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.

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.

Is this for financial reasons, or would they actually fire you if you tried to take (unpaid) leave? Because that, at least, is illegal per the FMLA.

To qualify for FMLA, you have to be working for a year.

And be working for a relatively large employer - over 50 employees, IIRC.

I think if you have a c-section they don't bother looking at your vajayjay; certainly, once it became clear that Matilda wasn't getting out that way, nobody spared mine so much as another glance.

My hospital also had really good food, a fully-stocked mini-kitchen on each floor, and a milk-and-cookies cart every afternoon at 4. Which also should be standard of care, dammit.

I still want to smite the shit out of everyone at Sparky's uni.

And oh, God, Gris, that's awful.

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

That is what the fuck is up.

This, x1000.

Gris, financial reasons. We are a one-income household right now, and any substantial unpaid leave would be catastrophic.

I'd qualify for FMLA after a year, and the company has a total of 200 employees.

I also just got a bill from the 60-mile ambulance ride from one hospital to the other. I couldn't refuse, as my leg had to be kept up, and my IV was in. $2000

Oh Jesus, Daniel.

Daniel, I am so sorry that you have to deal with this. I wish you could just concentrate on getting well.

With any luck, I will hit my $4,500 individual out of pocket limit soon. ...before it resets in January...