WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Expectant mothers will now have an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave in New York state.
The change is part of the recently passed state budget and the policy is the first of its kind in the country.
Employees are now able to receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care in addition to the existing sick leave.
Officials with the North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council say these additional hours are a game changer because pregnant women who have access to regular prenatal medical visits are less likely to die in childbirth and their newborns are more likely to be healthy.
“It’s really making sure that all families are connected to services which is something that we do and why we propose that because we are really trying to look to reduce those low birth weights, early term births, and all of those reasons you know the doctors can kind of come up and see those things before they happen,” said Brooke Pate, director of maternal/infant health services, NCPPC.
Pate says pregnant women who have questions can reach out to her office.