News Moms Need

Does your company have a good maternity policy?  How about paternity leave?  Although we’ve only been on Working Mother Media’s 100 Best Companies for two years, the March of Dimes has a long history of influencing women’s ability to balance work and life.

“The March of Dimes is honored to be part of this 25th Anniversary and the fact that a nonprofit with limited resources can make this prestigious list two years in a row shows that any company truly dedicated to supporting mothers, families and healthy childbearing can make a difference for its employees,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “Throughout the years, March of Dimes has recommended – and offered – policies and benefits that promote the health of babies and mothers.”

Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media said, “We are pleased to count March of Dimes as one of the 2010 Working Mother 100 Best Companies. Employees care deeply about the work they do at this nonprofit, which supports preconception and prenatal care and baby health. To honor fathers’ participation in their infants’ lives, March of Dimes increased paid paternity leave last year from one week to two, while mothers can take 26 job-guaranteed weeks off after the birth of a child, with six at full pay.”

We are so pleased to be included for a second time on this list and would love to see many other companies follow the standards set by Working Mother.  Profiles of the 100 Best Companies, as well as national comparisons, are in the October issue of Working Mother and at workingmother.com.

When I first learned about our baby-to-be, I was thrilled! I’d already started living a healthier lifestyle before getting pregnant, like getting to a healthy weight and taking a multivitamin with folic acid. But now more than ever, I’m very cautious about what I eat, my environment and my activities. I want to be sure I’m doing everything I can so that baby is healthy and safe during the pregnancy.

Interestingly, my dear husband is going through his own daddy-to-be phase. In the last few weeks, I’ve noticed him getting around to those household projects that were always on the bottom of his list, like cleaning out the air filters, fixing the floor molding, even helping out with daily chores like the laundry and dishes. We only have one car; a little two-seater convertible that’s been the envy of our friends for years. But, with the baby coming, my husband has thrown himself into issue after issue of Motor Trend and Consumer Reports magazines to identify the safest, most efficient family vehicle. You’d think he’s writing his Ph.D. dissertation with all of the research and notes he’s taking! But all of it is very cute to see .

Even my own dad, a soon-to-be grandpa, is making lifestyle changes. He’s started to eat healthier and get more exercise so that he’ll be in great shape to play with his new grandbaby this winter.

USA Today had an article about the new dad phase, specifically about dads being more cautious and sensible as they get ready for baby. Did anyone else see a similar change with the dad-to-be in their life?

About 1 out of every 8 women has postpartum depression after delivery. It is the most common complication among women who have just had a baby. Did you know that dad’s can experience it, too? While it’s true that she’s the one who gives birth, having a baby is a significant life changing event that can cause depression in men. New research indicates that up to ten percent of new dads experience postpartum depression, with the highest rates occurring in the three to six month range after baby arrives. These rates seem to be the highest among men who are stay at home dads and those whose partners are also experiencing postpartum depression. For more information, read our fact sheet, Postpartum Depression.