The hospital room was a crucible of raw emotion and relentless endurance.
For twelve grueling hours, my wife battled wave after wave of excruciating contractions.
Tears streamed down her face as she shifted from side to side, seeking solace in any position. 
Left, right, back, even on all fours.
Each contraction was a crescendo of pain, a testament to her unwavering strength and determination.
As her partner, I stood by, feeling every wince, every cry, every moment of agony, acutely aware of the profound ordeal she was enduring to bring our child into the world.
But the climax of her suffering was yet to come.
Moments after our son’s first cries filled the room, a sudden shift occurred.
The medical team sprang into action with an urgency that sent a chill down my spine.
A nurse climbed onto the bed, pressing down on my wife’s abdomen with forceful, rhythmic motions, attempting to stanch a hemorrhage.
The doctor worked swiftly, applying pressure, issuing commands, their faces masks of concentration and concern.
Blood soaked the sheets, a stark reminder of the perilous precipice upon which childbirth teeters.
In those harrowing minutes, the miracle of life was shadowed by the specter of death.
This visceral experience was a brutal awakening to the realities many women face, not just in the delivery room, but in society at large.
The physical torment of childbirth is but one facet of the multifaceted challenges women confront daily.
Beyond the labor pains and medical emergencies lies a broader, more insidious struggle: the systemic erosion of women’s rights and the societal expectations that often leave them vulnerable and unsupported.
The Global Backlash Against Women’s Rights
Recent reports paint a grim picture of the state of women’s rights worldwide.
According to UN Women, one in four countries experienced a rollback on women’s rights in 2024, highlighting a disturbing trend of regression rather than progress.
This global backlash manifests in various forms, from legislative assaults on reproductive freedoms to cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Women’s rights are under attack. We must fight back.”
His words resonate deeply, underscoring the urgent need for collective action to safeguard the hard-won gains of past decades.
The American Landscape: Pregnancy and the Workplace
In the United States, the challenges are multifaceted. While my wife received immediate medical attention during her postpartum hemorrhage, many women are not as fortunate.
The expectation for women to endure childbirth and its aftermath with minimal support is pervasive.
This is particularly evident in the workplace, where pregnant workers often face discrimination and inadequate accommodations.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which went into effect on June 27, 2023, was designed to address these issues by requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
However, the implementation of the PWFA has been fraught with challenges.
Seventeen Republican-led states filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in April 2024, arguing that the agency unlawfully expanded the law by requiring employers to accommodate workers’ abortion-related needs.
This legal challenge underscores the contentious nature of reproductive rights in the workplace and the broader societal debate over women’s autonomy.
Furthermore, in February 2024, a federal judge in Texas ruled that Congress violated the U.S. Constitution when it passed the PWFA, leading to a permanent injunction against its enforcement in the state.
Such legal battles not only hinder the implementation of protections for pregnant workers but also signal a troubling willingness to undermine legislative efforts aimed at promoting gender equality.
The Reality of Pregnant Workers in America
For many women, especially those in demanding professions like healthcare, the intersection of pregnancy and work presents significant challenges.
My wife, a dedicated healthcare professional, continued to work in intense environments throughout her pregnancy.
The physical and emotional toll was immense, yet the expectation remained: persevere without complaint.
The PWFA was intended to alleviate such burdens by mandating reasonable accommodations.
However, opposition from certain political factions threatens to dilute its effectiveness.
In April 2025, Representative Mary E. Miller introduced H.R.2644, a bill aimed at prohibiting regulations implementing the PWFA from applying to abortion or related services.
This move reflects a broader pattern of legislative efforts to curtail women’s reproductive rights under the guise of policy adjustments.
A Call to Action
The juxtaposition of my wife’s personal ordeal with the broader societal challenges faced by women underscores a glaring truth: women’s rights are not guaranteed; they are continually contested.
The physical pain of childbirth, the emotional labor of navigating a society that often marginalizes women’s experiences, and the legislative battles that seek to control women’s bodies all point to an urgent need for advocacy and reform.
We must challenge the societal norms that expect women to endure without support.
We must oppose legislative efforts that seek to undermine women’s autonomy.
And we must advocate for comprehensive policies that recognize and address the multifaceted challenges women face.
We Must Trust Women
The fight for women’s rights is not a distant battle; it is here, in our hospitals, our workplaces, our homes.
It is a fight that demands our attention, our voices, and our unwavering commitment.
For the sake of our mothers, our wives, our daughters, and for the generations to come, we must stand firm in the pursuit of equality and justice.
Want to be part of the solution?
• Support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (EEOC)
• Learn more about your rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
• If you’re an employer or HR leader, explore Leva, a platform designed to support working parents before, during, and after pregnancy with personalized, clinical guidance
• Support organizations fighting for maternal rights and healthcare justice: Every Mother Counts, Planned Parenthood, National Partnership for Women & Families
Don’t let this be another story that fades into silence.
Share this. Start the conversation. Push for change.
References:
- UN Women. (2024). One in four countries report backlash on women’s rights in 2024.
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2023). What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
- Fisher Phillips. (2024). Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Under Fire: What Employers Need to Know About the Latest Legal Challenges.
- Jackson Lewis. (2024). Congress Violated U.S. Constitution When It Passed Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Texas Court Rules.
- U.S. Congress. (2025). H.R.2644 - To prohibit regulations implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act from applying to abortion or the coverage of abortion or abortion-related services.
