Tara’s husband suffers from a severe, painful autoimmune disorder and is unable to work. Tara is the family’s sole earner. Her company offers no paid leave and she is ineligible for unpaid leave because her employer falls below FMLA’s 50-employee threshold. Even if she were eligible for unpaid leave time, she wouldn’t take it, saying, “My family can’t afford the loss of even one paycheck.”

So Tara’s “maternity leave” was to consist of her 13 vacation days; these were mostly rolled over from 2015, with her boss’ permission. Weekends and President’s Day brought her total days off to 20.

Tara agreed to keep me updated by text throughout the end of her pregnancy, her time at home, and her return to work. This, the first of a two-part series, follows Tara from when she gives birth up until the day she goes back to work.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

2 days before the birth

22 days until return to work

Tara’s husband’s medical condition means money is tight. The family spends everything Tara makes; sometimes they sell off household items to make ends meet. Tara’s husband cares for their toddler and will do so for their second baby, too. There is no extra income for childcare.

Tara and her husband accept the sacrifices they have to make in order to have children, telling me, “family is more important.” But Tara will get her tubes tied after this delivery. “We cannot financially support more children,” she says. “I cried as I signed the consent-for-sterilization form.”

Thursday, January 28, 2016

1 day before the birth

21 days until return to work

Tara was having contractions all week, and she prayed for the baby to stay put. She knew that if she could make it until at least Wednesday of this week, she would get President’s Day as part of her time at home, adding an extra day to her leave. She’s now made it to Thursday, and plans to go into the hospital in the morning to deliver (by planned C-section, for medical reasons). As she finishes up her last day at work, her mental countdown has already begun.

Friday, January 29, 2016

The day of the birth

20 days until return to work

Tara goes into the hospital early in the morning. She texts me a few hours later:

And then the baby arrives: a healthy girl. Tara now has 19-and-a-half days to heal from surgery and to bond with her daughter before she goes back to work.

Tara

Tara’s labor and delivery team is astonished by her situation. “The nurses and docs … are shocked,” Tara texts. “They … say things like ‘there has to be a way to get more (time off).’ It’s a topic that makes people kind of nervous, actually.”

Sunday, January 31, 2016

2 days postpartum

18 days until return to work

After two days in the hospital, Tara goes home. She is feeling the sleep deprivation and the pain that comes with a C-section. She’s also like many new mothers: in love with her baby and feeling blessed. She texts me about the homecoming meal her husband cooked, “big brother” helping with diapers, and a healthy little girl. “Life is great,” she writes.