Jack--
Kudos to the Canadian Pediatric Society for recognizing that maternity leaves
should be a given.  We pediatricians need to support our own and give more
than lip service to policies which promote healthy families.  As you are
probably aware, here in the USA, pediatric and medical residents are often
expected to return to work in anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks from giving
birth--a cruel and inhumane practice IMHO.
Also, in order to support mother-baby bonding and breastfeeding, a way needs
to be found to allow mothers to stay with their hospitalized ill infants 24
hours if they want.  In our general pediatric units, parents usually stay with
their hospitalized infant/child in a pullout bed in the child's room.  But,
when a newborn needs to stay in the hospital, the mom is forced to go home at
2 days postpartum, then run back and forth from home to the hospital for
feedings, and pump for feedings she can't make it in for.  Many moms get
discouraged and the breastfeeding is sacrificed.  Providing a room or two
where these moms could stay near the nursery shouldn't be difficult, but I
know of almost no hospital that does this.  We have a long way to go to
humanize the care of our sick babies.
Linda L. Shaw MD FAAP