As a female employee, you may be concerned about the potential risks of childbirth and its impact on your career. While giving birth is a natural process, possible complications can arise. When it happens during delivery, it could result in birth injuries.
Birth injuries can have long-term effects on both the mother and the child. Furthermore, it may impact a woman's ability to work. Fortunately, benefits are available to support female employees who experience birth injuries.
This article discusses birth injuries, their impact on female team members, and the benefits you may be entitled to from your employer. Read on to learn more about birth injury benefits related to work, insurance, recovery, and healthcare.
What Are Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries are injuries that occur during the process of childbirth. These injuries can range from minor injuries, such as bruises or small cuts, to more severe injuries, such as nerve damage, brain damage, or fractures. The common causes of birth injuries include prematurity, prolonged labor, and even medical malpractice.
While some birth injuries are unavoidable, proper medical care and attention could prevent others. Doctors could diagnose any of the following conditions as a birth injury, whereafter they could determine the cause:
• Cerebral palsy
• Brain injuries from lack of oxygen
• Erb's palsy
• Spinal cord injuries
• Newborn jaundice
• Kernicterus
• Newborn cephalohematoma
• Intrauterine fetal demise
• Other types of brain damage
After diagnosis, doctors can explain more about each condition. They could also guide proper care and the next steps for you.
The Impact Of Birth Injuries On Female Employees
The impact of birth injuries could be devastating. Depending on the severity of the birth injury, you may need to take time off work to recover. You may also require ongoing medical care for yourself or your baby. In addition, a birth injury's emotional and physical toll can significantly impact your mental health and overall well-being.
Here are some of the common birth injuries that you can experience: Uterine prolapse or rupture Vaginal tearing Post-partum hemorrhage Post-natal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Post-natal mental health problems like depression or anxiety Birth injuries can have a severe impact on your ability to perform well. Fortunately, most employers offer benefits to help ease this difficult period of your life.
Benefits Available For Female Employees With Birth Injuries
If you are a female employee who has experienced a birth injury, employers could offer benefits to help you cope. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of them. So, here are 5 of the benefits you may be entitled to:
1. Paid Time Off
If you feel that you may need to take time off work to recover from a birth injury, you could be entitled to paid time off under your employer's policies or state and federal laws. Most businesses have a set number of days employees can take as paid leave. Note that this can also depend on how long they have worked at the company.
2. Short-Term Disability Insurance
Short-term disability insurance could provide an income replacement for a short period, typically around six months or less. Moreover, it can help you cover your expenses while you recover from a birth injury. Female employees thus have one less thing to be anxious about, especially when dealing with a life-changing injury.
3. Family And Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is one of the laws established as legal protection for workers. The FMLA provides eligible female employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for qualifying medical and family reasons. It can include time off to recover from a birth injury or to care for a child with a birth injury.
4. Corporate Insurance Policies
Companies often have corporate medical insurance policies that may cover appointments, telemedicine services, or in-office care facilities. Female employees can ask their human resources department about the procedure and what it could cover.
5. Counseling
Females that went through a harrowing birth experience may need additional mental health support. Debriefing and learning new skills to cope with their situation provides them with the stepping stones they need to move forward.
Conclusion
Birth injuries can have a significant impact on female employees and their families. Therefore, companies could expect to see a drop in their performance level. However, companies could offer various benefits to help them cope with these injuries' physical, emotional, and financial implications.
If you have experienced a birth injury, it is essential to know your rights and the benefits available to you. After consulting with your employer about them, you can make more informed decisions about your health, career, and future.
