I'm so thankful that our HMO was good with my extended hospitalization last year. We ended up maxing out or annual costs and didn't pay much beyond that, but now that I've been through that, I'm essentially uninsurable through anything other than an employer provided policy. If Kristin's job situation changes we are completely hosed as far as me being able to get coverage. One of my few options would be to abandon my career just to take a job that provided health care. How does that even make sense?

His round-the-clock shadow came from the White House Medical Office. He doesn't get that any more.

If he still has that kind of coverage, he's either paying out of pocket or someone else is picking up the tab. The federal health care plan he is eligible for certainly doesn't allow for that.

The maternity leave in this country is shameful. My cousin in France (who works 3/4 time) had 16 weeks of full paid maternity leave (6 before birth and 10 after) plus up to three years of parental leave (unpaid, but with a stipend from the government and additional money from her mutuel), with the right to return to her job or something similar, with all commensurate pay raises. The U.S. is a joke.

Meg is getting 0 days paid maternity leave. She has 8 sick days, which she will get, then nothing. Her old school had a short term disability plan that included maternity coverage, but this one doesn't, and I'm pretty sure my last school didn't offer it either. Twelve weeks unpaid per FMLA, and that's the end of it.

I know I've talked about this before: No paid maternity leave from my University, so I had to use sick/vacation. They only allow you to use 6 weeks of sick leave, before they make you start taking vacation. And, they make you take 8 weeks of leave for a vaginal delivery, 10 for a C-section.

And I work for a U. associated with a church that is vehemently pro-life.

Though, Federal employees don't get paid maternity leave, either.

Gosh, JZ, I hated being in the hospital after my kids were born (not c-section) and got out as soon as they would let me. The food was bad, there was no internet, and it seemed like every time I managed to fall asleep for a second, someone came in and wanted to look at my vajayjay. I think I managed to escape after only 26 hours when Dillo was born!

And I work for a U. associated with a church that is vehemently pro-life.

Yeah, that only lasts until the kid's externally situated.

I can't speak calmly about insurance companies. I'm pretty sure that part of the reason my Mom put off going to a doctor about things was because she was terrified of the insurance costs.

(The other reason was probably that she "didn't want to worry anyone" but that's a separate hysterical rant on my part.)

I make good money, but my current job benefits are for shit. If we had a child in the next year, I would have to immediately return to work, and let DH take care of the baby. Which, under current conditions, ain't gonna happen. We have no choice but to be childless right now.

Meg is getting 0 days paid maternity leave. She has 8 sick days, which she will get, then nothing. Her old school had a short term disability plan that included maternity coverage, but this one doesn't, and I'm pretty sure my last school didn't offer it either.

Yikes, Gris, really? Ugh.

Twelve weeks unpaid per FMLA, and that's the end of it.

This must have been the number I read -- can't believe I didn't realize that the FMLA leave wasn't required to be *paid* leave. I was so optimistic...

It's funny because apparently the birthrate has gone down in the past few years and pundits are holding their heads, wondering what is up.

Yeah, well take a look at family leave policies, insurance, unemployment, and cost of raising kids.

That is what the fuck is up.