[Utilization of the right to maternity leave and resumption of work after delivery. A longitudinal prospective study].

A longitudinal interview study of 360 mothers was carried out to investigate: 1) utilization of maternity leave by the parents, 2) mothers' resumption of occupation after delivery and 3) duration of breast feeding seen in correlation with the mothers' resumption of work. 1) 95% of the families utilized the entire maternity leave. In 92% of the families, the mothers utilized all 24 weeks and, in 3% of the families, the fathers took part in the maternity leave. Only 46% of the fathers utilized the right to take leave in connection with delivery and 14% employed their holiday but were at home for a significantly shorter period. 2) Only one fourth of the mothers had resumed work 24 weeks after the delivery. 44% of the mothers prolonged the maternity leave with their holiday and 32% prolonged the maternity leave even longer. One year after delivery, significantly more mothers were housewives than previously. 3) A significantly positive correlation was found between the time for maternal return to work and the duration of breast feeding. We conclude that almost all of the families utilized the maternity leave and that prolongation of maternity leave (which is 24 weeks after delivery at present) might be necessary.