When I was pregnant with my daughter, 5 years ago, I did not have access to paid medical leave. I had just started a new job at a public library about a month before I found out I was pregnant. Where I worked, we had an accrual system for paid time off, and I saved as much PTO as I could (aside from doctors appointments) before my daughter was born so I could spend every minute that we could afford for me to stay home with her before I had to return to work and start her in full-time daycare. 

I ended up having about 4 weeks of PTO and, after scrutinizing our monthly bills and brand new medical bills, was able to take 3 weeks of unpaid leave. It was very difficult going back to work full-time and putting my daughter in full-time daycare at 7 weeks, and on top of that I had exhausted all of my accrued PTO so I had to juggle infant doctor appointments, sicknesses, breastfeeding, and my own health around my full-time work schedule.

If I would have had any amount of paid family leave, even just so I could have had a small safety net of PTO when I went back to work, it would have had immense health and mental health benefits for myself and my daughter.

It also would have allowed me to be more productive when I was at work, not having to try and juggle breastfeeding, doctors appointments, and other during my off hours or on lunch breaks.

Jenny Tatman
Lebo, Kansas