Pasan Nanayakkara
As a new parent, one of the most valuable things you can have is time to bond with and care for your newborn. However, for many new moms in the United States, returning to work just days after giving birth is a harsh reality.
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This was the case for TikToker Rebecca Shumard, who went viral after sharing her heart-wrenching experience of having to return to work only 12 days after giving birth to her premature baby, Eden.
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In her video, Rebecca, who goes by the username @edensmomma10_12, can be seen crying as she explains how she needs to go back to work in order to save her 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave for when Eden is released from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
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As a result, she is unable to be with her newborn as much as she would like, and she is also worried about not having enough milk to feed her when she finally does come home.
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Rebecca’s video touched the hearts of many people around the world, and some even offered their support and assistance.
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Some TikTok users shared information about parental leave policies in other developed countries, while others simply offered words of encouragement and kindness.
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Fortunately, Rebecca’s story had a happy ending. In a follow-up video, she shared that the financial help she received from kind strangers allowed her to take some much-needed time off work to be with Eden in the NICU.
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She expressed her gratitude for the generosity of others and the relief of not having to worry about paying the bills.
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No parent should have to choose between being with their newborn and taking care of their family’s financial needs. Rebecca’s story is a reminder of the importance of parental leave and the need for better policies to support new parents in the United States.
