For many women, life after giving birth can be confusing, stressful, and even frightening. While all attention shifts to the baby, the mother’s health—both physical and mental—is often overlooked. The U.S. health care system focuses heavily on the 40 weeks of pregnancy and the newborn’s needs, but rarely asks the simple question: How is the mom doing?
The Reality of Postpartum Care in the U.S.
Across the country, many new mothers face major gaps in care after giving birth. This is especially true for women of color and those living in the South. They often deal with sleep loss, dramatic body changes, anxiety, or postpartum depression. But help can be hard to find.
Some women aren’t aware that postpartum services exist. Others can’t access them because of where they live or because their insurance doesn’t cover them. Even more troubling, there’s a lack of data tracking how women are doing after childbirth. Without clear information on things like postpartum depression rates or health screenings, it’s difficult to fix the problems.
The March of Dimes reports that more than 1,000 U.S. counties have no hospitals offering obstetric care, no birth centers, and no OB providers. That’s over 2 million women with almost no access to needed care. And even in areas where services are available, insurance often doesn’t cover critical support like lactation consultants, home visits, or postpartum doulas.
Insurance Gaps Leave Many Women Behind
Though many states now extend Medicaid coverage for new moms up to a year after giving birth, this help doesn’t reach everyone. Millions of women with private insurance are left out, and even when they are covered, essential postpartum services are still limited.
This lack of care has serious consequences: most maternal deaths in the U.S. happen during the postpartum period.
What Can Employers Do?
Employers have a chance to make a big difference. Many women report being rushed back to work too soon or not receiving the support they need after returning. This is where workplaces can step in.
Big companies like Amazon are beginning to lead the way. They now cover services like doulas and midwives and offer support for postpartum mental health. But this shouldn’t be the exception—it should be the norm.
Here are some key ways employers can help:
- Extended parental leave so mothers have time to heal
- Mental health coverage including therapy for postpartum depression and anxiety
- Lactation support such as private spaces for pumping and access to consultants
- Child care assistance and flexible scheduling
- Home visits or virtual health services for mothers adjusting after childbirth
- Coverage for doulas and midwives as part of health insurance plans
Why It’s Good for Business Too
When employers offer strong postpartum support, it helps their bottom line. Healthy, supported employees are more likely to return to work, stay longer, and be more productive. It can also reduce health care costs tied to complications during and after childbirth.
Supporting moms isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s also smart business.
New mothers deserve more than just good wishes and baby gifts. They deserve a system that sees them, supports them, and helps them recover fully after birth. By stepping in to fill the gaps in postpartum care, employers can be a powerful part of the solution.
Postpartum care should not be a luxury. It should be a basic part of how we treat women after childbirth. Every new mother should feel cared for, not forgotten. And workplaces can play a big role in making that happen.
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