Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

During pregnancy, labor pains are unbearable for many women, especially those enjoying luxurious lifestyles. The pregnant lady is between life and death at the time of delivery. Any untoward incidence can happen if proper care is not taken to manage the labor. Nowadays, lots of women experience pain throughout the nine months and more precisely at the time of child birth. Mostly, pains in the stomach, back, and legs happen frequently. The lifestyle of the lady contributes a lot to the frequent occurrence of the back pain and early labor.

Take Precautions
The doctor suggests you numerous recommendations and remedies for taking care of these discomforts during different pregnancy stages. It is always better to take precautions rather than painkiller pills during such circumstances. It is widely acknowledged that women that lead luxurious lifestyle experience more labor pains than those who adequately do a workout daily. So, make a habit to do small and less tiresome exercises on daily basis. Sometimes, the inexperienced nurses take these pains as true labor pains and create a much miserable conditions for both the child and the mother. Not every pain is an indication of the child birth and hence, you should carefully manage the pains with respect to the time and accordingly involve the hospital staff.

Understand and Evaluate Pains
The actual labor pain starts form the spine or back and spreads all around. The fake labor pain emerges from the abdomen and is irregular. It is of utmost importance to evaluate the pains during the pregnancy. There are several reasons that attribute to a difficult delivery of the child. The false labor is one of them. The untrained nurses and hospital staff misjudge the type of the pain and create unwarranted tense situations for the whole family. It is very crucial to evaluate the correlation between the type of pain and the pregnancy stage before coming to any conclusion.

Avoid These Factors For Easy Delivery
Some important factors that relate directly to a tiresome and difficult child birth are listed here;
1. If you feel constipation, then it can lead to troubles during the delivery of the child. So, you should take remedies for treatment of constipation.
2. The urinary bladder should be empty. If you feel like urinating then do so as often as you wish.
3. The size and position of the head of the child in the womb is also one of the factors that determine the level of pains that you will experience during the delivery.

In the condition of actual labor, you should walk slowly in the room. This is going to benefit you a lot in bearing the pain. This exercise facilitates the easy delivery of the child and considerably relieves you from the back pain.

In order to deliver the baby with minimal discomfort, it is advisable that every day of the pregnancy be managed carefully and enthusiastically.

Should you ask any married woman what brings an ultimate sense of fulfillment, she would probably reply, "carrying one's developing child within one's womb"! But there is a big "BUT" to this desire too - the timing has to be exactly right for a pregnancy!

Just one missed monthly period may create a feeling of panic about untimely motherhood in some women, while regular monthly cycles may worry others who are desirous of having a baby. So, how does a woman find a surefire answer to her question - "Am I going to have a baby?"

Well, experts on such matters have narrowed down the 'signs of pregnancy' to about 10. The woman who is 'feeling that she is going to be a mother' can check for any of them. A note of warning - it is possible that in rare cases, a woman may not be able to find any of these signs at all. Also, the various signs differ from one woman to another.

(1) The first question put forth by any gynecologist is, "Have you missed your period?" Now this will bring a positive answer from those females who have been having regular menses all their life. What about those women whose cycles have never been regular? It is definitely hard for them to distinguish between an irregular cycle and a missed period.

(2) Some women experience such regularity in their menstrual cycles that they are faultlessly correct to the date every month. So they can consider a 'urine pregnancy test' even if their cycle is delayed by one day. This test is so accurate that a positive result can be expected within a fortnight after fertilization! More accurate is the 'blood pregnancy test', which indicates a result within a week and a half after fertilization.

(3) If a woman has conceived, she is going to feel 'nauseous' for no reason at all and even have 'vomiting spells' one week after conceiving.

(4) The 'basal body temperature' does come down before the menstrual cycle actually begins, but rises once ovulation takes place. If the temperature does not come back to normal after the cycle, the woman is enceinte.

(5) Different hormones are released in high quantities, tending to cause the intestines to relax and bring about 'constipation' effects.

(6) If fertilization has taken place, the newly-formed embryo settles against the uterine wall roughly a week to 10 days later. So 'spotting' can take place. The color is light pink, unlike regular menstrual bleeding. And as the uterus is getting itself readied into the correct position to accommodate the growing fetus, the mother-to-be begins to experience 'cramping'.

(7) The 'areolar areas' (the rings of color around the nipples) tend to become larger and darker, indicating positive pregnancy. The minute bumps present here and there in these areas may also become larger in size and their number may increase.

(8) Three weeks into pregnancy, the 'breasts and nipples' begin to feel tender.

(9) Carrying the weight of a baby that is growing day by day, as well as managing all the bodily changes is not an easy task for the woman with child. The first 2 to 2-1/2 months can be quite 'wearisome'.

(10) Lastly, pregnancy brings about 'urinary urgency'. The reasons attributed to this are'the pressure being exerted on the bladder by an enlarging uterus, as well as more blood (somewhere around 35% to 60%) being sent to the kidneys on account of hormonal secretions, dilating blood vessels and pressure of blood flow.

Many women have difficulty giving birth and have been traumatized by this sometimes life-threatening experience. Trauma after a troubling birth experience can have a devastating impact on the post partum or post natal period. Birth trauma can be caused by multiple factors and is usually accompanied with: blame, shame or guilt. Trauma after childbirth leaves the same sense of post traumatic stress that can occur in any other unhealed traumatic situation. The aftereffects of Post Traumatic Response (PTR) are both emotional and physical ailments, trouble bonding with the child, failing marriages and a fear of having more children.

Women often say, "I'm not sure if my case is severe enough." But then they say they're still having recurring nightmares nine years after the birth of their child...or that they've never bonded to their child. Some women who think they haven't had any of the symptoms are the ones who are the most severely traumatized.

The symptoms of PTR include classic post traumatic stress disorder symptoms such as hyper-vigilance, nightmares, anxiety, depression and heightened startle response. Also, there's usually disturbance in the sexual relationship with the partner. Sometimes it's due to a physical condition--fourth degree peritoneal tears, a fractured pelvis, etc.
Part of the problem is that these women are often misdiagnosed as having postpartum depression. They have anxiety, depression, and they're very fearful--That's usually all a doctor asks and that's all the women say.

But the symptomatology won't match PTR unless the professional asks the right questions. Questions specifically relating to PTR are:

o Is there an increase in your startle response?

o Has your sense of safety been impaired/shattered?

o Are you avoiding people or places related to childbirth?

o Do the smells associated with childbirth catapult you back to the delivery room? When a woman can't bear to go past the hospital or go to that doctor, or won't talk about the delivery, is a strong indication that she is suffering with PTR to childbirth.

o Have you experienced flashbacks, irritability, panic attacks, hyper-vigilance, nightmares, avoidance, anger, mood swings, numbed emotions, difficulty sleeping, disconnected from self, baby and partner, unexplained sadness, indifference and a sense that something isn't 'right.'

Like Post Traumatic Stress, Post Traumatic Response to childbirth needs professional attention specifically focused on healing the trauma. The Association for Pre- & Perinatal Psychology and Health - P.O. Box 1398, Forestville, CA 95436 Maureen Wolfe, C.N.M., Executive Director Telephone/Fax: 707-887-2838 can provide referrals and information.

Infertility is an issue that millions of couples struggle with everyday therefore there are many doctors and other sources out there that claim to have the solution. For many, infertility ends with fertility treatments but for some, more homeopathic remedies are sought. There are some ways that you can boost your fertility when trying to conceive that do not require medical intervention and one of them is changing your diet.

For those that are struggling with infertility, it may be necessary to come up with a fertility diet that works for you and your body type. When trying to become pregnant, dieting, consuming alcohol, and other substances may make it impossible to conceive. For those trying to become pregnant it is often necessary to increase caloric intake, alter the foods that you are eating, and figure out what makes you feel good.

When it comes to dieting, it may be detrimental to be eating a low calorie diet that is restricted in fatty acids as it will take essential nutrients and fatty acids for a fetus to take hold and properly grow within a womb. Whole grains, full fat dairy products, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, and plant proteins can all help to increase your fertility. Each of these foods has benefits of their own that can help you to conceive.

Whole grains help to promote healthy insulin function as they do not greatly affect your blood sugar, having healthy insulin levels can help increase fertility. Dairy products have long since been a solution for uncomfortable menstrual symptoms as it helps to ease ovulation which is essential for conception. Fats like monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and Omega 3s help to reduce inflammation and can also help with insulin levels. Fresh fruits and vegetables give you essential antioxidants that make conception bit easier and can help reduce birth defects and other pregnancy problems. Lastly, plant protein, this is high in iron which is essential for fertility and can help make conceiving much easier.

Using these foods together in a healthy diet can help you to conceive and can also help to insure a healthy pregnancy if continued through the duration. You can find recipes and diets online or in health magazines and books. You may also want to talk to your doctor about vitamins and other food additives that may help increase fertility naturally rather than using fertility treatments.

It's dinner time. Everyone is seated at the table. The entrée this evening is grilled chicken, wild rice and delicious, fresh mixed veggies. You've been slaving in the kitchen for who knows how long to make sure dinner is delicious, healthy and pleasing to the eye. And your kids want nothing to do with it. Depending on your parenting style, there are a few ways the rest of the scenario plays out: bargaining, force-feeding, table dismissal or downright pleading with your kids so they'll get a little fat on their bones. Sound familiar?

If you're tired of the evening (or morning or afternoon) battle of the wills over what's on the table, perhaps it's time for a different approach. Anyone who has ever observed a child knows that they cooperate much better when they have a say in the matter. This is especially true with food. Children, like all humans, need to feel valued and most are eager to share their opinions when someone asks. So, rather than bearing the burden yourself, get some help from the kids and they'll be much more likely to devour what you prepare.

Make a menu
Making a menu is a really fun way for your kids to be involved in meal planning. This may be something that you do already, but involving your kids can turn a mundane task into a fun learning opportunity. Little kids, especially can use this as a fun craft time and create their own restaurant-style menu so they can visualize their choices and feel more involved. Sit down at the table together and brainstorm. What are your favorite meals? What are theirs? Maybe your kids love to eat squash but you rarely buy it or maybe they'd be more willing to eat corn if it was served with mashed potatoes instead of the rice that usually goes with it.

This will be a great time to research new recipes together and try out something new. Listening to each other is key so you'll know exactly what healthy foods they enjoy. This doesn't mean that you have to only eat what they want, but why not let them plan an entire meal once a week? If it's not as healthy as you want it to be, so what, that's what the rest of the week is for. A little give goes a long way.

Cook together
This requires some patience. Depending on the size of your offspring, their level of involvement can range from pouring some stuff into a bowl, to full preparation of a side dish. Not only does this give you some fun bonding time together, but they'll also be learning. This is a good time to practice reading and fractions. Not to mention the fact that cooking is an extremely valuable skill that all people should master before leaving the nest. Most kids take pride in things they've made and are eager to share it with others; food is no exception. Just prepare yourself before you start - this will probably not go as quickly or as cleanly as you would like. But it will all be worth it when they dig into their special dish and you don't have to nag about eating "just one more bite."

Grow your own
Not only do kids like to cook their own food, but they like to grow their own food. Nurturing a seed into a delicious, healthy vegetable provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. They'll be excited to see the whole cycle of seed to food. Not only that, but fresh produce usually tastes so much better than food that has been trucked in from hundreds of miles away. That boost in flavor alone might just whet your children's' appetite for more greens. If growing outside isn't possible, research indoor growing at the library together. Or take them grocery shopping and give them their own list of items to hunt for. This is a great time to teach them about smart shopping and staying within a budget. Learning opportunities abound when kids are included in household decisions.

Whether it's a short trip to the grocery store or a fun, menu-making craft at the table, getting kids involved in family meals is a snap. Not only will it be a learning opportunity for them but it can be a great stress-reducer for you when they eagerly eat the meal that they helped to prepare. They might not devour peas and onions just yet, but with time, I'm sure you'll notice a change in attitude at the family table.

Spring is here and summer is around the corner. Many people equate this time of the year with beautiful weather, vacation, warmer temperatures, less clothing, and the beach. I think you know where I am going with this. We are entering the dreaded bathing suit season!

If you are looking to firm up your stomach, prevent or reduce low back pain, prepare for childbirth or postpartum recovery, or just want to look good on the beach, continue reading. The following article will teach you the importance of strengthening your transverse abdominis muscle so that you can begin flattening your stomach this week.

Are you wondering what the transverse abdominis is?

The transverse abdominis, also known as the TVA muscle, is the deepest innermost layer of all abdominal muscles and is located underneath your rectus abdominis (the six-pack stomach muscle). The transverse abdominis muscle runs horizontally across the abdomen and is recruited almost anytime a limb moves.

The transverse abdominis assists in the breathing process by assisting in exhalation and helps compress the internal organs. However, its main function is to activate the core musculature and stabilize the pelvis and low back prior to movement of the body. It acts as a natural "weight belt" or muscular girdle by resisting flexion of the lumbar spine. In return, the TVA keeps the cervical spine in a neutral position during core training and helps to improve posture, muscle balance, and stabilization. A strong TVA provides a solid foundation for any movement.

So why care about the transverse abdominis?

Since the TVA acts as a muscular girdle, it stabilizes your pelvis and provides more support against outside forces. It protects against repetitive physical stresses from various motions your body makes such as twisting, bending, running, squatting, etc. A strong TVA will help you transfer force more efficiently through the muscles, rather than through your back and joints, thus aiding in the prevention and reduction of aches and pains caused by related forces.

That all sounds good, but what about that bikini/beach ready body that was mentioned in the first part of this article?

Not only does a developed transverse abdominis muscle help protect your back and joints during movement, but a strong and well developed TVA also equates to a tighter, slimmer waist.

How does the TVA aid in a flatter stomach and what is the difference between the rectus abdominis and the transverse abdominis muscles?

If you have ever seen a fit individual with a washboard or "six-pack" stomach, they most likely have very developed rectus abdominis muscles. The rectus abdominis muscle is the most superficial of all abdominal muscles. It runs vertically and has the main role of flexing the body forward. Whenever these muscles are developed, they grow outward. This can be good, but depending on your total body fat percentage, this can also be bad. If you have a very low body fat percentage, this can create the infamous six pack stomach look. However, if you have a higher body fat content and a layer of fat over these muscles, your stomach may look as if it bulges outward. It may not even matter that your rectus abdominis muscles are well developed and strong. If there is fat over these muscles, you will look more bulky in your stomach region. Building your rectus abdominis muscle and not focusing on strengthening other areas is analogous to letting out your belt.

While the rectus abdominis muscle responds to strengthening exercises by developing outward, the transverse abdominis muscle develops inward and in effect, as mentioned earlier, is analogous to tightening your belt or wearing a muscular girdle. It is like the Spanx of the abdominal muscles! So, regardless of your current body fat percentage, developing the transverse abdominis muscle will help flatten your tummy and ultimately help you feel better in your clothes. For those who have a lesser body fat percentage, a developed TVA muscle will create excellent definition and frame around your stomach so that you will look and feel better without looking bulky or too muscular. Remember, this is true as long as you eat a well balanced, holistic and nutritional diet geared towards your body-type, participate in cardiovascular activities 4-5 days per week, and strength train your entire body, not just one part.

What causes a weak transverse abdominis and what are some problems associated with weakness in this muscle?

In many cases, inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle can cause weakness in the transverse abdominis. Surgical procedures that involve cutting of the abdominal wall can also create a dysfunctional TVA. Caesarian sections, hysterectomies, hernias, and child-birth are just some of the procedures that can be responsible for this weakness. During such surgeries, the muscles, nerves, and tissues are cut causing a loss of neurological impulse. After these surgeries, your brain will try to recruit your stomach muscles to wake them up, but they oftentimes do not answer. A lack of neural drive to the core muscles can create the belly to push outward, creating a "pooch belly." This pooch belly will be more pronounced the weaker your TVA is and/or the heavier you are as an individual.

A weak TVA can further create poor body movement quality and instability, which oftentimes leads to early degeneration of bones and joints. Exercises geared towards strengthening the TVA muscle aid in reconnecting the nervous and muscular systems so that the stomach muscles can function properly again and rid of the pooch belly.

Another cause of a weak transverse abdominis is improper training of the core. For the vast majority of us, abdominal training has involved flexion and extension (bending) movements that focus almost exclusively on the rectus abdominus. For many years, people have been taught to train the wrong muscle during abdominal exercises. How many times have you been told to focus on flexion and extension exercises to strengthen your core? By doing crunches and other bending exercises for your stomach muscles, you are essentially only shortening the rectus abdominis and in effect pushing out the abdomen, not pulling it in, which can cause problems if you are not also training your TVA.

How do you get a stronger transverse abdominis?

If you dread or despise crunches, you are in luck. To develop and strengthen the transverse abdominis, you will not have to do any flexion or extension exercises. To build strength in your TVA muscle, you will need to know how to activate it through a series of "draw-in" abdominal maneuvers. "Drawing in your abdominal muscles" is a conscious process and takes a lot of practice, but once you get it, you will see great results.

For many people, learning to draw in the abdominals is a difficult process. Most people are used to working their core by developing the rectus abdominis muscles through conventional methods such as crunches, sit-ups, and other flexion/extension exercises which push out the abdominal wall. The concept of drawing in is the exact opposite of rectus abdominis training. It is the process where you pull in your abdominal wall.

The lying draw-in maneuver is just one of several exercises that can be used to train the TVA, the most important abdominal muscle in your body. It is a great one to add to your fitness program, as it will help you fine-tune your body and abs so that you can feel confident and sexy in your clothes, bathing suit, bikini and swim trunks this summer! To learn how to do this TVA exercise, type in "lying draw in maneuver" into your favorite search engine and click on the links listed for more information.

Good luck,

Over the years I have discussed thyroid antibodies with patients and how it relates to their fertility. When suggested to some physicians that these should be tested due to various studies about thyroid antibodies and fertility issues, I have heard them say, "Not worth the time or money. If TSH is normal, then thyroid antibodies can't be elevated."

But now, to my pleasant surprise in the New York Times there was an article by a prominent doctor in the United States that has been studying the relationship of thyroid antibodies to fertility issues for years. Apparently he sees in a certain percentage of patients that the thyroid antibodies can be elevated with normal TSH and seem to be correlated to miscarriage as well. His conclusions have been the same conclusions in several studies around the world.

How they treat this issue in one study out of Italy, I believe, was with thyroid medication, i.e. thyroxine. This treatment changed the miscarriage rate of those with elevated thyroid antibodies to similar numbers seen in women who do not have thyroid antibodies. So a huge difference was made through this treatment.

However, its important to look at other reasons for elevated thyroid antibodies and address those to not only improve fertility but to optimize thyroid health for the future. If thyroid antibodies are present for a long period of time (i.e. if the body continues to make antibodies which attack the thyroid, a disease called Hashimotos) then the thyroid is likely to fail and need medical support for life or in some cases the thyroid is surgically removed. So if you can do things to avoid surgical removal and the failure of the thyroid why not atleast try.

Other areas that should be assessed and addressed along with or instead of utilizing thyroid hormones like thyroxine, are diet and adrenal health.

It is common for gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance i.e. Coeliac Disease to be associated with elevated thyroid antibodies. So if your antibodies are elevated, make sure you remove gluten from your diet.

It has also been demonstrated that adrenal insufficiency and thyroid antibodies are associated with one another. Your adrenals sit on top of your kidneys and help you respond to stress. But too much emotional and or physiological stress can take its toll on these endocrine glands. Therefore supporting and promoting optimal adrenal health with stress management, herbs and other nutritional supplements is extremely important in improving thyroid health, cardiovascular health and fertility as well as post partum health too.

If you haven't had them already, have the thyroid antibody tests (there are 2 or 3), TSH, FT4, and FT3 to assess thyroid function and a morning serum cortisol test to begin to assess adrenal function. If these levels are on the middle to bottom half of the normal range then further tests would be warranted OR if you are fine in the morning and exhausted by the middle of the day then further assessment of adrenals through saliva tests are also warranted.

Remember your cortisol levels are associated with your progesterone levels (this is true of thyroid hormones as well). Therefore even if you don't have elevated thyroid antibodies if your progesterone levels are not optimal or the lining of the uterus is thin, the thyroid and adrenals should be assessed and addressed if needed.

By improving the health of the thyroid (in both men and women) you can improve fertility, decrease the risk of postpartum depression and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Reiki is quite popular and most people commonly experience during Reiki treatment a sense of peace and relaxation, often combined with a pleasant sense of security and of being enveloped by a faint wave of energy. But even this is not experienced at all times. Therefore, this might be used for those wanting miracle pregnancies.

It is a form of Japanese or Asian medicine. When someone is treated with Reiki, they are taken back to a state of unification with the harmony of the universe. This harmony, which is capable of reaching the smallest of its cells allows it to become full and healthy again, thus enhancing the woman's natural ability to heal itself. Thus, it is beneficial to couples with infertility problems looking for miracle pregnancies. Reiki is both powerful and gentle. Often, when energy levels are low or blocked, the immune system is weakened and more susceptible to disease.

Reiki energizes women preparing for miracle pregnancies on several levels simultaneously:

-In the physical plane through the warmth of hands
-On the mental plane through the thoughts
-On the emotional level through love

Reiki can be used by those hoping to conceive as it can help relieve pain and illness. Not only may it help in achieving miracle pregnancies, but it can also help in skin problems, flu, fatigue, backache and headaches. This form of Japanese medicine is based on allowing the body to correct itself, heal itself, and provide strength to the immune system to help the body fight disease. Reiki helps the body to help restore physical balance by removing blockages. Some women may fail to get pregnant or achieve miracle pregnancies because of a blockage in their fallopian tubes. Reiki can also rid the body of toxins that have been stored.

Reiki encourages the examination of the woman's emotional life, releasing negative emotions while collecting positive and love, and self-confidence. Reiki flows to where it is needed in a healthy, balanced and natural way. Imbalances in the body can affect the health and can be caused by many situations that occur in our lives, such as emotional or physical trauma, negative thoughts and feelings such as fear, anxiety, worry, doubt or anger, nutritional depletion, destructive lifestyle behavior, bad relationships, and self-neglect. Many doctors who are not naturopathic will also tell you how important your emotional and mental health can be for your physical health.

When women are hoping to achieve miracle pregnancies and receive Reiki during pregnancy, she will find this is beneficial for herself and the baby who will develop when it is conceived. The steps within this form of Asian medicine can help women receive the strength and health as they continue to try for miracle pregnancies. Thus, it can also be used when it is time to give birth, as it helps develop labor more naturally and stress-free.

When you become self-employed, your business becomes your responsibility and its failure or success rests with you. When you've been used to being an employee, the mental shift in becoming a business owner can be therefore be quite overwhelming. As well as bringing in fee-paying work, you have to also be the managing director, the marketing director, the administrator, the IT expert, the graphic designer and the person who makes the coffee. One way to lessen the load is to learn how to outsource.

You probably started a business because you're good at offering a service or a product or you spotted a gap in the market. You probably didn't start a business because you have a burning desire to spend hours doing paperwork! Why not free up your precious time so you can spend it actually making some money, by delegating the everyday running of your business to a trusted assistant?

You won't have to worry about providing a desk, or any office equipment, or training or even tea or coffee! Unlike office-based secretaries or temporary workers, virtual assistants work from their own well-equipped home offices. If using technology isn't your strong point, there's no need to worry: a good VA will be up to speed on the latest equipment and software, and how best to use it. You won't have to worry about, bureaucratic red tape and employment law issues. Nor will you have to pay your assistant's National Insurance contributions, sick pay, holiday pay or maternity pay. Even if you only want a one-off project completed, most VAs will be able to work ad-hoc hours and charge you accordingly - there's no need to get tied into a monthly retainer contract if you only want a few hours of office support.

Not sure whether a virtual assistant would be able to help you? VAs provide a plethora of services, many of which are included in the list below:

Typing and transcription

Word processing

Creating and formatting

Excel spreadsheets

Desktop publishing

Scanning documents

Diary management

Making and receiving calls

Making and receiving telephone and internet bookings

Mail merges and mail-shots

Database management

Content creation and management

Copywriting and copyediting

Proof reading and editing

Email marketing and newsletter creation

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Blogging

Article writing

Website design and management

Social media management

Book keeping and accounting

Online marketing

Setting up and maintaining affiliate schemes

When you find a VA who's a good 'fit' for your business, you will be able to have the same person working with you on different projects and who gets to know their business as well as you do. Your virtual assistant has a vested interest in helping you become successful: the more work you get, the more work your VA gets!

It can be extremely difficult to obtain; to find out your options, you really need to speak with an experienced health insurance broker. It's not totally impossible to obtain, but there are some qualifications and restrictions that aren't understood by many insurance applicants.

Why is maternity leave difficult to obtain? If you happen to be the beneficiary of group health insurance that has maternity leave as one of the benefits, then you are in fairly good shape. However, if you are searching for individual insurance, you're well aware that maternity leave often isn't covered under common insurance plans. Again it is not totally impossible to get, you just need to be aware of the parameters of your coverage. Coverage for maternity leave is difficult to obtain, as many insurance companies would prefer to decline offering this kind of benefit on an individual basis as opposed to a group medical insurance situation.

Employers are required to treat pregnant women the same as other workers who can't perform their usual work for a period of time. For example, if the boss allows a worker medical leave for a broken arm or pneumonia, pregnant women must get leave under the same terms and conditions. Leave of this nature is protected under the auspices of a federal act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Note that the federal act does two things. First, it requires certain employers to provide parenting, family and medical leave for qualified employees. Second, it sets the cap for unpaid medical leave at a maximum of twelve weeks for qualified employees. The key is being qualified. A person must be working at a company with 50 or more workers, and must have worked there for at least one year and at least 1,250 hours during the year before taking leave.

This kind of leave does apply equally to men or women and covers situations like birth or adoption, acquiring foster children, taking care of a seriously ill family member or dealing with a serious health situation. Those using FMLA leave provisions are not entitled to the same benefits while on leave; however, benefits acquired prior to the leave stay with the employee.

To find out how an individual may apply for maternity leave benefits, as well as the qualifications and requirements, contact your local insurance broker for information.