In California, new mothers are expected to return to work far sooner than their bodies or babies are ready. Under current law, most mothers receive 6 weeks of State Disability Insurance (SDI) after a vaginal birth or 8 weeks after a C-section, followed by only 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding. This means that even with full benefits, many moms are back at work when their babies are only 3½ to 4 months old.

Postpartum recovery does not fit into this short timeline. Mothers are still healing physically, adjusting emotionally, and often caring for infants who are waking multiple times a night. Yet our current system provides only two months of paid bonding time—forcing many moms to choose between returning to work too soon or taking unpaid leave they cannot afford.

This petition calls for a simple, meaningful change: extend California Paid Family Leave for new mothers from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, and update the DE 2501FP Paid Family Leave process to reflect this expanded right.

WHAT I WANT TO CHANGE

I am asking California leaders to:

• Extend Paid Family Leave (PFL) bonding benefits for new mothers from 8 weeks to 12 weeks

• Update the DE 2501FP Paid Family Leave claim process to include this expanded benefit

• Ensure mothers receive a full three months of paid bonding time after their SDI recovery period

This change would allow mothers to return to work when their babies are closer to 4½–5 months old instead of barely 3–4 months old—better reflecting real postpartum needs.

FOR MOM

The current system does not reflect the true length of postpartum recovery.

• Physical healing often lasts far beyond 6–8 weeks

• Hormonal shifts continue for months

• Many moms experience postpartum hair loss and exhaustion around 3–4 months

• Mental health challenges are common during early motherhood

Returning to work at only 8 weeks postpartum bonding time ignores these realities. Extending PFL to 12 weeks would give mothers essential time to recover, adjust, and protect their mental and physical health without financial hardship.

FOR BABY

Babies do not develop on a workplace schedule.

• Most infants are still waking multiple times a night at 3–4 months

• Many do not drop overnight feedings until around 5–6 months

• Stable sleep patterns and routines take time

• The early months are critical for bonding and attachment

Expecting mothers to return to full-time work when babies are only a few months old places unnecessary strain on both mother and child. An additional month of paid leave would better align with infant development and family well-being.

HOW CALIFORNIA COMPARES TO OTHER COUNTRIES

While California offers more support than many U.S. states, it still falls far behind the rest of the world.

• Countries like Canada allow up to 12–18 months of paid parental leave

• Nations such as Sweden and Norway provide close to a full year of paid leave

• Many European countries guarantee months of fully paid time for new mothers

Meanwhile in California, mothers receive only 8 weeks of paid bonding time. Families in other developed nations are given the time they need—California mothers deserve the same respect and support.

MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM

Governor Newsom,

California has long been a leader in family-friendly policies, but our current Paid Family Leave program still does not provide enough time for new mothers. Eight weeks of bonding leave is simply not enough for postpartum recovery, infant care, and family stability.

I am asking you to support an expansion of California’s Paid Family Leave program by extending bonding benefits for new mothers from 8 weeks to 12 weeks and updating the DE 2501FP process to reflect this change. This single policy improvement would make an enormous difference for maternal health, infant development, and working families across our state.

Mothers should not have to choose between their paycheck and their well-being. California can and should do better.