Letter: Leave it till the baby is born

Sir: I do hope that father of four David Hunt, better known as the Secretary of State for Employment, read and digested Jackie Cowhig's article on 'late' births ('When baby isn't in a hurry', 31 May). He is responsible for the new legislation that will give employed women expecting a baby after 16 October 1994 the right to 14 weeks' maternity leave. Women can start their leave from 11 weeks before the baby is due. Women whose babies 'aren't in a hurry' will lose out badly under the new scheme as they will have to return to work almost immediately after the baby is born. That's not good for mothers, babies or employers, as any parent knows.

It would be much fairer and, as your article has shown, better reflect the reality of pregnancy and childbirth if all women were allowed up to 29 weeks' leave after the birth to run from when the baby is actually born, as the existing system provides for employees with more than two years' service. The majority of pregnant working women already qualify and so this extension would cost very little and be of enormous benefit to both mothers and their babies.

Yours sincerely,

CHRISTINE GOWDRIDGE

Director

The Maternity Alliance

London, WC1

1 June