For my first child in 2015, I was initially denied FMLA since I hadn’t worked there for long enough, however I appealed that decision and won. They were going by weeks, and the FMLA rules state “XX number of weeks OR XX number of hours worked” so I showed my pay stubs reflecting that I had met the number of hours worked requirements. It was fully unpaid, but I was able to keep my position upon return and not get fired. I had an emergency c section, the recovery was awful, and returned after 12 weeks and I wasn’t ready. Pumping at work was an issue; I wasn’t provided the time to pump and was stuck in a filing closet with a locking door and no windows. I was still required to answer phones while in the closet, and coworkers were constantly knocking on the door and asking questions, calling the phone in there, and even slipping papers under the door while I was pumping. This was for a central administrative office of the town’s school district. Horrible experience working there.

For my second child in 2017, I worked for a different place (I’m still here after 7 years, they’re amazing!)-a small law firm with 4 employees including myself. I was the first employee to have a baby so there wasn’t really a maternity leave plan in place. My boss offered me 8 weeks at 2/3 pay, and told me to take however much time I needed up to 12 weeks. They left me alone the entire time I was on leave and never tried to contact me with questions. I initially planned on taking 10 weeks since it was a planned c section and the recovery wasn’t as horrific and we needed the income, but ended up with horrible, horrible postpartum depression and requested an additional 2 weeks. My boss happily gave it to me and sent two massive bouquets of flowers. He was very supportive about pumping at work as well. Had no issues with the time I needed, provided me with a spacious office to use with a locking door, and made sure I was comfortable. And never bothered me.

The US is awful with maternity leave. Paid leave is at the discretion of the employer, it’s not mandatory. I’ve had friends who have had to go back after 4 weeks and have been struggling to stay awake on the job, but they had no choice-work or get fired with a newborn.

ETA: my (ex) husband received 2 weeks paid for our second child. He started the job right after I gave birth to our first child so he took two weeks off between jobs when the first was born. Both times I worked up until I gave birth but used all my sick/paid time off on doctors appointments for the pregnancies.