Access to paid parental leave prior to the birth of a baby was seen by many as helping to support mothers prepare. Access to paid parental leave prior to birth was especially valued by those with older children, single mothers, those in physically demanding workplaces (such as nursing and teaching) and those with specific pre-natal health issues.

Parents wanted to access paid parental leave prior to birth in order to ‘get the house sorted’ and prepare for the baby to arrive, while also having an opportunity to rest and mentally prepare for a first or second child. Others said accessing paid parental leave in the 4 weeks prior to birth could offer support to parents who are planning for a natural rather than caesarian birth, as labour and delivery can be unpredictable. In the context of COVID-19, some mothers said it would have been beneficial to access paid parental leave in the weeks prior to birth in order to limit exposure to the virus and ensure their partners could be present at the birth.

If it’s a natural birth or something, it could happen anytime. So, it definitely would be good if [paid parental leave] was to even start … I don’t know, say 4 weeks prior to the due date, because you just don’t know. It’s a very unpredictable thing. (Isabella, middle income, CALD)

I was going to get my whole house sorted. And just the physical trying to lug [my son] to his daycare drop off, get to my work, find a park, get to the office … then the reverse… it’s not like when you get home, I’m relaxing. …They’re long days. We’d be out of the house by 7 am and we’re not home until after 6 pm. (Nora, single mother, middle income)

I think being able to access it sooner would be really nice because there’s a lot to prepare for and to learn before you have the baby. And if you’re working right up until the point of giving birth then you don’t get that time to mentally prepare yourself. (Sarah, middle income)