Emergency medicine remains a male-dominated specialty with a majority of male leadership. I believe most men have never thought about these issues. Likewise, women often believe it is their choice to have children and, therefore, children are solely their burden to bear. But the birth of the next generation is essential to the survival of our society and economy. The birth of children is a burden that needs to be carried on the shoulders of both men and women. As such, we should support paid maternity leave and paternity leave.

Fathers who take paternity leave have higher satisfaction with parenting and increased engagement in caring for their children.^12–15 Children with engaged fathers have fewer behavioral problems and better mental health outcomes. Also, longer paternity leaves and increased time spent with fathers caring for very young children are associated with higher cognitive test scores in children.^12,13,16,17

We should all be enabled to take part in the birth and early days of our children’s lives—for our health and the health of the next generation.

Dr. Hoper is an emergency physician at East Central Iowa Acute Care at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

References

1. Maternity leave benefits. UN data website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
2. DOL factsheet: paid family and medical leave. US Department of Labor website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
3. Wang W, Parker K, Taylor P. Breadwinner moms. Pew Research Center website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
4. Pozniak A, Wen K, Olson K, et al. Family and medical leave in 2012. US Department of Labor website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
5. Deahl J. Countries around the world beat the U.S. on paid parental leave. NPR website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
6. Maternity and paternity at work. International Labour Organization website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
7. FMLA is working. US Department of Labor website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
8. California Paid Family Leave Act brochure. State of California Employment Development Department website. Accessed July 13, 2017.
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11. Nandi A, Hajizadeh M, Harper S, et al. Increased duration of paid maternity leave lowers infant mortality in low- and middle-income countries: a quasi-experimental study. PLoS Med. 2016;13(3):e1001985.
12. Nepomnyaschy L, Waldfogel J. Paternity leave and fathers’ involvement with their young children: evidence from the American Ecls–B. Community Work Fam. 2017:10(4):427-453.
13. Huerta MDC, Adema W, Baxter J, et al. Fathers’ leave, fathers’ involvement and child development: are they related? Evidence from four OECD countries. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers. 2013;140:67.
14. Hass L, Hwang CP. The impact of taking parental leave on fathers’ participation in childcare and relationships with children: lessons from Sweden. Community Work Fam. 2008;11(1):85-104.
15. Tanaka S, Waldfogel J. Effects of parental leave and work hours on fathers’ involvement with their babies: evidence from the Millennium Cohort Study. Community Work Fam. 2007;10(4):409-426.
16. Sarkadi A, Kristiansson R, Oberklaid F, et al. Fathers’ involvement and children’s developmental outcomes: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Acta Pediatrica. 2008;97(2):153-158.
17. Flouri E, Buchanan A. The role of father involvement in children’s later mental health. J Adolesc. 2002;26(1):63-78.