Know about the rights of a pregnant woman

When a woman finds out that she is pregnant, her life will never be the same. This is immaterial of what choice she makes. If an unexpected pregnancy comes, it is generally a shock. You should not take a decision in haste. You should first have to let the initial shock settle and then confirm your pregnancy by taking an ultrasound. Thereafter, make an effort to speak to a counselor to discuss your situation.

There are different choices open to you when it comes to unexpected pregnancy. Typically there are 3 choices available and you should explore each option thoroughly before you make your decision because whatever you decide will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Choice I: Become a parent

Being parent can be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you will ever have. You can always decide to keep the baby and watch the miracle grow inside you and develop into a person. This baby will have its own personality, interests and talents. You will be there to guide the baby through life. Having a baby is not just about love. You also need support for parenting. You should weigh all the options in front of you. Will be possible to marry the father? What sort of support in terms of finance and childcare can the father provide? What would it be like to live on your own with the baby?

Once you know answers to some of the questions, it will become relatively clear what decision you should take.

Choice II: Give the baby for adoption

In case you want to keep the baby but feel that you cannot provide for the baby, adoption is always an option. Besides giving your baby a happy home and life, you will be making someone else very happy. With the range of adoption services and laws prevalent in the US, you can choose the adoptive family for your baby. You can also determine the sort of relationship you would like to have with your baby and the adoptive family. There is no doubt that you will grieve when you give up your baby for adoption but you can go for counseling or join a support group to help you work through your grief and loss.

Choice III: Have an abortion

This is never an easy decision but if you decide to have an abortion, make sure you collect all the possible information on abortion procedures and their associated risks. Make sure you check your state laws to ensure that abortion is legal. You can also call up a pregnancy specialist to discuss this and other options available to you before making your final decision.

In most areas of society, women occupy the same social standings as men, and are provided with equal rights. Unfortunately, 100% equality has not yet been reached. One of the areas in which this is most visible is in the area of employment and employment law.
Women are frequently discriminated against in the work place on the basis of gender-often because of issues connected to pregnancy or the possibility of pregnancy.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Situations involving pregnancy discrimination became so severe in the United States that the government passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978. This act was attached to title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and worked to protect the rights of women who were being discriminated against in the workplace.

However, even with the passage of the pregnancy discrimination act, women continue to be discriminated against in the workplace and passed over for jobs unjustly. Studies conducted in 2006 found that of all discrimination lawsuits filed in the United States, 6.5% were pregnancy discrimination suits.

Maternity / Parental Leave

Occasionally, women will run into problems when trying to take maternity leave following the birth of a child. Maternity / parental leave is extremely important to ensure that new parents have the opportunity to bond with their new child. Unfortunately, employers ignore this important time and provide their employees with false information regarding maternity / parental leave.

Laws regarding parental leave were established in 1993 as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act. This act stipulates exactly what national expectations employers are held to when it comes to parental leave.
In order for an individual to qualify for maternity / parental leave, there are a number of important qualifications that must be met. A qualified individual must

• Have worked for the same company for at least 12 months prior to taking maternity / parental leave
• Have worked for at least 1,250 hours in the previous year
• Work for a company that has at least 50 employees, with 50 employees who work within 75 miles of the work site
• Any individual who meets these qualifications is guaranteed

• A total of 12 weeks off of work without pay (although some companies still choose to pay their employees during maternity leave)
• Continuation of his or her health insurance
• Guarantee of his or her previously held job, including equal pay, status, and benefits.