And what if you've had a caesarian?

Anna8888 · 21/11/2008 17:23

Absolutely, Fred.

PeachyAndTheSucklingBas · 21/11/2008 17:27

If I remember correctly the two weeks is as much a health and safety thing as anything. Mums are after all at risk of bleeds, etc etc after the birth and for a few weeks. I now I passed membrane 10 ays 8after* this birth, it is only a miracle I didn't haemorrhage.

Now I wonder if the six weeks is related to the 6 weeks a Mum with a CS is suppose to take to rest and not drive etc? Could it not be?

PeachyAndTheSucklingBas · 21/11/2008 17:28

Took too long to post LOL- blame the baby

babygrosandgros · 21/11/2008 17:29

If you are forced to take 6 weeks off work then they should pay you full pay not 90%. That is disgraceful.

AtheneNoctua · 21/11/2008 19:18

If it's about health and safety then every woman should have a right to stay home if she wants to, which is very different from being forced to stay home. AND... men should have the same right. Otherwise, employers will have incentive to hire men instead of women, as they do now. Now I wonder why we have all these inequalities in pay and career advancement.

Dropdeadfred · 21/11/2008 19:23

but men haven't physically given birth and will not be losing blood..so why would they need that right?

Reallytired · 21/11/2008 19:30

But for many women having locia after two weeks is no worst than a period. It is not the really heavy bleeding that you have just after giving birth. Would you ban a woman from going to work because she is on her period.

It certainly would not be my choice to go back to work so early, but it does seem excessively nanny statish to actually ban women from working.

AnarchyAunt · 21/11/2008 19:31

I can see why they are making it compulsory - for many women working in jobs where they are not valued and have very little security (often low paid as well), the pressure to return would be fairly high I imagine. So by making it compulsory, women are protected from being 'persuaded' back before they are ready - six weeks is still not that long, and I'd imagine most women would want at least that. I dunno though - have not been in the position to make a choice about when to return to work.

Agree about the full pay issue.

hunkermunker · 21/11/2008 19:41

I just wish society was set up so that women were exalted for having babies and not made to feel like they were dirty little secrets that should be treated as the nuisances they are.

We bloody hate children in the UK, in general. And by heck, it shows by the time they're teenagers (and did I read 3yos were being excluded from school the other day? Whether 3yos should even be at school is a whole nother discussion though!).

We reap what we sow - and in the 1980s there was no such thing as society - and bingo, now there's no such thing as society. Thanks, Maggie.

AtheneNoctua · 21/11/2008 19:43

Incidentally the example I gave about going back to work after having DD was an emrgeny caesarean. So, yes, some will WANT to return. And who is the EU to say you women must stay home. Let the men go to work.

Women taking long maternity leave does little to further our advancement in the workplace. Is that unfair? Of course! But it is still the way it is.

Reallytired · 21/11/2008 19:46

Women already have the choice and aren't forced to work at two weeks. Infact I have the option of taking a whole year off. Admitally SMP is not a lot to live on.

Prehaps there needs to be better allowances for self employed women as they cannot get SMP.

Who is an EU bureaucrat to say what is best for a particular woman?

TheCrackFox · 21/11/2008 19:46

"I just wish society was set up so that women were exalted for having babies and not made to feel like they were dirty little secrets that should be treated as the nuisances they are." Never a truer word said Hunker.

hunkermunker · 21/11/2008 19:49

TCF, unfortunately I'm not prime minister. One day though, eh? [pipe dream]

MummyGorilla · 21/11/2008 19:56

It is once, twice, three times in a lifetime that a woman will give birth. Yes, it should be special, society and the law should recognise that, and women should be 'protected' because for every woman who wants to get back to the office there will be many, many more who need the recognition that giving birth is a major physical and emotional event. Just as if someone has had a major op, or a mental illness, recuperation and adjustment is needed.

There's so much said about the law being used to change society's attitude - banning formula ads etc - but when something positive for women comes along, people complain! I personally think the ban on promoting FF is far more patronising and paternalistic than a sensible measure to protect women's long-term health and encourage recognition that giving birth is something special.

Original poster
Tortington · 21/11/2008 19:57

theres a difference betwen protecting women and taking away choice

OP posts:
Portofino · 21/11/2008 20:01

Personally I could not have faced work after 2 weeks but I think everyone should have the choice to do what ever suits their circumstances. Here in Belgium you only get 3 months maternity leave (but paid) which goes against their normal exceedingly family friendly ethos...Both parents can choose to take extra time - unpaid.