Women who rush back to work after giving birth may do so at their baby’s peril, suggests a new Canadian study that fuels the emotional debate over career versus parenthood.

The less time a new mother stays off the job, the more likely her child’s motor and social development will be impaired, University of British Columbia researchers concluded.

The analysis of federal survey data underlines the importance of government-funded maternity leaves, but does not mean mothers should avoid work outside the home, says Dr. Rebecca Sherlock, the neonatology specialist at the BC Children’s and Women’s Health Centre who spearheaded the research…

Dr. Sherlock had just had two children of her own, took relatively little time off work afterward and expected the research to confirm that the length of maternity leave has no bearing on childhood development.

She said she was so surprised by the findings that she re-checked the statistical analysis several times to be sure the results were sound.

The study’s conclusions would seem to fit, however, with most of what is known about the importance of early childhood development, and the role of parents in stimulating and nurturing children, said Dr. Fraser Mustard, one of Canada’s leading experts in the field.

In fact, as a consultant to the South Australia state government, he is urging the jurisdiction to provide paid parental leave of 18 months - six months longer than in Canada - and allow one parent to take a day off a week until their child reaches age three.

“Parents are the best input,” said Dr. Mustard, founder of the Council for Early Childhood Development. “If you understand the biology of brain development, yes, parental leave makes sense.” …

In Canada, the federal government offers 15 weeks of maternity leave benefits and another 35 weeks of parental leave benefits that can be used by either the father or mother.

Dr. Sherlock said she believes it is important that women have a choice to work or not, freedom that will affect their happiness in the family environment…

Source: National Post, Canada
http://tinyurl.com/38moj5