You're not pregnant, yet – you're merely planning to get pregnant in the future. So why should you worry about maternity leave? Just as with everything else, you'll cross that bridge when you come to it, right?

The problem is that when you do have to cross that bridge, you may find it a little shaky, if not completely down. It's possible that your employer doesn't offer maternity leave or won't guarantee that your job will be there when you return. You may also be confronted with such a short time off that you may not feel comfortable going back so soon. What many people don't realize until it's too late is that in America, paid maternity leave is not required, and time off without penalty is not guaranteed to anyone.

While America is often seen as extremely progressive, the fact is that the country lags far behind other developed countries in recognizing the importance of family issues in the workplace. Sweden is often held up as the model for parental leave policies, with its policy of full parental leave until the child is 18 months old at 80 percent of the parent's salary. However, even countries with less expansive policies, such as Mexico (12 weeks, 100 percent paid), Poland (16 weeks for first child and 18 weeks for subsequent children, paid at 100 percent) and Hungary (24 weeks at 70 percent), make America's 12 weeks of unpaid leave look pretty miserly. Now consider that only about 60 percent of American workers are eligible for this leave, which was mandated as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

"Small employers don't have to do anything; they make up their own policies regarding maternity leave," says Pat Katepoo, director of Work Options. "The big question for the American family is how long will it take to address this once and for all at the national level."

At the moment, since there are no requirements that an employer pay for maternity leave, women generally use a combination of leftover sick leave, vacation or personal days and short-term disability, which is paid at a fraction of the original salary. From there, any time off is unpaid, which leaves parents who are struggling financially with some very tough choices.

Jodi Grant of the National Partnership for Women & Families says research shows that 25 percent of poverty spells begin with the birth of a child. "Some of this is unpredictable," she says. "You may save up and have some savings, thinking that will get you through, but what if you end up on bed rest and it eats up six weeks of your 12-week leave? Do you want to go back to work after only six weeks home with the new baby? These are some of the dilemmas new parents face. It reaches a point where it's inhumane, especially when you consider that many infant care centers won't take a child until he's 12 weeks old. It's a no-win situation."

The benefits to making family-friendly policies go far beyond your personal health or your own child's well-being. While social benefits in the United States often are viewed as an intrusion into families and business or a step toward socialism, in Europe they are considered an investment in the future stability and well-being of a nation. Family benefits are important because they encourage family growth and allow a child's parents to raise their children, as well as helping to distribute wealth and curb poverty. Sociologically, this makes for a stronger economy and a stronger, healthier social structure with lower crime rates and higher levels of education.

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