From CNN Health - May 30, 2006 17:36
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NEW YORK (Reuters) -- For pregnant women who work outside the home, rest -- provided in some countries by the combination of taking time off from work and government-supported social benefits -- does not appear to lead to bigger, and, therefore, perhaps healthier babies, according to a study conducted in Sweden.
It's been argued that working outside the home while pregnant might harm the mother and developing infant. This has led some developed countries including Sweden, but not the United States, Australia or New Zealand, to provide paid maternity leave long before the delivery date, as well as other health benefits.
For example, the pregnancy benefits were expanded in Sweden from 270 days in 1978 to 450 days in 1989. Pregnant women may also take 50 of these days before the estimated delivery date.
But when a group of Swedish doctors reviewed the files of 7,459 women who delivered infants between 1978 and 1997 at two hospitals in southeastern Sweden, they failed to find a relationship between the social benefits granted and the infant's birth weight.
