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On March 25, major news outlets celebrated the passage of New Zealand’s groundbreaking legislation providing women and their partners with three days of paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth. I joined in the applause, as this marked a significant acknowledgment that pregnancy loss is a reality that necessitates time for healing, both physically and emotionally. Ginny Anderson, the Parliament member who championed the bill, emphasized that this leave allows grieving parents to process their loss without depleting sick leave, highlighting that grief is not an illness but an emotional wound that requires time to heal.
Having experienced four pregnancy losses myself, I understand the inadequacies of a mere three-day leave. Each time, I returned to work far too soon, having exhausted my sick leave, and I was not ready to face the workplace. With statistics indicating that one in four pregnancies ends in loss, it’s likely that in a workplace with hundreds of employees, at least one woman is navigating this painful experience at any given moment. For some, these losses can involve significant medical emergencies. I’ve had ectopic pregnancies that endangered my life—one necessitated emergency surgery, while another required a medication typically used for cancer treatment. I also endured a “missed miscarriage” that led to weeks of bleeding before I was cleared, and I lost my son, Jamie, during the second trimester, which involved yet another surgery and resulted in post-traumatic stress.
Even when a pregnancy loss does not lead to severe medical complications, the emotional ramifications are profound. Research shows that nearly 29% of women who experience a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy report symptoms of post-traumatic stress one month post-loss. Additionally, about one in four women face moderate to severe anxiety, and around ten percent deal with significant depression. A comprehensive review from 2016 found that bereaved parents often grapple with higher rates of emotional disorders, feelings of guilt, PTSD symptoms, and even suicidal thoughts.
This brings me to my main concern regarding New Zealand’s legislation: three days is simply insufficient. While it’s essential to recognize any step forward, I can’t help but feel disappointed. Three days offer no real time to process the loss of a child. It’s not enough to recover from surgery, cope with delivering a stillborn baby, or organize a memorial service. It’s definitely not enough to make decisions about the nursery or to come to terms with the loss.
Many people may argue that three days is better than nothing, similar to how six weeks of maternity leave is often praised. However, we must aim for more than just “better than nothing.” Countries like India, which provides six weeks of leave after a miscarriage, and Vietnam, which offers between 10 and 50 days based on gestational age, set a higher standard. In Korea, leave after miscarriage or stillbirth is also tied to pregnancy duration and is paid, further protecting the employee’s job during this time.
The absence of such policies in the U.S. raises questions about the claim that we are the greatest country in the world. It’s time for U.S. legislators to take notice and aspire to do better—not just to match New Zealand, but to provide adequate support for women and their partners facing the devastating loss of not just a child, but a dream.
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In summary, while New Zealand’s legislation is a step forward in acknowledging the grief associated with miscarriage, the provided leave is insufficient for the emotional and physical recovery required. Other countries have set higher standards, and it’s time for legislators worldwide to prioritize comprehensive support for grieving parents.
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Keyphrase: New Zealand Miscarriage Relief Bill
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