New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Democrat) revealed the proposal Thursday will include paid family leave during pregnancy.
“I think we should be able to take care of pregnant women before the baby is born,” Hochul said at an event Thursday. “And we think they deserve time off, so that’s all about to change.”
“Today I am announcing that New York will become the first state in the nation to offer paid family leave for prenatal care,” Hochul continued.
Infant mortality rates in the United States rose last year for the first time in 20 years, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% from 2021 to 2022, the first year-over-year increase since 2001-2002,” the agency's report said. “From 2002 to 2021, infant mortality decreased by 22%.”
Two of the 10 leading causes of infant death, maternal complications of pregnancy and neonatal bacterial sepsis, increased significantly last year, but congenital malformations were the leading cause of infant death in 2022. Her four states – Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas – saw significant increases in infant mortality rates in 2022.
The United States has a high infant mortality rate compared to other developed countries.According to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the U.S. Top 10 In 38 member countries including Canada, Japan and South Korea.
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