The economy is in a downward spiral, and that means many Americans are losing their jobs every day – and some of them are pregnant women. While the implications of job loss are scary for everyone, the loss of health benefits and thoughts of finding another job can be extra daunting for a woman expecting a child.

Becky McInerny of Indianapolis, Ind., was almost 8 months pregnant with her second child when she was laid off. "My manager, a very sweet woman, was kind enough to give me a heads up that I would be a part of the next shift of layoffs," she says. "The company was in the process of possibly going bankrupt, although no one really knew that. The layoffs were in effort to make the company in better financial state."

McInerny was scared at first, but then became somewhat thankful. "I really didn't like my job and wasn't sure if I was going to come back after my maternity leave," she says. "My dream has always been to stay at home, but we didn't do a very good job of planning for it financially."

Questions will undoubtedly fill the mom-to-be's thoughts: How will I get health insurance to cover the pregnancy? Who will want to hire someone that's pregnant? Should I hide the pregnancy when looking for another job? If married, can we live on one income? And is it even legal to lay off a woman who is expecting?

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