New York Pioneers Nation’s First Paid Prenatal Leave Law

Declaring that “no pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up,” NY Governor Kathy Hochul has launched the New York State Paid Prenatal Leave Law, which went into effect January 1st and is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Now all full- and part-time pregnant New Yorkers working in the private sector can access 20 hours of paid leave each year on top of their regular paid sick leave. This differs from leave policies in other states in that it’s dedicated to prenatal care, vs. postnatal family leave. It’s also available regardless of the employer’s size, immediately upon employment, and must be granted whenever the employee requests it.

This is good news.

Access to prenatal care helps promote healthy mothers and healthy babies and may reduce preterm birth and low birthweight, both risk factors for SIDS. Prenatal care can also include education about infant safe sleep, helping moms prepare.

And the author of the infant safe sleep guidelines, The American Academy of Pediatrics, sees regular prenatal care as crucial, saying there’s substantial evidence linking a lower risk of SIDS for infants whose mothers get regular prenatal care.

The U.S. also has a maternal and infant mortality rate higher than most of the developed world – and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 4 out of 5 maternal deaths are preventable.  We must do better, and active support for prenatal care is a step in the right direction.