Paternity Leave: Supporting Fathers During the Postpartum Period
After the birth of a child into a family, it's usually for us to see the mother being given maternity leave for some time to recover, but the same isn't the case for the father, and it makes it seem unfair when a man isn't given paternity leave after the birth of his child. It's understandable that, in truth, women are the ones who undergo the most stress and pain during childbearing, but then the mental and physical stress men undergo during those moments also deserves for them to get some form of leave to have enough time to bond with their family and as well recover.
Here in Lagos, Nigeria, where I work, if you're a civil servant and gave birth as a woman, you're privileged to go for a six-month maternity leave to have enough time to take care of your child and as well relax and be fit enough to resume work thereafter. To be fair, civil servants are also privileged to a two-week paternity break, but it's hardly approved, and most senior offices tend to stigmatize you when you file for such.
The two weeks of paternity leave implemented by the state seem reasonable; at least within that period, such a man would have enough time to relate, help around the house in catering for the new baby to relieve his wife, and much more, but when you apply for such based on what I've seen at my place of work, our superior offices are just wicked and won't even approve it.
Sometimes I look at them and wonder if they didn't utilize the same when they were young and gave birth to their children, and now they'll only approve the maternity leave for ladies with an obvious anger on their faces, not to mention that of men's paternity leave that they'll outrightly refuse to approve, meaning you'll have no choice but to keep coming to work during the period when your wife just gave birth as a man.
I think the men also deserve better, inasmuch as it's in the civil servant right; then there's no point hungering them from getting what's their right, but then I also, to some extent, understand the plight of the senior officers who refuse, because the more teachers that went on leave will lead to having fewer teachers in the school, and some classes will most likely be empty during lecture hours due to the absence of teachers who went on leave.
I've seen this play out a time at my place of work when six female staff gave birth at almost the same time, and before you know it, they all went on maternity leave, leaving the school scanty of teachers and no one to teach students their subject. Well, I don't blame the teachers; the government should be the one to bring in more teachers to make it much more flexible for everyone.
But then regarding paternity leave, I think men deserve it and should get it, because it'll play a huge role in their family and even the job delivery of such staff, because expecting him to come to work in such a period will only lead to him not delivering his job efficiently like he would have on a normal day. We all know the birth of a child comes with some stress and sleepless nights, especially when the baby can't sleep. The father will have to stay up to cater for the child while the mother relaxes, and they can shift that responsibility till dawn.
So not giving such a man paternity leave and expecting him to come to our the next day will mean he'll be weak, sleepy, and not do a good job but to mental stress, so the paternity leave is very essential for men. Although most superior offices refuse to approve such paternity leave for me, still they try to relieve pressure on him by not expecting him to resume to work early or get angry if he's absent for a day or so.
While that just seems good, I don't think it's good enough because a leave will mean you've got the right to be away from work for a certain period, but not showing up to work without a leave, but due to an issue relating to stress from catering for your baby, you can still get one in trouble. So it's best to just let the father of the new baby take that leave and use that period to do whatever they can for both their well-being and that of their family, including the new baby.
All photos taken and edited on canva.
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some offices are like that. they are just wicked for no obvious reason and will want to milk the man of their energy.
It's unfortunate we've such people, but there's nothing we can do than to just try and navigate both work and our family during that period.
yeah.
thanks for the amazing post
Paternity leave has its benefits, giving the father a bit of relief is one of them!
Yes it truely as it benefits on the father.
You are outrightly, correct. Fathers need to rest the same as their mothers. The emotional stress and other things that took away their peace during labor were stressful. A paternity sabbatical is also important to put themselves in others. Thank you for sharing.
Yea that's just it both parties needs the time off work to dedicate more attention to the child and as well bond and heal together from all form of stress they might have undergone during childbearing.
Paternity leave should be encouraged.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Yes it should
Both parents must care for the child and have equal opportunities. I am in favor of this moment being shared by both father and mother.
Yes you're right, both parents have a role to play after the birth of their child.
I don't think they just don't want to give, I believe the process must be observed before it can be granted. Male officers run away from applying because they don't want stress.
My husband got it without stress.
Your husband is working in a place where the wellbeing of their staff is valued, I can't say the same for ours.
But then I understand your point.
😏😏😏
Try it first na, you will be glad
I never knew paternity leave was a thing. Well, it is a good thing for a man to stay at home with his wife and the newly born child. At least, he would relieve his wife of stress and be there for her emotionally too.
Paternity leave is a good idea, and I just hope all men can maximise the period of leave to truly be there for their wife and children, not a time to rest instead a time to work hand in hand with the wife to care for the baby morning, afternoon and night.
It's a thing, just that it's difficult to get it approved.
But then it'll play a important role in helping both couples have enough time to assist one another in taking care of the baby and much more.
With both parents available, the care for the child will be effective and less stressful for both parties.
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If you ask me, men deserve every leave they want in this world because you guys try for us. I feel most men are not appreciated because they’re always seen to be the bread winners. Men also deserve a break.
Yea that's very true, unfortunately the society doesn't sees it this way.
I hope they see it sooner
Some of these senior staffs behave like they were not in that position once, some of them just know that when the young staffs are not around the workload becomes much and they try to avoid it.
The paternity leave is important for men
They need it but a lot of people feel it is only women who carry the baby
Yea it's necessary, it's due to the fact that such are not approved to men when they request.
As a man, it's not easy to pass through that mental state and not take a leave from everything. It's ain't easy to be everywhere.
Although the leave isn't necessarily to rest but to assist with catering for the child, cause during those moments, the baby needs more attention and it won't be ideal for you to be resting while you wife do the work.
Man, never rest 😂 even on leave we still work lols.
Wow!...six teachers gave birth at same time? That's a coincidence!
I am in support of the notion that men needs to have paternity leave too to help support their significant other and lessen the workload that Childbirth brings and also create lasting bond with his newborn.
Yea it was a serious case at the time, but then we just have to manage the situation and multitask in the best way Possible till their leave was over.
Hopefully men are allowed to also take leave in the near future.
This is true, but when we have lots of them at the same time it will be problem when they all have to live work for some time.
Men also need some rest.
Thanks for sharing
Yea but it doesn't matter the amount, everyone deserves leave.
👍
Men needs it
Men deserves it
It's important that men take some time off after birth. It's not always easy dealing with postpartum stress all alone for women...but the leave for me should just be short like u mentioned
Yes it'll greatly help in such period to assist the wife with basic house chores and as well take care of the baby.
Such leaves isn't necessarily to rest but be focus on helping at home.
A new born child needs lots of nurturing and care from both parents. So, they should be available to do this for the better growth of the child. Companies and organisations should be ready to also allow men the opportunity to stay with their newborn kids and help the wife to carry out responsibilities which the woman alone cannot carry.
Yea that's absolutely correct, hopefully our society understands this and start making this flexible for all to access and get the leave to have time to bond with their family.
In nuclear family the husband are the bet support for the the wife and this is the time when the father make the family bond more strong so they deserve the leave also.
Yea that's absolutely correct, father's have Huge to play in such period and they should get the leave.