BIO

Elena is a third-year student majoring in public health and minoring in anthropology and statistics. She is passionate about perinatal health and changing the birth culture in the U.S. to be a more empowering, holistic, and safer experience for women. Her passion led her to become a doula over the gap year she took through FSU's Gap Year program. She is also interested in the anthropological side of birth, which inspired her global exchange semester in New Zealand, where she learned more about Māori birthing traditions. After earning her Bachelor's degree, Elena plans to pursue a Master's in midwifery.

The Impact of Postpartum Employment on Maternal and Infant Outcomes

Abstract

Most mothers in the United States face a hard decision after giving birth, whether to leave their babies before they are 2 months old or leave their job. The United States is one of the less infant-friendly nations with no nationally required paid maternity leave. The impact employment has on the mother-infant dyad is a top priority for research efforts. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine reasons mothers return to work and the impact on the mother-infant dyad wellbeing. Mothers in Florida between the ages of 18-40 years who had given birth in the past 6 months were included in this study. Mothers were asked questions about their overall postpartum experience, how soon they returned to work after birth, and if they wanted to return. Preliminary qualitative data analysis (N=5) showed the main motivations for mothers returning to work to be financial, social, and personal fulfillment. Analyses also suggest that returning to work negatively impacts the mother's emotional well-being, breastfeeding length, and ability to access postpartum care. Data collection and analyses will continue until data saturation is achieved. Conclusions thus far emphasize the need for change in legislation on maternity leave in the United States, allowing mothers to stay with their babies for longer and have financial security. It can also be used to show how we need better social and support networks for mothers.

Keywords: pregnancy, mothers, employment