*This post is an entry in the 2nd Stratejoy Essay Contest.  Throughout the next month, we will be featuring each finalist writing their answer to the question: What would your TED Talk Be? On September 13th, we will open the voting to YOU, our community, to select the winner of the $500 prize.*

When I had my daughter, I had three weeks of maternity leave. And when I say maternity leave, what I mean is there was a three week break in between fall and winter term at the college I attended.

My first year as a mama, I tried unsuccessfully to breastfeed, suffered from debilitating postpartum depression, got divorced, and struggled in almost every aspect of my life. Left reeling from the rapid changes of entering motherhood, I wondered if I’d made a mistake – my daughter deserved so much better than me. Working, putting myself through college, and figuring out the mom thing, it was a rough year.

The core problem here is clear. I had no support.

Regardless of what was healthy or what I wanted for my baby, the lack of financial, emotional, or any other type of support, meant I had to keep living my life in a way that almost didn’t acknowledge my new role as a mother.

I can’t help but wonder how that year would have been different if I had been able to stay home with my daughter for a few weeks without worrying about my rent getting paid? (In my case, with my school grants, which forced me to return to school immediately unless I wanted to go back to the working life of a barista.)

That made me consider a greater question.

What if every person in the United States had six weeks of paid parental leave?

The United States is one of four countries in the world without paid maternity leave.

The estimated number of mothers of all ages in the United States: 85 million

This reaches beyond political platforms. Your wives, sisters, friends – most will be mothers at some point in their lives. And they will have to decide.

Do I stay home with my new baby? Do I give myself the time I need to heal? Do I breastfeed? And what about those mothers who can’t choose? Can I afford to stay home with my new baby? Can I afford to give myself time to heal?

What a tragedy.

((Concerns))

The argument I hear forming already is that against the mythical “welfare mom.”

Because poor women have no right to time to heal or time with their infants? They don’t deserve consideration. Because a woman is poor and likely uneducated, her ability to bring children into the world – which is considered a blessing in other circumstances – is looked down on as a societal problem.

How many women do you honestly believe don’t want a better life for their children?

And what about those children? What will become of them?

I have a confession.

During my 2nd year of college, I was on welfare for six months.

That money made a huge difference in mine and my daughter’s quality of life. By the way, do you know what a cash cow welfare is? We were living the high life there with that $400.

$400.

That was enough to cover my portion of the rent and utilities in the tiny, two bedroom apartment I shared with 3 other people. And I was immensely grateful. Normally, if you’re in college, the state won’t give you any help. (Which makes sense, right? You’re in college, which means you must have access to money.) My wonderful case worker found a loop hole so she could help us, because she saw how committed I was to making a better life for my daughter and I.

If it weren’t for that money, I would have had to find a part-time job. I would have seen even less of my daughter, who at the time was eight months old. And there is nothing I regret more than how much of that first year with her I missed.

((How will we pay for it?))

This question needs reframed because it’s costing us a massive amount of money not having paid maternity leave. If 90% of American mothers were to breastfeed exclusively for six months, the U.S would save a staggering $13 billion dollars per year.

Breastfeeding alone would clearly make a huge difference in our national and global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) says: Many mothers who return to work abandon breastfeeding partially or completely because they do not have sufficient time, or a place to breastfeed, express, and store their milk.

Breastfeeding also benefits mothers. It reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in life, helps women return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster, and lowers rates of obesity.

Beyond the immediate benefits for children, breastfeeding contributes to a lifetime of good health. Adults who were breastfed as babies often have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol, as well as lower rates of overweight, obesity and type-2 diabetes.

The important caveat here is that breastfeeding has to be learned – and many women encounter difficulties at the beginning. Nipple pain and fear there isn’t enough milk to sustain the baby are normal.

We need to take an active role in providing women the support they need to enter motherhood effectively and in good health.

((Conclusion))

I believe paid, secure maternity leave is crucial to improving the health and well-being of this country and the world.

It’s nearly impossible to quantify the value of a mother. But because women still bear the majority of childrearing and household duties, we have an obligation to honor that and the immeasurable value of you having the time you need to bond with your baby.

Your child deserves to have a loving caregiver, whether it’s you or your partner or a family member. Finances should not be the dictator of that decision. It is our responsibility to make sure everyone can take the leave necessary.

((What you can do))

Share this. By spreading awareness, we can put pressure on the government, companies, and organizations who can make paid leave a reality.

Because your baby deserves better, and so do you.

*ABOUT DUSTI*

Dusti Arab is a writer, speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Her current projects include writing her next book, Rebel Mama: How to Raise Your Kids Without Losing Yourself, owning a lovely cafe in her hometown, and marketing at ProductiveFlourishing.com. Find more of her work atDustiArab.com and connect via Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.