How Much Time Off Do You Get For A C-Section?

Maternity leave is a precious commodity for most any pregnant woman. I mean, has anyone ever complained about having too much time off to bounce back from labor and delivery? Probably not. But of course every delivery is different and comes with its own unique set of challenges that could affect your maternity leave. For instance, how much time do you get off for a C-section? The answers may surprise you.

Of course, the exact amount of time off will depend on many factors, including the difficulty of your own delivery and recovery, individual job requirements, and even geographic location. But as noted in Healthline, a C-section is major surgery that requires up to six weeks of recovery. And according to the Mayo Clinic, it's crucial that you get enough rest and manage other postpartum symptoms during this recovery time. Unlike most surgeries, however, you'll have the added challenge of caring for a newborn infant as your body heals. Basically? You're playing the surgery and recovery game on hard mode.

If you're in the United States, you can probably get enough time off for recovery, but it may not be paid. Even if you don't plan on having a Cesarian section, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with your employer's maternity leave policies about it just in case. As explained by the American Pregnancy Association (APA), you may want to check out your employer's policies for short-term disability coverage, which may help out if you have a complicated delivery such as a c-section. And as further noted by the APA, you could also be able to use sick, vacation, or holiday time, and you may be eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Depending on your situation, you may have to weigh your need for recovery time against the risk of going without any wages for a few weeks.

For what it's worth, mothers who live outside the United States generally have a more humane policy for maternity leave. For instance, as reported in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, women in the UK, France, and Australia receive 14 to 52 weeks of paid maternity leave, compared to moms in the United States — the only developed nation which does not require paid maternity leave — who take an average 10 weeks. Again, U.S. moms can probably get enough time off for an average cesarian section recovery, but it may be necessary to cobble together vacation leave, sick time, and other resources.