Pregnant person
Most new mothers in the United States feel unprepared and unsupported during the physically and emotionally demanding weeks and months following the birth of a child, according to a study conducted by personalized postpartum care provider Boram Care. The report highlighted a gap between the support new moms want and need and the resources they actually receive during postpartum recovery, including in the workplace.
Ninety percent of women surveyed classified overall support for postpartum mothers as fair or poor. More than one-third said paid leave would have made their recovery easier, but less than half said they had access to paid leave.
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Two-thirds of respondents indicated insurance and FSA/HSA coverage for postpartum care is either very important or absolutely essential, Boram Care said. Meanwhile, the average U.S. maternity leave of approximately 10 weeks falls short of what mothers say they need to recover. Thirty-six percent said postpartum support should last up to three months and 14% said it should last up to six months.
Sleep deprivation topped the list of biggest challenges with postpartum recovery, closely followed by physical recovery and mental health struggles. About three-quarters of mothers said they received help from family and friends, but more than half still reported feeling minimally, somewhat or not at all supported. Eighty percent said professional support services would have been beneficial to their recovery. Such services include overnight support, postpartum doulas and lactation consultants.
"The fourth trimester is just as critical as pregnancy itself, yet our healthcare system often treats it as an afterthought,” said Joy Windley, certified lactation consultant and postpartum doula at Boram Care. “When mothers tell us that better rest, physical recovery support, mental health resources, and hands-on education would have made their experiences easier, we need to listen and make these essential services accessible to all families. Making services like postpartum doulas, lactation support, and overnight care more accessible, whether through healthcare providers, legislation, community programs, or employer benefits, can be transformative for families navigating this crucial stage.”
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Kristen Smithberg
Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.
