Thank you!

I'm from the UK so get up to a year of maternity leave, 9 months of that paid. The standard rate of maternity pay is 90% of your average wage for the first 6 weeks then a flat rate of either about £140 a week or 90% of your average wage (whichever figure is less) I was part time so I get the 90% rate so we've felt very little loss financially. Individual companies can and do offer higher rates, but usually with a clause saying you have to return to work after your maternity leave for X amount of time. You can take your leave from 28w pregnant, when you start is up to you. I went at 33 weeks to avoid paying extra childcare for my son in the summer holidays.

Every household earning under £50k is entitled to child benefit of around £20pw for your first child and £15pw for each subsequent child. We also have child tax credit and working tax credit which are applied for and given based on your income, number of children, the number of hours you work and your childcare costs.

Obviously we have the NHS so there are no costly bills for giving birth. Midwife led births and active births are encouraged here, and there's a real encouragement to have a home birth if you have a complication free pregnancy.

SO's are entitled to 2 weeks paid paternity leave when the baby is born (paid at £140pw approx) and the new shared parental leave has just come into effect meaning that the second 6 months of leave can be taken by the father (either the whole 6 months or a portion of it) and will be paid the same rate of pay through their employer.

We also get all prescriptions and dental work free during pregnancy and until your child is 1. Prescriptions usually cost about £8.50 per script and dental work varies depending on what needs doing, but is rarely over £100.

As for my opinions on these things in the US, I have to say I am incredibly grateful to not live there. I'd never afford to be able to have a baby. I find it odd that you have no set maternity leave, I've read stories of people having to return to work when their baby is 6 weeks old and my heart breaks for them. Leaving my daughter at 8 months (as she will be when I return) is hard enough. And you seem as a nation to be trying to make birth very medical rather than a natural process - lots of elective c-sections, inductions that wouldn't be considered here and many hospitals discouraging remaining active in labour. I just think a country that is constantly trying to progress, you do treat those having the next generation very poorly.

I'm so sorry for the essay. I hope I answered your questions but feel free to ask any more