Whether you’re giving birth or growing your family through adoption, planning ahead for time off from work can help ease your mind and give you space to focus on what really matters—your new baby.

What to Know About Family Leave

Many working parents qualify for job-protected leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This lets you take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave after giving birth—while keeping your job and health benefits. This leave is available to:

• Parents recovering from childbirth
• Non-birthing parents and partners
• Adoptive parents bringing home a new child

FMLA is not the same as vacation or sick leave and not everyone qualifies, so it’s a good idea to check early. Visit the U.S. Department of Labor to learn your rights or ask your Human Resource department:

• Do I qualify for FMLA?
• Do I need to fill out any forms before my leave?
• Can I use vacation or sick days during my leave?
• Is there short-term disability insurance that covers part of my paycheck while I’m out?

Tips for Working Parents

Even if your leave isn’t paid, you deserve this time to rest, recover and bond with your baby. Give yourself permission to slow down and focus on what matters most: your growing family.

• Tell your supervisor early (usually during your second trimester is a good time).
• Write down a plan for who will cover your work while you’re out.
• Start tracking your leave time—vacation, sick days and unpaid time.
• Ask other working parents at your job what they did—it helps to hear what worked for them!